Isle of Skye and Dunvegan Castle Tour – Itinerary
The Isle of Skye and Dunvegan Castle Tour from Inverness begins with a photostop on Loch Ness side with Urquhart Castle. The first major stop is Eilean Donan Castle. Then, crossing the Skye Bridge we travel to Dunvegan Castle and Gardens through the Cuillin Mountains. We visit Portree, pretty island capital, in the afternoon, before returning to Inverness.
Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle
Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle make a great stop because you can capture two icons in one photo. One of the great castles of Scotland, Urquhart was first held by Pictish tribal chiefs, later becoming a mighty royal castle, and finally a Clan Grant stronghold. It saw 1,000 years of continuous occupation before its fall, in 1692. It overlooks the dark waters of Loch Ness – the largest lake in the country. This is more than enough water to hide its most famous inhabitant – Nessie!
The Five Sisters of Kintail
The mountains known as the Five Sisters of Kintail are very popular with photographers and hikers due to their five jagged peaks. The Jacobites and Redcoats fought the Battle of Glen Shiel on the lower slopes in 1719. Legends and tales abound in the Kintail area.
Eilean Donan Castle
Eilean Donan Castle is called the “most romantic castle in the Highlands” due to the number of weddings it hosts. A Clan Macrae stronghold, it has a great exhibition, shop and café and has been in movies like Highlander, James Bond and Made of Honor. It is a favourite with photographers, and as a result appears on many postcards and calendar pictures.
Isle of Skye
Isle of Skye is the largest of the Inner Hebrides. It is known the world over for breathtaking scenery and its rich body of myth and legend. The island capital, Portree, is a pretty town, enhanced by a picturesque harbour. Skye has featured in many TV shows and films in both Hollywood and Bollywood, and plenty homegrown productions too.
Dun Beag
Dun Beag means “Little Fort”. Depending on your day’s itinerary there may be time to stop here. The Dun is around 2,000 years old and is a great example of a well-preserved broch. A broch is a unique form of Iron-Age round tower found only in Scotland. This one is located on a rocky hilltop, therefore giving great views of the surrounding coastline.
Dunvegan Castle
Dunvegan Castle is the clan seat of Clan MacLeod. The clan motto is Hold Fast and that is what they have been doing on the rock here, for over 800 years. There are beautiful gardens, seal-watching boat trips, and in the castle itself – the dungeon, the Fairy Tower, the Fairy Flag, Rory Mor’s Drinking Horn and many wonderful paintings and rooms.
Portree
Portree, (meaning the King’s harbour) is the capital of the Isle of Skye. It has attracted an interesting range of people over the centuries – including Bonnie Prince Charlie, Turner, Tennyson and R. L. Stevenson. It is a very pretty town, popular with our visitors because it has a great range of shops and eating places, and has many brightly coloured houses along its harbour side.
The Return
The Return is by a different route and the leisurely drive back to Inverness takes in lonely Achnasheen, the Black Isle and views of both the Beauly Firth and the Moray Firth.
Isle of Skye and Dunvegan Castle Tour – Price
£695
Isle of Skye and Dunvegan Castle Tour – Departure
The tour can depart from your Inverness accommodation, or from any transport hub you prefer, such as bus station, train station or airport. You tell us, and we’ll be there.