The Highland Odyssey
The train pulls out of Waverley and Edinburgh falls away behind you. What's ahead is three days that belong entirely to you: no one else's schedule, no one else's itinerary, nothing shared. By the time the mountains rise on either side of the carriage, the version of the Highlands most people never get close to starts to open up, castles with no one else standing in front of them, glens with no one else's voice in them, a country that, for three days, behaves as though it was arranged for you alone.
This isn't a schedule of stops. It's a journey, built the way you'd want the Highlands told to you, by someone who genuinely knows the country, with three days to do it properly. Eilean Donan, the most photographed castle in Scotland. Glen Coe, the glen that opened Skyfall. A full day on the Isle of Skye. Two nights at Inverlochy Castle, one of Scotland's most celebrated five-star hotels, its restaurant overseen by Michel Roux Jr, where Queen Victoria once stayed a week and called it the loveliest spot she'd seen. Afternoon tea overlooking the Old Course at St Andrews on the way home.
A private chauffeured vehicle throughout. First-class rail from Edinburgh. A guide who stays with you the entire journey, there for whatever you're curious about, whenever you're curious about it. Every reservation arranged before you arrive, so the only thing left for you to do is be there.
This isn't a trip; it’s an opportunity to experience the best of Scotland!
Experience Details
Trip Duration
3 days 2 nights
Pricing
From £3,698pp (based on two sharing)
Private Guided.
Tour Type
Tour Itinerary
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Day One: The Great Glen and the West Coast
We start at Edinburgh Waverley with a first-class train north through the Cairngorms, crossing Drumochter Pass at 1,484 feet, the highest point on Britain's rail network. A private car meets us at Inverness and takes us down the shore of Loch Ness to Urquhart Castle, then west through Glen Shiel, one of the best hours of driving in Scotland, to Eilean Donan Castle, the most photographed castle in the country and the reason for it. We finish the day at Inverlochy Castle, beneath Ben Nevis.
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Edinburgh Waverley Station (departure)
Inverness (rail arrival, private car meets you)
Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness
Glen Shiel (scenic drive)
Eilean Donan Castle
Inverlochy Castle, Fort William (overnight)
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Inverlochy Castle Hotel.
The first sight of Inverlochy Castle Hotel, rising at the foot of Ben Nevis, tends to stay with people. It's a nineteenth-century castle hotel that knows exactly what it is: quietly grand rather than showy, full of storied antiques and the kind of atmosphere that doesn't need to try. Queen Victoria stayed a week here in 1873 and called it the loveliest spot she'd ever seen.
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Description text goes here
Day Two: The Isle of Skye
A full day on Skye: crossing the bridge onto the island itself, the Cuillin rising ahead, a stop at Sligachan and the Fairy Pools, up to the Old Man of Storr for one of the best viewpoints in Scotland, then into Portree for lunch and time to explore on your own before we head back to Inverlochy for a second night. This is the day the extra time is really for, unhurried, with room to actually take Skye in rather than rushing through it.
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Isle of Skye
Sligachan and the Cuillin
Portree
Inverlochy Castle, Fort William (overnight)
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Inverlochy Castle Hotel.
The first sight of Inverlochy Castle Hotel, rising at the foot of Ben Nevis, tends to stay with people. It's a nineteenth-century castle hotel that knows exactly what it is: quietly grand rather than showy, full of storied antiques and the kind of atmosphere that doesn't need to try. Queen Victoria stayed a week here in 1873 and called it the loveliest spot she'd ever seen.
Day Three: Glen Coe and the road home
We begin in Glen Coe, standing in the glen itself for the story of 1692, before the drive southeast across the emptiness of Rannoch Moor and through Perthshire to St Andrews, for afternoon tea overlooking the Old Course. Home to Edinburgh by early evening.
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Glen Coe
Rannoch Moor (scenic drive)
St Andrews — afternoon tea, Old Course Hotel
Return to Edinburgh
Inclusions
Rail First-class, Edinburgh to Inverness.
Transport: Private chauffeured vehicle, all 3 days.
Storyled Guide travelling with you throughout.
Accommodation: 2 nights, Inverlochy Castle, double occupancy.
Meals: Breakfast both mornings.
Afternoon tea: Old Course Hotel, St Andrews.
Entries Urquhart Castle, Eilean Donan Castle.
Exclusions
Dinner (reservations made on request)
Lunch on day two
Travel insurance
Personal spending money
Gratuities
Flights or travel to/from Edinburgh
Any activities not listed in the itinerary
Your Guide
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Jonathan Ellenor
Jonathan leads every StoryLed tour personally. He's lived in Edinburgh for twelve years, in Stockbridge, and still adds new stops to his routes on a fairly regular basis — if he finds something worth showing you, it goes in.
His background is in marketing rather than academic history, which shapes how he guides more than you'd expect. He's less interested in reciting dates than in finding the shape of a good story — a hook, a build, a payoff — and he'll spend the first part of any tour working out what you're actually curious about before deciding where to take you. Ask him about the Reformation or ask him about Harry Potter; he's equally happy either way.
A few things worth knowing about Jonathan:
His favourite spot in the city is Inverleith Park, just up the road from home the view back across to the castle and skyline from there is one he never quite gets used to.
His go-to restaurant is Little Capo in the New Town, and he's fairly evangelical about it if you ask.
His secret tip for visitors: the roof terrace at the National Museum of Scotland, which has one of the best skyline views in the city and is somehow always quiet.
His Sunday spot is Books and Cups in Stockbridge but go early, before the rest of Stockbridge has the same idea.
Before every tour, without fail: a cuppa and a biscuit at Cafe Edinburgh.
His favourite Scottish word is haar, the sea mist that rolls in over the city in the morning and evening. Give it a week here and you'll start reading the sky for it too.
Jonathan is fully insured, first aid trained, and currently working toward formal tourist guide accreditation.
[ FAQ ]Common Questions
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A 25% deposit secures your dates, with the balance due 14 days before departure. Free cancellation up to 7 days before departure.
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Scottish weather is unpredictable in every season. If road conditions require it, the itinerary may be adjusted on the day for safety, always with the best available alternative in place.
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Yes, let us know at the time of booking and I'll pass this on to the hotel and restaurant in advance.
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The journey is priced for a minimum of two guests. Solo travellers are very welcome with a single room suplement TBA.
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It isn't included, but we'd strongly recommend it for a trip of this value, particularly given multi-day travel and weather-dependent routes in the Highlands.
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Layers, and a proper waterproof, regardless of season. Comfortable shoes for uneven ground at castle sites and viewpoints. Scottish weather can shift quickly, even in summer.
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Very possibly. Enquire with what you have in mind and we'll talk through whether it fits within the three days.
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No, the trip begins and ends at Waverley Station however, do ask its something we can arrange.