Best of the Scottish Highlands

Scotland's mesmerising scenery

Fly to Inverness, Scotland and enjoy a land of open skies, rugged mountains, sparkling lochs, romantic castles, culture and history. From the stunning Road to the Isles and legendary Loch Ness to the mysterious Black Isle, this holiday features a host of Highland highlights. Take a ride on the Strathspey Steam Railway, visit a 16th-century castle and a whisky distillery, and take a cruise on the Moray Firth, home to a wealth of marine and birdlife. Discover the beauty, variety and warm welcomes that this very special part of the world has to offer in the company of our friendly, knowledgeable tour manager.

Highlights

Spot wildlife on a cruise on the Moray Firth
Set off on a tour of the beautiful Black Isle
Enjoy a ride on the nostalgic Strathspey Steam Railway
An unforgettable journey on the Road to the Isles from Fort William to Mallaig
Discover the beauty of the Moray Coast and visit Brodie Castle
Go mythical monster hunting on a boat trip on Loch Ness
An opportunity to join a tour and tasting at a whisky distillery
A chance to visit the Victorian seaside town of Nairn

Inclusions

Six nights' dinner, bed and Scottish breakfast accommodation at the three-star Carrbridge Hotel
Visits to Inverness, Aviemore, Elgin, Loch Ness and Dalwhinnie
A wildlife cruise and Strathspey Railway journey
A tour of the Black Isle
Visit to Brodie Castle
Drive along the Road to the Isles from Fort William to Mallaig
Return flights to Inverness, with coach travel and transfers throughout
Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager

Day 1

Following your flight to Inverness Airport, upon arrival, you’ll be met by your tour manager for the transfer to Carrbridge. The Carrbridge Hotel is situated on the edge of the village and lovely local walks abound (the hotel staff will be happy to point you in the right direction). The famous 1717 packhorse bridge is opposite the hotel and the rest of the day is at leisure.

Day 2

This morning, we head to the rose-coloured, turreted Brodie Castle, the ancestral home of the Brodie clan for over 400 years and a treasure trove of priceless antiques and artefacts. The castle building reflects the changing needs of the residents over the centuries – from the impenetrable 16th-century guard chamber to a sprawling Victorian extension with some magnificent rooms. A guided tour will help you make the very most of your visit. The beautiful grounds, which boast a dazzling display of daffodils in the spring, are also well worth exploring. Later in the day, you’ll have the chance to see some of the renowned Moray Coast, and to explore the fine, historic town of Elgin with its warren of alleys and closes and awe-inspiring cathedral ruins.

Day 3

Explore the capital of the Highlands today as we visit Inverness. This thriving city is home to a delightful Victorian Market, an excellent museum and art gallery, and some attractive riverside walks. We'll also enjoy a short tour of the Black Isle, which is neither black nor an island, but rather a delightful scenic peninsula surrounded by three bodies of water. We'll stop at Fortrose and the charming nautical town of Cromarty. Your day ends as you board the Spirit cruiser to enjoy a cruise around the inner Moray Firth to try to spot a variety of marine wildlife and birds, hopefully including seals, otters or porpoise. A specialist guide will give a full commentary, so that you don’t miss anything.

Day 4

No holiday to the Highlands would be complete without visiting beautiful, mysterious Loch Ness. We'll head to Fort Augustus, at the southern tip of the loch, where a series of locks join it to the Caledonian Canal, and the Caledonian Canal Heritage Centre gives a fascinating insight into the history and operation of the canal. From here, we'll head past the dramatic ruins of Urquhart Castle to Drumnadrochit, where you may like to visit the Loch Ness Exhibition Centre, which is packed with information about the loch, or perhaps take a boat trip (payable locally) to go monster hunting. Nature lovers are in for a treat as the wooded shores of the Loch are home to an abundance of wildlife, including cormorants and ospreys.

Day 5

This morning, you'll take a ride on the nostalgic Strathspey Steam Railway through the Cairngorm National Park, home to five of Scotland’s six highest mountains. Sit back and relax as your vintage train spends 45 minutes steaming through the lovely Spey Valley, following the River Spey past heather-clad moors and forests. The day also includes a visit to a whisky distillery, where you will have the chance to taste some samples.

Day 6

We head west today, following the evocatively named Road to the Isles from Fort William to Mallaig. On this wonderfully scenic day, we'll pass landscapes ranging from sandy beaches to flowering heather moors and dense woodland. We'll stop at the Glenfinnan Visitor Centre, from where you can see the lone Highlander atop the Glenfinnan Monument looking out over Loch Shiel. Take the short uphill walk from the centre to get a wonderful view of the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct. The road ends at the thriving fishing port of Mallaig. Don’t miss the town's heritage centre, and if you’re fond of kippers, you’ll go a long way to find any that taste better than those found here. At the end of a long but incredibly scenic day, we'll return to the hotel.

Day 7

Today, you'll travel back to Inverness airport to catch your flight home at the end of a wonderful break in the Highlands. Those not flying until the afternoon will also enjoy a short visit to the Victorian seaside town of Nairn, where pretty walking trails run alongside the river, and a seafront promenade overlooks the Moray Firth.

Further Information

2025 itinerary

The itinerary for 2025 will now include a visit to Dunrobin Castle, Balmoral Castle, Ballater and Crathie Kirk. This replaces the visit to the Brodie Castle & the Moray Coast, the Cairngorm mountain and the Strathspey Railway. Your accommodation will be for six nights at the Craiglynne Hotel, Grantown-on-Spey.

Hotel transfer times

The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately 45 minutes.

Combining hotel transfers

We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.

Special requirements

If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

Disabled access

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Itinerary changes

Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.

Travelling to Europe

Rules may have changed since you last travelled to European Union countries as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The following are useful guidelines which will help you prepare for your next adventure. You do require government issued passport to travel. Names - It is very important that all passenger names are exactly as per your passport although we do not require middle names. Passport - Your passport must meet two requirements to travel to an EU country and to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. It must be: Less than 10 years old on the day you return home (please check the "date of issue") and valid for at least 3 months after the day you return home (please check the "expiry date"). Visa - You do not need a visa for short trips to most EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. You’ll be able to stay for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period. European Travel Information & Authorisation System (ETIAS) - Due to commence in 2025, all citizens of the United Kingdom will require a ETIAS electronic form completed prior to their arrival into the EU and Schengen member countries. The cost for this travel authorisation will be €7.00 per person with exceptions for under 18’s and over 70’s. The latest information and further details can be found at www.etias.com.

Terms and conditions

Terms and Conditions: This save 15% offer applies to all new bookings for short haul tours made between 13 February and 28 February 2025 inclusive, and cannot be retrospectively applied to bookings already confirmed. This promo code does not apply to Festive, Ocean Cruise, River Cruise, Lapland, Andre Rieu and Wimbledon and cannot be applied retrospectively to bookings already confirmed. This offer does not apply to holidays with late availability pricing or long-haul products. 15% off must be redeemed through the use of the promo code SAVE15. The discount applies to the tour price (excluding extras and holiday insurance) at the time of booking. This offer does not apply to child prices/child pricing. This offer is subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time. Newmarket Holidays reserves the right to cancel, change or amend any tour. Holidays booked with Newmarket Holidays, are financially protected in accordance with ABTA, ATOL & ABTOT regulations. Newmarket Holidays Limited is a company registered in England and Wales. Registered number: 02238316.