Departing Inverness we head west, towards the historic stone village of Beauly where we stop for lunch. Lying at the head of the Beauly River, one of Scotland’s premier salmon fishing streams, the town is home to the remains of a 13th century Cistercian Priory, affording us a delightful setting to stop for a break. From here we continue to Corrimony Cairn, a 3rd century BC Bronze Age tomb that is surrounded by a ring of standing stones and whose Neolithic chambered cairn is similar to those at Clava. After exploring the area we continue next along the shores of Loch Ness to Invermoriston, taking in some of the mystical beauty of the deep, dark waters of the Loch before moving on to stunning mountain landscapes of Glen Shiel, whose dramatic vistas present the perfect backdrop to the wonderfully photogenic fortress of Eilean Donan Castle. One of the country’s most iconic monuments, the castle’s crenulated tower stands in stark solitude at the confluence of the Alsh, Long and Duich Lochs and was originally built during the early years of the 13th century, primarily to offer some protection against the increasingly violent raids of the Vikings. Destroyed by troops loyal to King George during the Jacobite rebellion, the castle’s haunting remains lay undisturbed for generations, until it was restored to its former glory at the turn of the 20th century. The setting for a number of feature films, including Highlander, Entrapment and The World is not Enough, the fortress is one of Scotland’s most photographed monuments and presents us with the perfect conclusion to our first day, as we begin the final leg of the journey towards the lovely village of Plockton, situated at the end of Loch Carron. We will be spending the next three nights in the heart of the village, in the family run and award winning, Plockton Inn, close to the harbour and its impressive sea views.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+)

The largest of the Inner Hebrides and once popular with both the Victorians and the Edwardians, the Isle of Skye (from the Norse word for cloud - skuy), has long captivated any visitors lucky enough to venture onto its wild and rugged shores. Inhabited for millennia, Skye was once a thriving island community, before the Clearances of the 19th century saw the vast majority of its population emigrate to the New World, and even today this mist shrouded island lies at the centre of one of the most important areas of Gaelic culture in the country. Crossing to the island this morning, we have a full day to explore something of its historic heritage and natural beauty, taking in the spectacular views of the Black Cullins and the outlying Hebridean Islands as we go. We’ll walk to the deserted Clearance villages of Boeraig and Suisnish, learning something of one of the Highlands most infamous episodes as we go. We’ll also take in evidence of the island’s ancient past, visiting the sites of Bronze and Iron Age settlements and enjoying some spectacular views of the tiny island of Rum, the craggy summit of Blaven (one of the island’s 12 Munros) and the wild landscapes of the Knoydart Peninsula to the south. A superb way to take in the rich natural and cultural heritage of the island, our walk will take us around 6-8 hours, covering a distance of some 10 miles and crossing some of the most unspoilt and breathtaking scenery in the Highlands.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Today we have a chance to explore the rugged beauty of Lochalsh, one of the last great areas of unspoilt wilderness in Scotland. This is a land where the mountains reach down to the deep, dark waters of the Atlantic; where Gaelic culture and local crafts go hand in hand with spectacular scenery and a rich diversity of flora and fauna. The area abounds in sea otters and golden eagles, deer and pine martins and we’ll spend the day walking through dense forested landscapes and along unrivalled coastal paths, taking in views across the Plockton Crags and out to the Island of Skye and Duncraig Castle. Covering nearly 8 miles, the walk should take us between 4 - 6 hours, and along the way we should get some impressive views of the Five Sisters of Kintail, part of Scotland’s collection of ‘Munro’ peaks (an assortment of nearly 300 peaks that exceed 3000ft and whose conquests have become something of a Holy Grail for avid hill walkers). Later we have an option to either go on a wildlife cruise in Loch Carron or explore Plockton at your own pace.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Winding our way back towards Inverness this morning we head along the shores of Loch Carron and through some of the more remote parts of the Scottish Highlands, an ideal setting for spotting Red Deer. We’ll stop off to take a short walk up to Rogie Falls on the Blackwater River, before making our way to the award-winning organic Black Isle Brewery, just south of the small town of Tore. This remarkable enterprise is located in a lovely 18th century building and produces a range of prize-winning ales that are produced entirely from organically grown hops and barley. Their mission statement is one for us all to cherish – ‘Save the Planet, Drink Organic’. From here it is just a short journey back to Inverness, where the tour ends on arrival at the city’s airport.

Included meals: Breakfast