North Coast 500 Explorer

Departure from Inverness || From £1,495.00 per person

5 days - 4 nights

A large, historic European castle with tall spires and multiple turrets, situated on a hill with lush greenery and a cloudy sky in the background.
A Highland cow with long horns and shaggy fur standing on a dirt path in a grassy hilly landscape.
A curved bridge over water with green hills and mountains in the background.

The itinerary

  • Depart Inverness this morning and make your way to Beauly Priory. We take the scenic road to the West, where you will explore the picturesque town of Lochcarron and the stunning road to Applecross. After a time in the remote village, drive along the coast towards Shieldaig and Torridon.

  • The road today takes you to the far North West of Scotland. Visit the tropical Inverewe Gardens and explore the quaint planned town of Ullapool in the morning. In the afternoon, you will get a true taste of the wilderness of Scotland, on route to Lochinver, the ruins of Arvreck Castle and the remote settlement of Kylesku.

  • The route takes a turn to the North, onwards to stunning natural sites. Explore Smoo Cave, the town of Tongue, the winding roads of Loch Eriboll, and make your way to Flow Country, a giant expanse of peat bogs, recently listed as Scotland’s newest UNESCO World Heritage site.

  • The wild cliffs of Duncansby Head at John O’Groats will be our first stop today, before we make our way to visit the Castle of Mey, the late Queen Mother’s castle in Scotland. In the afternoon, we drive south to Dunrobin Castle, the Sutherland’s stunning ancestral home.

  • This morning, you will visit a whisky distillery at Glenmorangie (or similar) and learn all about Scotland’s “water of life”. After a lunch stop at Cromarty, embark on a dolphin cruise in the Cromarty Firth. Return to Inverness at the end of the day.

What’s included

  • 5-day private guided tour for up to 7 passengers

  • Your dedicated driver-guide, with a door to door pick-up service.

  • 9-seater Mercedes Vito or 5-seater BMW Series 3 vehicle (depending on the number of participants), all expenses covered.

  • Admissions to the following attractions: Inverewe Gardens, Castle of Mey, Dunrobin Castle, 2-hour Dolphin Cruise from Cromarty, Glenmorangie Distillery*.

  • Your hand-picked 3-star hotel accommodation in the following areas: Shieldaig, Kylesku (or area), Garvault (or area), Dornoch.

    *or similar

What’s not included

  • Optional extras.

  • Your meals and drinks during the tour.

  • Gratuities and tips.