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Relaxed touring, Wonderful scenery and the NC500
The Highlands of Scotland offer some of the best scenery to be found in the British Isles and throughout this tour you will experience the very best of it, including traveling the NC500 (North Coast 500 mile route). Enjoy the end of Summer and as it turns to Autumn, the start of changing colours to the surrounding countryside at this wonderful time of year.
The major population centres of Scotland are Glasgow and Edinburgh, this tour starts and finishes north of these, directly in the Highlands. The tour focuses on the real rural areas of the north and its beautiful coastline as we travel in a clockwise direction along the west coast, across the north and down the east. Stops at Loch Lomond, Oban, Loch Ness, Isle of Skye, Ullapool, Durness, Inverness and Pitlochry are all included.
Throughout the tour do not miss the opportunity to make visits at Inveraray Castle, Neptune’s Staircase, Urquhart Castle, Eilean Donan Castle, Inverewe Gardens, John O’Groats and Dunrobin Castle, all are on our route. Throughout the tour each journey has been kept short, allowing plenty of time for making on route stops and visits to attractions.
This tour offers wonderful travel in your own motorhome, through stunning Scottish Highlands scenery in sparsely populated locations. Campsites in the north of Scotland tend to have scenic locations but at times more basic facilities.
Day One – Monday 2nd September
We meet at a well-appointed campsite on Loch Lomond. Late afternoon the Tour Directors will host a welcome get together and for the evening we will all go out for a group dinner. A chance to meet fellow travelling companions and to learn a little more about the adventure ahead.
Day Two – Tuesday 3rd September
A free day and opportunity to visit your first ‘Loch’ of the tour. The waterside of Loch Lomond is a 10 minute-walk from our campsite where you can enjoy a taster of some of the great scenery to come throughout the tour.
Day Three – Wednesday 4th September
Move on today. Starting with a drive along the waterside of Loch Lomond we head towards the beautiful west coast town of Oban. On route make a stop at Inveraray to see its castle and prison. 80 miles
Day Four – Thursday 5th September
A free day. From our campsite there are views across the straits to Kerrera island, which is a walker’s paradise and the Kerrera ferry is just a short walk from our campsite. Oban centre is a 2.5 mile coastal cycle or walk away. Oban is a picturesque town with many shops, cafes and restaurants to enjoy.
Day Five – Friday 6th September
Continue our journey north today as we travel to the base of Ben Nevis. On route stop off in Fort William. This evening we have a group dinner in the campsite’s own well-appointed restaurant. 55 miles
Day Six – Saturday 7th September
A free day. Maybe you will want to tackle Ben Nevis, a hike of around 7 hours! If not the scenery of the UK’s highest mountain can be enjoyed directly from our campsite and whilst taking more pleasant flat walks alongside the river.
Day Seven – Sunday 8th September
Just a short drive today but it will take time. On route visit the Neptune’s Staircase (a series of 8 locks cut into the Caledonian Canal), make a stop at Spean Bridge, then as we run alongside Loch Ness keep an eye out for Nessie. Lastly make a stop at Urquhart castle before arriving to our campsite which is around 15 minutes walk from the shore of Loch Ness. 50 miles
Day Eight – Monday 9th September
Today travel west as we leave the Scottish mainland and cross to the Isle of Skye (toll free bridge). On route stop off at Eilean Donan castle (Scotland’s most photographed historic monument). 110 miles
Day Nine – Tuesday 10th September
Free day. In addition to wonderful coastal views and an ideal place for relaxing, our campsite is within walking distance of Dunvegan village and Castle & Gardens.
Day Ten – Wednesday 11th September
We return to the mainland today and pick up the NC500. This really is the Highlands now and an introduction to single lane roads. However, don’t be put off, the roads are well surfaced, not very busy and with passing places every 100m or so. The scenery is wonderful all the way and our campsite for tonight is located directly on the beach. 120 miles
Day Eleven – Thursday 12th September
A leisurely start to today with breakfast arranged in the campsite coffee bar. Following this the day is free for enjoying the beach.
Day Twelve – Friday 13th September
Today is a short drive so plenty of time to stop off and enjoy some of the many Lochs that we travel alongside. Also, a must see for today are the Inverewe Gardens, considered to be some of the best in the UK. This evening we are in Ullapool. 60 miles
Day Thirteen – Saturday 14th September
A free day. Our campsite overlooks Ullapool estuary where boats arriving and departing for the Outer Hebrides are seen. You are also just a few minutes walk from Ullapool centre.
Day Fourteen – Sunday 15th September
Continuing on the NC500 today we pass through dramatic West Highlands scenery to arrive at our campsite at the north west corner of Scotland. 70 miles
Day Fifteen – Monday 16th September
A free day and opportunity to walk to the wonderful Balnakiel beach.
Day Sixteen – Tuesday 17th September
Continuing through wonderful scenery today we make our way across the north of Scotland on the NC500 to arrive at Thurso and a campsite overlooking the sea. Opposite our campsite is a major supermarket, this will be the first of these you will have seen for a good few days.
80 miles
Day Seventeen – Wednesday 18th September
Today take the opportunity to call at John O’Groats as we continue the NC500 route to Dornoch. This evening we walk into town for a group meal. 90 miles
Day Eighteen – Thursday 19th September
A free day and opportunity to explore Dornoch, or to give it its official title Royal Dornoch.
Day Nineteen – Friday 20th September
Today we are collected from the campsite and transported to Dunrobin Castle where there is time to tour the castle and view the impressive falconry display.
Day Twenty – Saturday 21st September
We complete the NC500 today as we arrive at its official start/finish point in the Highlands picturesque city of Inverness. On route make a stop at the Falls of Shin, one of the best places to view salmon jumping upstream as they return to their birth place for laying their own eggs. 50 miles
Day Twenty-one – Sunday 22nd September
A free day to visit Inverness which is a 2 mile riverside cycle or walk from our camping.
Day Twenty-two – Monday 23rd September
Whilst we have now completed the NC500 there remains a good drive for today’s journey as we travel south to Pitlochry. We take a route skirting the Grampian Mountains or if you prefer you can cross the mountains and pass Balmoral Castle to arrive to our final campsite. 100 or 140 miles
Day Twenty-three – Tuesday 24th September
Pitlochry is a lovely place to explore along with its ‘Salmon Ladder’, both of which are walkable from our campsite. This afternoon we go out for ‘afternoon tea’.
Day Twenty-four – Wednesday 25th September
A free day to explore Pitlochry further or just take it easy. This evening we walk into town for a ‘Farewell dinner’ and a chance to reflect on some of the wonderful scenery passed through over 24 days that has been Scotland’s Highlands and NC500.
Day Twenty-five – Thursday 26th September
Today our tour comes to an end. Edinburgh is just 70 miles south if you wish to extend your time in Scotland with a visit to its capital.
VISITS TO PLACES OF INTEREST
- Visits are left for individuals to decide which they would like to make and are not arranged/included in the tour, except for Dunrobin Castle (Day 19). Throughout the time away the Tour Directors will be on hand to assist with any information/bookings.
GROUP MEALS included in the tour
- 1 group breakfast
- 1 group afternoon tea
- 4 group dinners with wine
PRICE
Motorhome with 2 people = £0000 per person
Motorhome with 1 person = £0000
DEPOSIT £000
INCLUDED IN PRICE
- 24 Campsite nights with electric hook-ups
- Welcome to Scotland drinks reception
- 1 group breakfast
- 1 group afternoon tea
- 4 group dinners with wine
- Excursion to Dunrobin Castle
- Tour information pack with suggested routes and GPS Co-ordinates
- Services of Tour Directors travelling in their own motorhome throughout the tour