Wild Scotland & Whisky Explorer - 8 days

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8 daysDuration

Small Group TourUsually 8-12 participants

16 peopleMaximum group size

18 - 80 yearsAge range for participants

EnglishGuide language

Easy

Light physical activity suitable for most people with average fitness levels.

Starts

Edinburgh, Scotland

Ends

Edinburgh, Scotland

Highlights

Loch Lomond - Admire the incredible scenery surrounding one of Scotland's most famous lochs, and Great Britain's largest body of water

Whisky Coast - Visit four whisky distilleries with the chance to taste the produce, learn about the production process and tour the distilleries

Isle of Islay - Uncover the dramatic scenery and highlights of one of the most beautiful Scottish islands, including Dunyvaig Castle

Isle of Mull - Spot eagles and other wildlife on this pristine island, one of Scotland's wildest, and explore nearby Iona

Glencoe - Soak up the stunning mountain views and learn about the tragic and famous massacre that took place here in 1692

Isle of Skye - Take in the highlights of this beautiful island, with plenty of hiking and sightseeing to enjoy

Eilean Donan Castle - Admire this historic 13th Century castle, located on an island where three lochs meet

Loch Ness - Hunt for 'Nessie', the mythical beast believed to dwell in the dark waters of Scotland's most famous loch

Isle of Skye - Take in the highlights of this beautiful island, with plenty of hiking and sightseeing to enjoy

Eilean Donan Castle - Admire this historic 13th Century castle, located on an island where three lochs meet

Loch Ness - Hunt for 'Nessie', the mythical beast believed to dwell in the dark waters of Scotland's most famous loch

Itinerary

Discover Scotland’s wild beauty and storied distilleries on the "Wild Scotland & Whisky Explorer - 8 days" tour, crafted for experienced travelers and seniors who appreciate a blend of comfort and adventure. Beginning and ending in Edinburgh, this small-group journey leads you to the rugged isles of Islay, Iona, Mull, and Skye, with opportunities to spot wildlife and soak in sweeping landscapes. Whisky connoisseurs will relish tasting sessions at renowned distilleries, while cultural highlights—like searching for ‘Nessie’ at Loch Ness and learning about Glencoe’s tumultuous past—add depth to the experience. The unique selling point: a harmonious mix of Scotland’s wild scenery and its most iconic whisky traditions, all delivered in an easy-going, expertly guided package.

day 1 - Loch Lomond, Oban & Islay ferry

Edinburgh - Trossnachs National Park - Oban - Islay. Departing Edinburgh this morning, we head west, first visiting Trossnachs National Park. Admire some of the country's famous scenery and perhaps taste some regional delicacies. We then make our way through the mountainous Western Highlands to Oban, a port town once the strategic heartland of great feuding clans.

Modern Oban is known for two things, seafood and whisky. We have the opportunity to taste both, including a dram of locally produced whisky and an optional seafood lunch.

We then make our way through the Kilmartin Glen, home to standing stones and historic fortified strongholds dating back more than 1,500 years. At Kennacraig, we catch the ferry to the island of Islay. The crossing takes around 2 hours, and you can see the Paps of Jura as we sail past the island of Jura. Landing at Islay, we make our way to our accommodation in Bowmore.

Please note: Check-in closes at 08:15 on day 1 (tour departs at 08:30) - Edinburgh Bus Station Pick Up, Gate J and Gate K, inside Edinburgh Bus Station, St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH1 3DQ.

Accommodation: Bowmore Cottages, The Bruce or similar

OverNight:Islay

day 2 - Whisky, whisky & whisky

Tuck into breakfast at the accommodation before we depart on a day of whisky adventures! We are visiting three distilleries today, starting with Bowmore*, one of the oldest distilleries in the whole of Scotland. There's an included tour and whisky tasting before we continue to Kilchoman Distillery**, where we can try two more drams of whisky and enjoy a lunch of Scottish specialities. The final distillery visit of the day is to the most remote distillery on Islay, Bunnahabhain (included from April 2026). We then travel through the beautiful countryside to Bowmore, where the evening is at leisure.

**Kilchoman Distillery closure, if the tour departs on 6th September 2025, we'll visit Ardnahoe Distillery.

Accommodation: Bowmore Cottages, The Bruce or similar

Meals:1 Breakfast

OverNight:Islay

day 3 - Exploring Islay

Today we are exploring the southern half of Islay, one of the most beautiful of the Scottish Isles. First we visit the distillery at Ardbeg, owned by Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy! There's an included tour and tasting here.

The final distillery of our tour is Laphroaig, a 200-year-old distiller known to be a favourite of the British Royal Family.

Throughout the day, we will also stop at some of the island's main highlights. See the historic ruins of Kildalton church and Dunyvaig Castle, which was once held by the chiefs of the Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg. We then return to Bowmore for our last night on Islay.

Please note: Laphroaig’s silent seasons starts between 7th July and 13th August 2025. For tours departing during that time, our experience will slightly differ, you will visit their museum and do tasting at the bar only.

Please note: On Friday departures, Ardbeg Distillery does not offer a tour of the production process. Instead, this is replaced by a tutored tasting featuring four drams instead of the usual three, along with a visit to the stillhouse.

Accommodation: Bowmore Cottages, The Bruce or similar

Meals:1 Breakfast

OverNight:Islay

day 4 - Islay to Oban

Islay - Inveraray - Oban. This morning we take the return ferry back to the mainland and replace the smell of whisky with the crisp air of the Scottish Highlands. We pass through the pretty village of Inveraray on the shore of Loch Fyne. There's a stop here as we change minibuses and guide. Some of your group will be returning to Edinburgh, but we are continuing our Scottish adventure! Meet the rest of the group before we continue to Oban for the evening.

Accommodation: Kathmore, Altavona or similar

Meals:1 Breakfast

OverNight:Oban

day 5 - Mull & Iona

Oban - Mull - Iona - Oban. It's an early start this morning as we take the ferry to the Isle of Mull. Take in dramatic coastlines and wild natural beauty, and keep your eyes on the skies for majestic white-tailed eagles, the UK's largest bird of prey.

We then take another ferry to Iona, the birthplace of Celtic Christianity and home to the ancient burial grounds of famed Scottish kings. We can see the historic abbey and take in more of the windswept coastline of the Scottish Isles.

There's an optional small boat trip to the uninhabited island of Staffa to see the basalt columns of Fingal's Cave. We then return to Oban on the ferry.

Accommodation: Kathmore, Altavona or similar

Meals:1 Breakfast

OverNight:Oban

day 6 - Glencoe, Ben Nevis & Plockton

Oban - Glencoe - Fort William - Balmacara. Driving north along the coast, we pass Castle Stalker and visit Glencoe, a truly beautiful location haunted by the 1692 Glencoe Massacre. Around 30 members of Clan MacDonald of Glencoe were slaughtered here for failing to pledge allegiance to King William III and Mary II.

We then pass through Fort William and past Ben Nevis, the highest peak in Great Britain. We drive through quiet glens and alongside lochs, passing notable sights like the Five Sisters of Kintail and Eilean Donan Castle. There will be opportunities for photo stops and short breaks along the route.

Our overnight stop is Balmacara, a small village with views of the loch, nearby woodlands, and surrounding hills. In the evening, you can explore local trails, visit Balmacara Estate, or have a meal at a local inn or pub.

Accommodation: Balmacara Hotel or similar

Meals:1 Breakfast

OverNight:Balmacara

day 7 - Exploring the Isle of Skye

Balmacara - Skye - Balmacara. Today we will be exploring the remote Isle of Skye, but there is no fixed itinerary for the day. The weather can be unpredictable, so your guide will choose the best highlights to show you in accordance with the conditions and any events that may be happening on the island during your visit. We are likely to be hiking, in order to enjoy the dramatic scenery of the island. Options include The Quiraing hill walk and the Old Man of Storr Walk, probably the most famous trail on the island. We can also see the Neist Point Lighthouse. Spend the day taking photos, sampling the view and enjoying everything this pristine environment has to offer. In the late afternoon, we return to our accommodation in Balmacara.

Accommodation: Balmacara Hotel or similar

Meals:1 Breakfast

OverNight:Balmacara

day 8 - Loch Ness

Plockton - Loch Ness - Edinburgh. Today we visit Eilean Donan Castle, a 13th century fortress, located on an island. We then drive to Loch Duich and the Five Sisters of Kintail, taking in more of Scotland's dramatic scenery. There's a stop for lunch at Loch Ness, so keep your eyes peeled for 'Nessie', the Loch Ness monster!

We continue through the rugged Grampian Mountains and along Loch Laggan, passing Scotland's highest whisky distillery at Dalwhinnie. We make a short stop for refreshments before reaching Edinburgh, where our tour ends.

Please note: This tour ends at 19:00 - Edinburgh Bus Station Drop Off, Gate J and Gate K, Edinburgh Bus Station, St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH1 3DQ.

Meals:1 Breakfast

Wild Scotland & Whisky Explorer - 8 days

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What's Included

Meals

7 breakfasts7 nights simple guesthouse - (3 nights self-service breakfast provided, 4 nights B&B)

Transport

Transportation in 16 seat Mercedes mini-coach with air-conditioningAll road tolls

Guide

Escorted by a local driver-guide

Others

Visits to four (five from April 2026 onwards) whiskey distilleries: Ardbeg, Kilchoman, Bowmore, Laphroaig & Bunnahabhain (from April 2026 onwards) including tour & tasting (subject to change)All necessary ferry journeys between Scottish Islands and the mainland20kg luggage allowance - This should be one piece of luggage similar to an airline carry-on bag (approximately 55cm x 45cm x 25cm / 22in x 17in x 10in) and a small bag for onboard personal itemsNote: All included whisky distillery visits are subject to change according to availability, and the named distilleries may be swapped to another

What's Excluded

Customer Reviews

This tour has not received any customer reviews yet. However, you can expect a good tour as it is run by a trusted travel specialist who has received 26 reviews for other tours with an average 4.6rating.

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