Day 1 itinerary
Loch Ness, Isle of Skye, Sligachan Old Bridge, Neist Point Lighthouse
07:00 Inverness Departure
07:15 Feed the Hairy Cows
07:30 Loch Ness
09:30 Coffee at Award Winning Chocolatier
10:30 Ferry Crossing to Skye/Seal Colony
12:00 Lunch Break at an Old Viking Harbour
13:30 Sligachan Old Bridge
15:00 Hike to Neist Point Lighthouse
18:00 Portree Accommodation Drop Off
Day 2 itinerary
Old Man of Storr, Quiraing, Fairy Pools, Eilean Donan Castle
07:00 Accommodation Pick Up
07:30 Hike to the Old Man of Storr
09:30 Coffee at Mystery Location
10:30 The Quiraing
12:30 Hike to the Fairy Pools
14:30 Luke's On-Board Quiz
15:15 Coffee at Broadford
16:00 Eilean Donan Castle / Dram of Whisky
18:30 Return to Inverness / On-Board Disco
Tour Info
Duration: 2 days (Sun & Mon - other days available on request)
Departure: Inverness
Pick Up: Balnain House, Inverness
Group Size: 7 maximum
Distance: 350 miles
Availability: April to October
Age: 12+
Bonus Features
* Photographic Guidance
* Avoid queues! Entry to Eilean Donan Castle is INCLUDED in tour price
* Dram of Whisky at Scenic Location
* Charge for Ferry Crossing is INCLUDED in tour price
* On Board iPad and Wi-Fi
* FREE Drone Photography (subject to weather conditions)
* Bonus stops included (subject to time)
* Itinerary is flexible and can be adjusted to suit group and weather
* Hikes rated easy to moderate
Requirements
The following items are not supplied!
✓ Accommodation in Portree (1 night)
✓ Walking Boots
✓ Waterproofs
✓ Small Rucksack
✓ Packed Lunch / Snacks
✓ Flask for Coffee
✓ Swimming Costume for the Fairy Pools?
✓ Camera
✓ Sense of Adventure
✓ Sense of Humour (essential)
FULL DESCRIPTION (SPOILERS!)
Isle of Skye Tour of Dreams (2 days)
Our epic two day adventure begins in Inverness, capital of the Scottish Highlands. As we head out of the city, I will immerse you in local folklore, suggest other places to visit during your stay and make suggestions about where you can discover the very best food, drink and entertainment that Inverness has to offer.
DAY 1 - First we are off to Loch Ness and to meet the hairy cows … not only will you get to meet and photograph them, but I will also enhance the experience by bringing carrots so you can feed them. A unique bucket list experience for many people.
On our way to Skye we will travel through spectacular glens, historical battlefields and ancient crofting communities, where I will weave fascinating stories and personally curated historical narratives into the fabric of your journey that help your understand the rich cultural heritage that saturates every corner of this land. I have also put together a soundtrack for this tour that helps you form an ethereal connection between the music and the landscape.
We will then stop for a short coffee break around 1100 at an award winning chocolatier, you can even watch the chocolate being made on certain days through a viewing window.
Afterwards its time to head off the beaten track on a non tourist route to get photos from spectacular elevated views as we travel through the wilderness to experience one of the most unique aspects of our adventure, sailing ‘over the sea to Skye’ on the worlds only working turntable ferry. It's a 5 minute crossing and can only hold twelve people, but what makes it extra special is that all the other tour operators use the Skye Bridge (because its quick and easy), however I wanted to include something magical that was a little more romantic, plus you get to see a remote part of Skye in the process. There is also a seal colony nearby, sometimes up to 300 seals can be spotted here at any one time and you might get a chance to meet ‘spot the dog’ who helps on the crossings.
Welcome to the Isle of Skye ! …you will have worked up an appetite after all that adventuring, so its time to head for lunch at a place run by a good friend of mine located beside an old viking harbour. I will provide you with a menu in advance so you have a good idea what's on offer, its a hidden gem with something for everyone and sure to leave a lasting impression.
As we travel on to Sligachan, we pass through the old cattle market town of Broadford where otters, seals and even orcas have previously been spotted in the bay. Sligachan is the first of Skye’s many otherworldly locations and home to my trademark drone bridge photo, feel free to check out my work from Skye @luke.tours on instagram ...don't forget to drop me a follow 🙂
At Sligachan Old Bridge we stand in the shadow of Skye’s famous volcano the Black Cuillin, you will be given the opportunity to have an aerial photo taken here and indulge in a famous local fairy legend that could reward you with eternal beauty, or eternal life ! Theres also some beautiful accessible paths depending on the time of year, my personal favourite time is January when everything freezes, with the winter lighting, sunsets and sunrises this can be a truly spectacular location.
We then head out through fields of heather and cotton to Neist Point, one of my favourite hikes on the Isle of Skye. It’s the most westerly point of the island where the road can go no further and is dubbed “the end of the world”. The scenic hike around the jagged precipitous clifftops and then down to the lighthouse passes by some extraordinary landscape offering great exploring opportunities and once in a lifetime photos. There are plenty of curious friendly wild sheep to be met and during the summer months whales, dolphins and basking shark can all be spotted here. It is often wild and windy at Neist Point, but that just adds to the atmosphere of this desolate place and even on a misty dull day, the white lighthouse cuts an eerie figure through the haze as sea birds soar from the cliffs beside it.
We then head in to Portree for the night and a well earned rest. I will of course advise you on the very best places to eat, drink and other places that you might like to explore before dropping you at your accommodation to end a great day of exploring.
Day 2 begins with a hike to the Old Man of Storr, located on the Trotternish Peninsula. This iconic towering landmark on the Isle of Skye is a spectacular 160 ft volcanic plug left behind after massive landslides swept the rest of the hillside away. It’s a steady climb and the rewards are magnificent.
The Old Man of Storr is just one element in an array of fantastic geological features that we will see today set between the Trotternish Ridge and the sea. Awe inspiring and much photographed, you will without doubt feel like you have walked onto the film set of ‘The Lord of the Rings’.
After returning from this truly epic hike we will grab coffee and depending on the weather we may make one or two extra quick stops in this area, maybe even see a lone piper depending on the time of year and the weather. I don’t usually highlight these places as they are not very commercial and the locals like to try and maintain their secrets so they don’t become tourist honeypot sites .
Then it’s on to The Quiraing, a part of the spectacular Trotternish Ridge escarpment, again formed by giant landslides that left behind a strange landscape of rocky shapes, undulating cone shaped grassy slopes and contorted pillars of eroded lava that fell off the mountainside to create an otherworldly scene of pinnacles, ridges and cliffs.
Theres time for a short stop at Kilt Rock as we pass back through this wild, barren and beautifully desolate place on our way back to Portree and then on to the Fairy Pools, Scotlands amazing waterfall phenomenon.
After a hike out to the foot of the Black Cuillins near Glenbrittle, the adventurers among us can take a dip in the crystal-clear cascading rock pools. It’s a beautiful location on Skye even if the skies are grey and mysterious, plus there are also plenty of scenic paths through countryside that are home to red deer, rabbits, and sheep. The pools are home to many myths and legends, some even have natural arches to swim under the water. I will even immerse you in playlist of fairy music as our journey approaches this magical place !
Our final destination will be Eilean Donan Castle, on route there’s an opportunity to take part in Lukes “on board quiz”. The winner even receives a prize, then as we arrive at the castle you will be greeted by a well earned dram of whisky before crossing the famous bridge to explore inside this iconic monument.
Its the perfect location to end the tour before heading back into Inverness and there’s even time for Lukes ‘on board disco’ …the music is chosen by you the guests, and it’s sure to sound even better after that dram!
Tour of Dreams will be one of the most enchanting and memorable experiences of your life, so grab your boots and BOOK NOW to avoid disappointment.
I hope to see you in Inverness very soon !
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