The NC500 – The Best of the West (6 Days)

Options: 

• Scone Palace Home of the Earls of Mansfield, most famous as once the  Crowning Place of Scottish Kings. (Open April – October). 
  
• Perth Museum  Highlighting 10,000 years of Scottish and world history. See The Stone of Destiny; an ancient symbol of Scotland.

• Dunkeld / Cathedral 

• Hike/walk in the Hermitage Forest / Ossians Cave and the Black Linn Falls.

• Blair Castle & Gardens The spectacular home of the Atholl family for over seven centuries. (Open April – October). 

• Malt Whisky Distillery Tour & Tasting

• Inverness for a walk along the River Ness.
• Culloden Battlefield & Museum. The battle that changed the highland way of life forever. Discover the true story from both the Jacobite and Government perspective. 
• Clava Cairns (prehistoric cairns and standing stones).  

Overnight: Dornoch

Options:

• Explore the seaside town of Dornoch. Visit Dornoch Cathedral. 

• Tour Dunrobin Castle  Seat of Clan Sutherland with Its spectacular gardens.  (Open April – October). 

• Visit Brora and the Carn Liath Broch, an easily accessible Iron Age drystone structure located just south of the village.

• Shortcut route via Dalchork/Altnaharra.

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• Enjoy a hike/walk to the ruined Castle Varrich positioned overlooking the Kyle of Tongue.

Overnight: Durness

Options: 

• Smoo Cave in Durness is a massive sea cave with an internal waterfall. (Note: It’s quite a tough walk up and down the steps, but if you’re able to it’s worth doing. You can also walk along the top into the headlands which give great views). 
• Balnakeil Craft Village (an old military camp turned artists’ colony) for handmade ceramics and the famous Cocoa Mountain chocolate.
• Stop for the iconic photo of the Kylesku Bridge, a curved architectural marvel.
• Drive through the North West Highlands UNESCO Geopark, home to some of the oldest rocks on earth. 
• If wished take a detour on the single track road to Achmelvich Beach famed for the turquoise waters and white “flour” sand or nearby Clachtoll.
• Stop at the haunting ruins of Ardvreck Castle on the banks of Loch Assynt.

• Enjoy some fresh seafood at the Seafood Shack in Ullapool. 
• Enjoy a hike/walk in the Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve.
• Corrieshalloch Gorge Cross the suspension bridge over a 150-foot waterfall. 
• Inverewe Gardens at Poolewe where the Gulf Stream allows lush, exotic plants to grow here despite the northern latitude.

Overnight: Gairloch area

Options: 

• Take a hike/walk in the Beinn Eighe & Loch Maree Islands National Nature Reserve.
• The drive through Glen Torridon is arguably the most scenic in Scotland.
• Seafood lunch at the Applecross Inn.  
• Enjoy the epic drive over the Bealach na Bà, the steepest road in the UK with hairpin bends and alpine views across to the Isle of Skye. 
• Lochcarron Weavers for a wonderful range of tartans, luxury knitwear, kilts and tweed clothing.

• Attadale Gardens is a hidden gem of the Scottish Highlands, offering a captivating blend of natural beauty and artistic design. (Private Tour with Owner can be arranged on request).
• Relax in Plockton – the peaceful coastal village known as the “Jewel of the Highlands”.
• Wildlife Boat Trip spot seals and look out for the more elusive otter and white-tailed eagle on Loch Carron.

Overnight:  Plockton (or if wished on the Isle of Skye). You can also if wished extend your tour and include some extra days on Skye.

Options: 

• Full Day Sea Kayaking in Plockton Bay (add an extra day for this). 
• Eilean Donan Castle, perhaps the most photographed castle in the world, as rightly so. Positioned at the meeting of the 3 waters it’s a special place. 
• Enjoy views of Ben Nevis; the UK’s highest mountain in Fort William.
• Stop off at Neptune’s Staircase, The Caledonian Canal.
• Take a hike/walk in Glencoe or enjoy the drive through the glen stopping at the Three Sisters viewpoint for some of Scotland’s most hauntingly beautiful mountain scenery. 

Overnight:  Ballachulish/Glencoe.

Options: 

• Enjoy a hike/walk in Glen Etive 
• Fort William and Caledonian Canal

• Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park

• Glasgow bound?  Stop off in the pretty village of Luss on the banks of Loch Lomond for a scenic walk before arriving in Glasgow for a tour of Scotland’s friendliest city. 

• Edinburgh bound?  Follow the route through The Trossachs with the chance to visit Doune Castle (Outlander fans will recognise this as Castle Leoch!) and/or Stirling Castle before arriving in Edinburgh.