Scotland – North Coast 500 and the Isle of Skye

Important: please note. In order to operate this holiday to its full potential and appreciate the scenery around the coast and on the Isle of Skye, we use 5 different hotels, some without passenger lifts. Most have ground floor rooms, and all have porterage.
The hotels are:

• The Highlander, Newtonmore (1 night)
• Castletown Hotel, Castletown, Thurso (2 nights)
• The Caledonian hotel, Ullapool (1 night)
• The Dunollie Hotel, Isle of Skye (2 nights)
• The Alexandra Hotel, Fort William (1 night)

Our Itinerary
DAY 1 After your doorstep service has brought you to our coach, we drive north over the border with comfort stops by passing Perth and Pitlochry to the Highlander Hotel, Newtonmore for dinner and our overnight stay.
DAY 2 After a full Scottish breakfast we leave the hotel and continue north past Inverness to the north east coastal route passing through Brora, Helmsdale, Berriedale, Latheron and Wick to the Castletown Hotel near Thurso for dinner and a 2 night stay.
DAY 3 After breakfast, a leisurely day as we visit Dunnet Head, the most northernly point on mainland Scotland. Then on to the cliffs at Duncansby Head before visiting John O’Groats. In the afternoon we have an included visit to the Castle of Mey and Gardens. This was the adored home of the Queen Mother who saved it from ruin in 1952. After our visit we return to our hotel for relaxation and dinner.
DAY 4 After breakfast we leave the hotel and drive across the top of Scotland via Bettyhill and Tongue to the Smoo Cave where we include a light lunch. Then onward past Durness to the North West coastal route via Laxford Bridge and Elphin to Ullapool and the Caledonian Hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 5 After a leisurely breakfast we continue our journey around the coast past Dundonnel and Gairloch, we then drive down Glencarron to the Kyle of Lochalsh, over the Skye Bridge and to the Dunollie Hotel for dinner and a stay of 2 nights.
DAY 6 Today we have a full day tour of Skye. First, we travel to Sligachan then along the coastal route past Loch Harport to Dunvegan where we have an included visit of the castle and gardens, the home of the McLeods. Later we drive via Portree, the capital of the island then along the north east coastal route past the Old Man of Storr and Kilt Rock returning via Uig to our hotel for dinner.
DAY 7 After breakfast we leave the hotel and drive to Armadale at the south of the island where we board the ferry over to Mallaig. After time here we then continue along the ‘road to the isles’ to Fort William and our overnight hotel, the Alexandra for relaxation before dinner.
DAY 8 Today we leave Fort William and travel through Glencoe, then via Callender and over the border into England to our door-to-door service back to your homes.

Facilities

• All hotels en-suite rooms
• Porterage at all hotels
• Most hotels do not have passenger lifts
• Most have ground floor rooms
• All have Scottish hospitality

Holiday includes

• Door-to-door service
• All luxury coach travel as listed
• 7 nights accommodation
• 7 x Scottish breakfasts
• 7 x 3 course choice dinners
• Entrance to Castle of Mey & Gardens
• Light lunch on day 4
• Entrance to Dunvegan Castle & Gardens
• Ferry crossing Armadale to Mallaig
• Services of our experienced crew