INCLUDES: Two nights accommodation in rooms with private facilities; full Scottish breakfast; full day nature excursion to John O'Groats and the Far North by superior air-conditioned minicoach with expert local guide; excursion to Cromarty and the Black Isle; Transportation by air-conditioned luxury touring coach; services of a tour host; service charges and taxes.
Day One
We start the day by making our way towards Rannoch Moor and into famous Glen Coe. You will be awestruck by the beauty of this place. Hopefully there will be views of Ben Nevis as we tour through the Great Glen which culminates with a scenic drive along the banks of Loch Ness. - keep a close watch in case “you know who” makes an appearance! Shortly we will arrive in Inverness, our home for the next two nights.
The stay in Inverness is un-escorted.
Day Two
We leave Inverness and head across the Black Isle to the Cromarty Firth where, depending on tide conditions, we may see our first seals. We will make a stop in the town of Golspie. High above the town is an astonishing statue, 27m (90') high. This is of the First Duke of Sutherland, whose agents were involved in the most notorious of the Clearances in the Highlands during the 19th century. We’ll hear more about this sad episode in the history of Scotland as we head North. Caithness grew rich with the development of the herring fishing in the 19th century and as a result there are many exceptionally beautiful harbours - as we will discover. There are telescopes available on-board our mini-coach to let you marvel at the wide range of birds & wildlife including Puffins (until early August) and red deer (the "Monarch of the Glen"), which are seen on almost all tours. There are several stops along the way to give you ample opportunity to relax and take a stroll amidst this beautiful scenery.
Day Three
This morning there is an excursion through the Black Isle to the picturesque village of Cromarty. Later there is free time in Inverness for individual sightseeing or shopping before we join our motorcoach for a spectacular drive through the Highlands. From the Spey Valley and the Cairngorm Mountains we will climb the Pass of Drumochter then enjoy scenic views as we make our way through Glen Garry. After a short break we will make our way through the gentle rolling countryside towards Perth then onwards to Edinburgh or Glasgow.
