The northerly route

Leaving Inverness we’ll travel through the northern highlands with a number of stops along the way. We’ll even take the short walk to Rogie Falls and a stop at Loch Carron viewpoint. The road travels through a remote part of Scotland which gives us an appreciation as to why this considered the last great wilderness. The route also makes up part of the famous North Coast 500 driving route.

We’ll then descend to sea level at Loch Alsh for the last stop on the mainland at Eilean Donan.

Eilean Donan Castle

Situated on a small tidal island in Loch Duich, Eilean Donan has arguably the most magnificent location of any castle in Scotland. Named after Donnan of Eigg, a 7th century Celtic saint who may have built a church where the castle now stands, the island has been permanently occupied since the mid-13th century. The castle lay in ruins for nearly two centuries after it was destroyed by government forces after the first Jacobite uprising, being purchased and renovated in 1912, when a footbridge was added to allow easier access than the tidal causeway it replaced.

Glenelg Ferry

As we leave the Isle of Skye we’ll take the quirky Glenelg ferry on the short crossing over the Kylerhea straight. This small turntable ferry has served this crossing dutifully since 1934. The ferry is close to the heart of the islanders and is part of the heritage of Skye.

1 million years of Skye

As we leave Portree we pass by The Old Man of Storr, a rocky outcrop that appears to be a sleeping giant with much folklore attached. We’ll visit ‘The Kilt Rock’ a fascinating geological feature on the coast with views across the Ocean to Torridon. Here you’ll learn about geological changes to the islands over the millennia.

Museum of Island Life

The Museum Of Island Life, with its thatched cottages gives an insight as to what a crofters life on Skye would have been like hundreds of years ago. We’ll explore this quaint collection of cottages and workshops that have been accurately recreated. Highland Heroine Flora MacDonald is also buried nearby and we’ll learn her story and how she defined a turbulent period in Scottish history that is culturally significant today.

Talisker Distillery

Founded in by brothers Hugh and Kenneth MacAskill in 1830, they acquired the lease of Talisker House from the chief of Clan Macleod (of Dunvegan Castle). Talisker distillery was was extended by 1887 and again in 1900 before a stillhouse fire completely destroyed the site in 1960. Reconstruction was swift and five exact replicas of the original condensing stills were constructed to preserve the original Talisker flavour. Today Talisker is one of the contributing distilleries for Johnny Walker, probably the most famous blended Scotch.

Tours of the distillery are popular and take visitors through the distillation and bottling process. Of course no visit is complete without a wee dram (or two) at the end of the visit!

We’ll then travel to Portree for the evening.