Secret Scotland

link http://www.secret-scotland.com/Accommodation/Best-of-Scotland-Flexi-Days-West-East.html

Arrive in Glasgow – We provide a stopover guide to the city's main attractions and some of its best restaurants. The guide includes tips on how to get into the city centre from Glasgow Airport. We also provide directions to possible places to stay in the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park.

Glasgow to Fort William

You enter the Scottish Highlands with a journey along the banks of Loch Lomond. You can break the journey at a haunted 1700's Coaching Inn that is little changed since the days of Bonnie Prince Charlie. Heading north west, you pass through Glen Coe and arrive at the west coast. The route includes a detour option to our favourite seafood restaurant with a great lochside location. Once in the Lochaber area, we can guide you for a walk to a secluded waterfall, or you could take a cable car ride up a mountain top for elevated views of Ben Nevis.

Stopover in Fort William Area

Fort William Day Trips – Fort William has a good position for exploring the western Highlands. We supply several day trip options :

  • Day trip to Oban & Standing Stones, head south down the Argyll coast to the busy harbour town of Oban with its distillery and great choice of seafood restaurants. You can choose between wildlife spotting boat trips, a drive to the standing stones of Kilmartin Glen or a longer drive that takes you via Loch Fyne and the lovely old town of Inveraray with its ornate castle.
  • Day trip to the Isle of Mull, the trip starts with a drive through the rugged hills of Sunart to join a short ferry crossing to Mull. The island has distinctive castles, charming villages, a small distillery and opportunities for boat trips to Iona & Staffa.
  • Jacobite Steam Train, Fort William is the departure point for the "Hogwarts Express" steam train that travels to Mallaig (May – Oct). This is one of the world's great scenic rail journeys and a must for “Harry Potter” fans.
  • Day trip to Mallaig via wild Moidart, This day trip takes you through one of the least populated corners of Scotland. You can explore great picnic spots, find a haunted castle and walk along the “Silver Sands of Morar”. This part of Scotland is rich with connections to Bonnie Prince Charlie and the 1745 Rebellion.
  • Get Active!, Fort William has the title of the “Outdoor Capital of Scotland”. The guide gives you details of options for mountain biking, white water sports, hill-walking, rock climbing etc.

Stopover in Fort William Area

Lochaber to Skye by Bridge or Boat – We suggest 3 options for the journey to Skye: 1) - The classic route along the "Road to the Isles" from Fort William to the Skye ferry. This route passes Glenfinnan and locations from Harry Potter films. 2) - A longer route through the scenic wilderness of Moidart to join the "Road to the Isles" to Mallaig and the Skye ferry. 3) - An inland route through sections of the Great Glen, Glen Garry and Glen Shiel to join the west coast near the iconic Eilean Donan Castle.

Stopover in the Lochalsh area or Isle of Skye

Skye Day Trips – We provide a choice of day trips around Skye and Lochalsh area. You really need a minimum of 2 days on Skye and our guide gives you enough to fill even more days. • Discover Skye, a touring route around Skye with directions to craft shops, dramatic viewpoints, wildlife spotting locations, the Talisker distillery, tearooms (for the rainy days) and embarkation points for boat trips. More than you’ll be able to fit into just one day! • Day trip around Loch Alsh, this route takes you to Eilean Donan castle, Iron Age Brochs, a coastline where otters can be found and returns via the Glenelg Ferry (April – Sept)

Stopover in the Lochalsh area or Isle of Skye

Skye to Gairloch – This is one of the great scenic drives in Scotland. You pass through the mountains of Torridon, with options for a longer coastal route via the Applecross peninsula. After Glen Torridon, you drive past our favourite loch and we guide you to a great picnic spot by its shores. You end the day in the Gairloch area where we can guide you to some great country pubs and beaches.

Stopover in the Gairloch Area

Gairloch Day Trips – Gairloch is arguably one of the most beautiful corners of Scotland for beaches and wilderness scenery. We propose a choice of day trips with a relaxed pace. • Taking it Easy, Suggestions for a relaxed day of walks, horse riding, exploring some of Scotland’s best beaches, or visiting the famous Inverewe Gardens. • Gone Fishing, The guide supplies details of how to contact a local fisherman to arrange a trip on his boat. You can help him pull up lobsters pots and maybe enjoy a meal cooked by his wife using your super fresh catch of seafood. • Day Trip to Ullapool and Inverpolly, Heading up the North West coast to the active fishing village of Ullapool, this route takes you past great beaches, dramatic gorges and the distinctive mountains of the Inverpolly Nature Reserve.

Stopover in the Gairloch Area

Gairloch to Cairngorms via Inverness – Travel from the rugged wilderness of Wester Ross to the fertile farmlands around Inverness. Along the way, you visit a waterfall where you may see Salmon leaping. We include an alternative route with a visit to a glen where the last remains of the great Caledonian forest still thrive. From Inverness to the Cairngorms, you take a direct drive, which allows you time to consider a visit to Culloden or watching a sheepdog demonstration.

Stopover in the Cairngorms National Park

Cairngorms Day Trips – The Cairngorms is a great area for outdoor activities and its central location makes it an excellent touring base for the east of Scotland. • Discover the Cairngorms, a route around the many attractions of the Cairngorms. We guide you via the beautiful back roads of the Rothiemurchus forest. The route has options for woodland walks, steam train rides, a trip up the Cairngorms in a funicular train, sheepdog demonstrations and lots of outdoor activities. • Loch Ness, we give directions for a loop around the famous Loch. You have options to explore lesser known places on the southern shore as well as the famous Urquhart Castle and “Nessie” attractions. • Culloden and Moray Coast, Culloden Battlefield marked the end of 1745 Jacobite Rebellion and is still a moving place to visit. On a brighter note, this day trip visits Cawdor castle, Fort George, Elgin and some of the prettiest villages (and pubs) of the Moray Coast. A specialist distillery tour is also an option. • Speyside Whisky Trail, The River Spey runs through the Cairngorms National Park and this day trip closely follows the course of the river. You have options to visit famous Speyside distilleries such as Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, Glenfarclas, Macallan and some that are less familiar names.

Stopover in the Cairngorms National Park

Cairngorms to Edinburgh – Heading South, we provide 2 sets of directions for the journey to Pitlochry. You can take a Direct route with suggestions for journey breaks, OR a more Scenic route that weaves past forests, pretty villages and castle ruins. We recommend a journey break in Pitlochry, where you have a choice of distilleries and a wealth of gift shops. After Pitlochry, you follow a fast route to Edinburgh that has detour options for a visit to Perth.

Stopover in Edinburgh

Edinburgh Day Trips – We provide a choice of 3 walking routes around the city. There are enough attractions in Edinburgh to keep you busy for several days, however, we also provide you with directions for day trips out of Edinburgh that cover: • the nearby castles of West & East Lothian, • a journey south to Rosslyn Chapel and the Borders, • a longer day trip to St Andrews and the coast of Fife, • details of various day trips from Edinburgh by bus or train.

Stopover in Edinburgh