This morning we leave Edinburgh behind as we begin to meander our way through mountain passes and tranquil lochs stopping to appreciate the views. Our first stop will be by Stirling where the battles of Sir William Wallace and King Robert the Bruce were played out over 700 years ago. Hear about Scotland's fight to remain an independent country. Continuing north we hear the heartbreaking history of Glencoe and following the lochs and glens past Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Great Britain, we will have occasional stops to breath in the highland air.

Late afternoon we arrive at the peaceful fishing village of Stromeferry on the banks of Loch Carron, our home for the next two nights. There will be time for a wonderful wild food walk with a local guide in the stunning local scenery, visiting sites of archaeological interest as well as commanding viewpoints. An expert on wild foods, he'll show you the abundance of edible food within the natural landscape and we'll gather some supplies for tomorrow evening's dinner.

Day 2 (Thursday/Sunday)

This morning it's time to visit the magical Isle of Skye with the Cuillin Mountains dramatically rising out of the heather clad peat moors and rugged cliffs plummeting into the mighty Atlantic Ocean. Our first stop will be Dunbeag, a 2000yr old Celtic Broch, or village fort, with stunning views over Loch Bracadale.

This afternoon will be spent exploring the Trotternish peninsula. We'll experience the culture and folklore of Scotland by visiting the Museum of Highland Life at Kilmuir whilst enjoying the scenery of the Quiraing and the Old Man of Storr, recently used as a film location for Stardust. Portree, the main town on the Isle of Skye, is our last stop of the day, a perfect place for a late afternoon stroll or a relaxing cup of coffee.

Our second night in Stromeferry will be enjoyed with dinner from local produce and the wild foods collected yesterday. This evening there may be live local traditional music at a nearby Inn. Whether it's the bagpipes, gaelic singing or fiddles your feet will be tapping by the end of the night!

Day 3 (Friday/Monday)

This morning we begin with a seal spotting cruise with a local fisherman complete with a seafood banquet, what a perfect way to start the day! Taking in the romantic Eilean Donan Castle, it's then onwards to try and a catch a glimpse of that illusive monster said to haunt the dark deep murky waters of Loch Ness!

After lunch at Fort Augustus, we shall cross over to the centre of Scotland and take in one of Scotland's finest single malt distilleries as no trip to Scotland would be complete without a wee dram of our finest export! Tullibardine Distillery will open its doors to us providing a guided tour around the working distillery. There will also be an opportunity to visit some of the other shops on the complex including cashmere and fine foods.

This evening we cross the Forth Road Bridge with views along the Forth Estuary and the iconic Forth Rail Bridge as we reluctantly return to Edinburgh.