Easter in Scotland

Itinerary Item 1

Name: DAY 1: EDINBURGH TO LOCH NESS

Short Description: We depart Edinburgh and cross the impressive Forth Road Bridge on our way through Macbeth country to Dunkeld with its mighty Cathedral. Taste the ‘water of life’ at a Highland whisky distillery before learning the true story which inspired Outlander at Culloden Battlefield and attempt your own journey through the stones at Clava Cairns. We follow the entire length of Loch Ness searching for a glimpse of the legendary beast. Our base for the next two nights is the 4-star Morag’s Lodge hostel, nestled on the shores of Loch Ness, famous for its legendary Highland hospitality and cosy bar.

Description: We depart Edinburgh and cross the impressive Forth Road Bridge on our way through Macbeth country to Dunkeld with its mighty Cathedral. Taste the ‘water of life’ at a Highland whisky distillery before learning the true story which inspired Outlander at Culloden Battlefield and attempt your own journey through the stones at Clava Cairns. We follow the entire length of Loch Ness searching for a glimpse of the legendary beast. Our base for the next two nights is the 4-star Morag’s Lodge hostel, nestled on the shores of Loch Ness, famous for its legendary Highland hospitality and cosy bar.

Highlights

• Dunkeld Cathedral (Dunkeld)
• Loch Ness(LN)
• Clava Cairns (CC)
• Culloden Battlefield(Culloden)

Itinerary Item 2

Name: DAY 2: ISLE OF SKYE

Short Description: Start your day early as we set off from Morag’s Lodge, heading directly to Fort William, where you can choose to embark on a journey aboard the Jacobite Steam Train — beloved by Harry Potter fans as the Hogwarts Express! This iconic train ride takes you past breathtaking views of lochs, sandy beaches, and the world-famous Glenfinnan Viaduct. Afterward, we’ll hop on a ferry bound for the awesome Isle of Skye. Known for its rugged landscapes, towering peaks, and captivating legends. We’ll roam through the striking Cuillin Mountains before making our way to the charming harbour town of Portree for a wee stroll and a bite to eat. Continuing our journey, we’ll explore the Trotternish Peninsula, an area renowned for its unusual rock formations and otherworldly scenery. Highlights include the imposing Old Man of Storr and Kilt Rock, where a waterfall cascades dramatically over the cliffs into the sea below. On the return leg, we’ll stop for photos at one of Scotland’s most photographed landmarks, Eilean Donan Castle, before crossing the Skye Bridge and heading back to Morag’s Lodge in the evening. Arrive just in time to relive your day’s adventure and swap stories with fellow travellers over a well-deserved meal.

Description: Start your day early as we set off from Morag’s Lodge, heading directly to Fort William, where you can choose to embark on a journey aboard the Jacobite Steam Train — beloved by Harry Potter fans as the Hogwarts Express! This iconic train ride takes you past breathtaking views of lochs, sandy beaches, and the world-famous Glenfinnan Viaduct. Afterward, we’ll hop on a ferry bound for the awesome Isle of Skye. Known for its rugged landscapes, towering peaks, and captivating legends. We’ll roam through the striking Cuillin Mountains before making our way to the charming harbour town of Portree for a wee stroll and a bite to eat. Continuing our journey, we’ll explore the Trotternish Peninsula, an area renowned for its unusual rock formations and otherworldly scenery. Highlights include the imposing Old Man of Storr and Kilt Rock, where a waterfall cascades dramatically over the cliffs into the sea below. On the return leg, we’ll stop for photos at one of Scotland’s most photographed landmarks, Eilean Donan Castle, before crossing the Skye Bridge and heading back to Morag’s Lodge in the evening. Arrive just in time to relive your day’s adventure and swap stories with fellow travellers over a well-deserved meal.

Highlights

• Portree(Portee)
• Cuillin Mountains(Cuillin)
• Kilt Rock(Kilt)
• Eilean Donan Castle(Eilean)
• Isle of Skye(Skye)
• Old Man of Storr(Storr)
• Hogwarts Express (Jacobite)

Itinerary Item 3

Name: DAY 3: LOCH NESS TO EDINBURGH

Short Description: We journey south through the stunning rugged landscape of Glen Coe, once used as a backdrop in Skyfall and the Harry Potter movies and scene of the 1692 massacre of the MacDonald Clan. We pass through Rannoch Moor, an expanse of boggy moorland very different to the Highland scenery we have visited. As we approach Stirling your guide will regale you with stories of bloody battles, sieges and the Wars of Independence. Hear of local legends such as William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. Before we arrive back to Edinburgh we make a stop at the Kelpies, the world’s largest equine sculpture, designed by Scottish sculptor Andy Scott. After an epic three days, we return to Edinburgh in the early evening.

Description: We journey south through the stunning rugged landscape of Glen Coe, once used as a backdrop in Skyfall and the Harry Potter movies and scene of the 1692 massacre of the MacDonald Clan. We pass through Rannoch Moor, an expanse of boggy moorland very different to the Highland scenery we have visited. As we approach Stirling your guide will regale you with stories of bloody battles, sieges and the Wars of Independence. Hear of local legends such as William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. Before we arrive back to Edinburgh we make a stop at the Kelpies, the world’s largest equine sculpture, designed by Scottish sculptor Andy Scott. After an epic three days, we return to Edinburgh in the early evening.

Highlights

• Glen Coe(GC)
• Rannoch Moor (Rannoch)
• Kelpies (Kelpies)

Inclusions

Item 1: Legendary Local HAGGiS Guide

Item 2: Small Group Tour

Item 3: 2 Nights Mixed-Gender Multi-Share Hostel Accommodation

Item 4: Whisky Distillery Visit

Item 5: All Transport

Highlight 1

Name: Small But Mighty

NameShort: Small But Mighty

Travelling in a wee group means more banter, more space, and plenty of laughs along the way. Cosy, right? Just a heads-up – while we usually travel in smaller vehicles, sometimes a larger bus might be used due to availability.

Travelling in a wee group means more banter, more space, and plenty of laughs along the way. Cosy, right? Just a heads-up – while we usually travel in smaller vehicles, sometimes a larger bus might be used due to availability.

Image Name: small group tours

Image Alt: small group tours

Highlight 2

Name: Portree

NameShort: Portree

Pretty Portree is Skye’s main settlement and tourist town. The picturesque harbour with its colourful facades is where Bonnie Prince Charlie finally escaped on a French ship after the Battle of Culloden; never to return to Scotland.

Pretty Portree is Skye’s main settlement and tourist town. The picturesque harbour with its colourful facades is where Bonnie Prince Charlie finally escaped on a French ship after the Battle of Culloden; never to return to Scotland.

Image Name: Portree Skye

Image Alt: Portree Skye

Highlight 3

Name: Hogwarts Express

NameShort: Hogwarts Express

All aboard the Hogwarts Express! The Jacobite Steam Train between Fort William and Mallaig is said to be the greatest rail journey in the world. The train crosses the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct, and sweeps along the west coast, offering bonnie views of distant isles and white sand beaches.

All aboard the Hogwarts Express! The Jacobite Steam Train between Fort William and Mallaig is said to be the greatest rail journey in the world. The train crosses the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct, and sweeps along the west coast, offering bonnie views of distant isles and white sand beaches.

Image Name: Jacobite Steam Train

Image Alt: Jacobite Steam Train

Highlight 4

Name: Glen Coe

NameShort: Glen Coe

As far as Scottish scenery goes, you don’t get more dramatic than the mighty Glencoe. ‘Glen’ is Gaelic for valley, and this jaw-dropper was deeply carved into the landscape during the Ice Age. From the sprawling peaks to crystal-clear rivers, Glencoe is guaranteed to blow your wee socks off.

Glencoe translates as the ‘weeping glen’, and it certainly lives up to its name. Waterfalls run from misty peaks through the glen’s gorges and creases, and are particularly dramatic after a downpour of “liquid sunshine”. Glencoe’s name also reflects the sad history of the clan who once lived there. In 1692, the government redcoats murdered Clan MacDonald in their beds, as punishment for their Jacobite allegiance. This bloody and brutal betrayal of Highland hospitality is remembered in history as the Massacre of Glencoe. Glencoe is dominated by majestic mountains which completely contrast the vast and flat expanse of its neighbouring Rannoch Moor. Buachaille Etive Mòr, which overlooks the moor, is a bonnie brute of a mountain, and a fond favourite with photographers. We think that Glencoe is the most photogenic when the weather is moody and atmospheric.

Image Name: Glen Coe

Image Alt: Glen Coe

Highlight 5

Name: Loch Ness

NameShort: Loch Ness

It’s time to tick Loch Ness off your Scotland bucket list, as we go in search of the infamous Loch Ness Monster. We promise you’ll get cool photos of Loch Ness and the surrounding scenery. A glimpse of ‘Nessie’ in the background is just an extra bonus!

Loch Ness is not the biggest or the deepest loch in Scotland, but it is definitely the most well-known. For this, we can thank the legend of the Loch Ness Monster. The first sighting of ‘Nessie’ was in 565AD by St Columba, when the monster reared its ugly head and launched an attack on his man servant. Much later, the ‘Surgeons Photograph’ from 1934 was considered the best and most famous capture of the beast, until it was later revealed to be a fake.! Of all Scotland’s lochs, Loch Ness has the highest volume of water. Glaciers carved the crazy-deep cavity of the loch, which holds more water than all the lakes in England and Wales. The water is so full of peat from the surrounding hills, its depths are almost pitch-black. Perfect hiding place for a monster if you ask us!

Image Name: Loch Ness

Image Alt: Loch Ness tour

Highlight 6

Name: Dunkeld Cathedral

NameShort: Dunkeld Cathedral

Dunkeld Cathedral is absolutely beautifully, from the peaceful, countryside setting to the impressive, arched ruins. Look inside the main building for the cursed tomb of the wicked ‘Wolf of Babenoch’, and wander down to the banks of the fast-flowing River Tay to soak up the surroundings.

Dunkeld is a pretty Perthshire town at the gateway to the Scottish Highlands. Rows of super-cute 18th century houses lead towards Dunkeld Cathedral, which has been a centre of religion worship for hundreds of years. Work began on the cathedral in the 13th century, and they clearly weren’t in a hurry, as it took nearly 250 years to finish. Part of the cathedral is a ruin, which we think is the most beautiful part. The setting is pretty-damn bonnie too, with a perfect view of the Dunkeld Bridge over the River Tay. Inside the main cathedral is the effigy of Alexander Stuart, Earl of Buchan, also known as the ‘Wolf of Badenoch’; a notorious and villainous character in Scottish history. His favourite hobbies were terrorising people and setting fire to things, so it’s hardly surprising his tomb is said to be cursed. You have been warned!

Image Name: Dunkeld Cathedral

Image Alt: Dunkeld Cathedral

Highlight 7

Name: Whisky Drinking

NameShort: Whisky Drinking

A trip to Scotland would not be complete without a wee taste of our national tipple… whisky! We take you to a local whisky tasting to sample the ‘water of life’, where you’re guaranteed to leave feeling warm and fuzzy inside.

A trip to Scotland would not be complete without a wee taste of our national tipple… whisky! We take you to a local whisky tasting to sample the ‘water of life’, where you’re guaranteed to leave feeling warm and fuzzy inside.

Image Name: Whisky drinking

Image Alt: Whisky drinking

Highlight 8

Name: Cuillin Mountains

NameShort: Cuillin Mountains

The Cuillin mountains are millions of years old, and they look damn fine for their age. The epic ruggedness of the red and black rock dominates the otherworldly landscape on Skye, and will be sure to block your wee socks off!

The Cuillin mountains are millions of years old, and they look damn fine for their age. The epic ruggedness of the red and black rock dominates the otherworldly landscape on Skye, and will be sure to block your wee socks off!

Image Name: Cuillin Mountains Isle of Skye

Image Alt: Cuillin Mountains Isle of Skye

Highlight 9

Name: Kilt Rock

NameShort: Kilt Rock

Absolutely nothing to see here, it’s just a crinkle-cut sea cliff and an epic waterfall. No filters are required to make Kilt Rock look cool. Learn about how this insane coastline was formed. Geology or giants? You decide!

Absolutely nothing to see here, it’s just a crinkle-cut sea cliff and an epic waterfall. No filters are required to make Kilt Rock look cool. Learn about how this insane coastline was formed. Geology or giants? You decide!

Image Name: Kilt Rock

Image Alt: Kilt Rock

Highlight 10

Name: Eilean Donan Castle

NameShort: Eilean Donan Castle

Don’t believe in love at first sight? Eilean Donan Castle will soon change that. A picturesque stone bridge winds out to the stunning structure. Set upon a wee tidal island, against a backdrop of mountains and lochs, it is undoubtedly one of the most iconic and romantic sights in Scotland.

Eilean Donan Castle is perfectly formed and instantly recognisable. From every angle the castle boasts a bonnie backdrop, from misty or snow-sprinkled peaks, to glassy-still lochs which mirror the sun and clouds. The castle sits in a unique position, at a point where three sea lochs meet. This was a deliberate defence strategy to protect the area from Viking raids, when the castle was fortified in the 13th century. Later in history, the castle was used as a garrison for Spanish troops, who supported the Jacobite cause during the 1719 uprising. They arrived with over 300 barrels of gunpowder, which they never got the chance to use. Instead, their military opponents gained access to the castle, and used the gunpowder to blow it up from the inside-out. Oh, the irony! The castle lay as a romantic ruin until it was restored to its former glory and reopened in 1932.

Link to Highlight resource:

Eilean Donan Castle)

Image Name: Eilean Donan Castle

Image Alt: Eilean Donan Castle

Highlight 11

Name: Rannoch Moor

NameShort: Rannoch Moor

Rannoch Moor is 50 square miles of wildly gorgeous nothingness. Uninhabited wilderness is difficult to come by, and the Rannoch Moor is one of very few left in Europe. Road access is limited, so our adventure is on foot. Rannoch Moor is boggy, beautiful and completely off-the-beaten-track.

Rannoch Moor is vast and expansive. Witness spotlights of sunshine on one side, while the dark haze of a downpour dominates the sky in the distance. The wild landscape is scattered with lochans, peaty bogs, and heather patches. Rannoch Moor is uninhabitable thanks to the remote and unforgiving terrain, yet makes the perfect home for wee birds and creatures, including Roe deer. Road-trippers skirt the west of the moor, with Buachaille Etive Mòr and Glencoe nearby. On the other side, the West Highland Line passes through the isolated Rannoch Station; it was used as the filming location for Ewan McGregor’s hilarious rant in the Scottish cult classic Trainspotting. We get right in amongst it, as we trail the Old Military Road through the wilderness, and onwards to the mighty Glencoe. The Rannoch Moor is where we quite literally ‘get away from it all’.

Image Name: Rannoch Moor

Image Alt: Rannoch Moor

Highlight 12

Name: Isle of Skye

NameShort: Isle of Skye

The Isle of Skye is every bit as magical as it sounds. Our journey takes you around the coast and through the mists of time. In the shadow of the mighty mountains, we search for waterfalls, mischievous wee fairies, and remnants of a land long ago.

Skye is Scotland’s most popular isle, and you’ll quickly understand why. The iconic Skye Bridge transports you from the mainland into a whole new world of insane geology, beguiling mythology, and picturesque settlements; the colourful facades of pretty Portree make the perfect postcard. Rainbows plunge into peaty lochs, like waterfalls from the dramatic cliff tops. The Cuillin Mountains are an epic scale of awesome, carved by ancient volcanos and glaciers; for our viewing pleasure, of course. Skye has a rich cultural heritage, with a history coloured by rival clans, Viking settlers, and a fugitive Prince. Ruined castles hold secrets of the past, while Norse place names ensure that we don’t forget it. Even dinosaurs roamed the land, leaving footprints on the beach. Try a local beer or Talisker whisky, and don’t forget to toast the faeries! Skye is where the magic happens.

Image Name: The Isle of Skye

Image Alt: Isle of Skye tour

Highlight 13

Name: Kelpies

NameShort: Kelpies

The Kelpies are a stunning spectacle of modern engineering, designed by Scottish artist Andy Scott. Kelpies are mythological beasts in Scottish folklore, and this epic equine landmark is the largest of its kind in the world, “neighing” at a height of 30 meters and weighing a mighty 300 tonnes.

The Kelpies are a stunning spectacle of modern engineering, designed by Scottish artist Andy Scott. Kelpies are mythological beasts in Scottish folklore, and this epic equine landmark is the largest of its kind in the world, “neighing” at a height of 30 meters and weighing a mighty 300 tonnes.

Image Name: Kelpies

Image Alt: Kelpies