Activities

Culloden Battlefield

• Time: 3:00pm

• Location:

  Culloden Battlefield (National Trust for Scotland), Inverness IV2 5EU, United Kingdom

• Contact: +44 1463 796090

• Visitor center and tour: £16.50 per person (last entry at 4:30pm)

Cawder Tavern Dinner

• Time: 5:30pm

• Location:

  Cawdor, Nairn IV12 5XP, United Kingdom

• Contact: +44 1667 404777

Check into the Havelock and rest:

• Time: 7:00pm

Randa and Keri- Fly fishing:

• Fly fishing on river Findhorn

• Location:

  Logie Steading, Dunphail, Forres IV36 2QN, United Kingdom

• Contact: +44 1309 611300

Jolene - Brodie Castle:

• Location:

• Brodie, Forres IV36 2TE, United Kingdom

• Contact: +44 1309 641700

• Price per person: $22.34

Loch Ness/Urquhart Castle:

• Leave by 9:00am (1 hour drive from Nairn)

• Entry Window: 10:00am - 10:30am

• Location:

  Drumnadrochit, Inverness IV63 6XJ, United Kingdom

• Contact: +44 1456 450551

• Confirmation # 20260305-222132784

Lunch at Ness Deli:

• Time: 1:00pm

• Location:

  The Village Green, Drumnadrochit, Inverness IV63 6TX, United Kingdom

• Contact: +44 1456 450282

Loch Ness Clay Pottery:

• Location:

  Drumnadrochit, Inverness IV63 6XH, United Kingdom

• Contact: +44 1456 450402

Explore Drumnadrochit:

• Specifically "What's your name" at Loch Ness Exhibition Centre complex

• Location:

  Drumnadrochit, Inverness IV63 6TU, United Kingdom

• Contact: +44 1456 459377

Dinner at Mcleods in Inverness:

• Traditional (and delicious) fish and chips

• Location:

  29 Grant St, Inverness IV3 8BN, United Kingdom

• Contact: +44 1463 232498

Stop 1: Dunrobin Castle

• Leave Nairn by 8:30am (1.5 hour drive) at the latest. I suggest an early lunch here.

• Booking reference: kr75028x

• Location:

  Dunrobin Castle, Dunrobin Castle, Golspie, Sutherland, KW10 6SF, KW10 6SF, United Kingdom

• Contact: info@dunrobincastle.net +441408633177

Stop 2: Whaligoe Steps

• 365 steps total. Be careful as they are made of stone and not uniform if you choose to wander down. Great views. Free. (1 hour drive from Dunrobin)

• Location:

  Whaligoe Steps, Whaligoe, Lybster KW2 6AA, United Kingdom

Stop 3: Dunnet Head Lighthouse:

• Northmost point on mainland Scotland. Paid Parking. Great views. If you go to the edge and look over you can potentially see puffins on the side of the cliff (they're very small but they're there). Free. (50 minute drive from Whaligoe)

• Location:

  Observation Road, Dunnet, Thurso KW14 8XS, United Kingdom

• Contact: +44 333 772 1306

"Stop 4": Scrabster to catch Ferry to Stromness:

• MUST be there to check in by 1800 (6:00pm) (32 minute drive from Dunnet Head)

• Location:

  Scrabster Ferry Terminal, Scrabster Ferry Terminal Queen Elizabeth Pier, Scrabster, Caithness KW14 7UT, United Kingdom

• Contact: info@northlinkferries.co.uk +44 (0)1856 885500

Check into Lindisfarne Bed & Breakfast

Skara Brae and Skaill House:

• 11 minute drive from B&B

• Entry Window: 9:30am - 10am

• Location:

  Sandwick, Stromness KW16 3LR, United Kingdom

• Confirmation: 20260309-222249708

• Contact: +44 1856 841501

Yesnaby Cliffs:

• 10 min drive from Skara Brae

• One of Orkney’s most dramatic coastal landscapes. Park at Yesnaby and follow the cliff-top path for about 15–20 minutes to reach Yesnaby Castle, a striking sea stack rising from the Atlantic. Allow time to wander the cliffs and enjoy the views. Be careful, can be windy and slippery so stay back from the cliff edge.

• Location:

  Yesnaby Rd, Stromness KW16, UK, United Kingdom

Ring of Brodgar:

• 10 Min Drive from Yesnaby.

• Neolithic henge and stone circle. UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Location:

  B9055, Stromness KW16 3JZ, United Kingdom

• Contact: +44 1856 841815

Standing Stones of Stenness:

• 2 min drive from Brodgar

• Neolithic architecture also an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Location:

  Stromness KW16 3JZ, United Kingdom

Barnhouse Village:

• 2 min walk from the Stenness Parking area

• The remains of a 5,000-year-old Neolithic settlement beside the Stones of Stenness. Low stone outlines mark the circular homes of the people who likely built the surrounding ceremonial monuments.

Maeshowe Chambered Cairn (optional):

• A remarkable 5,000-year-old chambered cairn aligned with the winter solstice sunset. Access is only by guided ranger tour.

  If timing allows, inquire about the 2 PM tour at the Maeshowe Visitor Centre. Tours often sell out, but occasionally same-day spots become available. If it doesn’t work with your schedule, don’t worry — the surrounding Neolithic sites you’ve already visited provide the full experience of this extraordinary landscape.

• £11 per person

• Location:

  Maes Howe, Stoneyhill Rd, Stromness KW16 3HQ, United Kingdom

Kirkwall to wander and eat:

• St Magnus Cathedral

• Central point where you can find places to eat nearby and it's a beautiful church to visit. You should be able to park in the harbour area or "Harbour street car park" for cheap or free. It's about a 3 minute walk to the cathedral.

• Location:

  Broad St, Kirkwall KW15 1DH, United Kingdom

Scapa Distillery Tour and Tasting:

• 5 min Drive from St. Magnus

• Your Order Number: T202603091537-MGYKGX

• Arrive 10 minutes before tour. Free shuttle transfers available between Great Western road near the

• Travel Centre to the distillery upon request.

• Please book this service online at least 24 hours before your visit. (Let me know and I can go ahead and book this for you)

• Location:

  St Ola, Kirkwall KW15 1SE, United Kingdom

• Contact: +44 (0) 1856 873 269

Back to Stromness:

• Walk the harbour and have dinner

• After a full day exploring Orkney’s ancient sites, enjoy dinner in the harbor town of Stromness. Good options include The Hamnavoe Restaurant for a lovely sit-down meal or The Ferry Inn for a relaxed pub atmosphere with excellent seafood.

• Stop 1: Ferry to Scrabster

  • 4 minute drive

  • MUST be there to check in by 1000 (10:00am)

  • Location:

    Stromness Ferry Terminal, Ferry Rd, Stromness, Orkney KW16 3BH, United Kingdom

  • Contact: info@northlinkferries.co.uk +44 (0)1856 885500

  Stop 2: Kyle of Tongue Viewpoint

  • 1 hr 15 min drive from Scrabster

  • Cost: Free

  • There are two purpose-built parking areas on the causeway that provide panoramic views of the water and surrounding mountains, including Ben Loyal.

  • Location:

    Kyle of Tongue Causeway, A838, Tongue, Scotland.

  Stop 3: Lairg/Loch Shin

  • 1 hr 3 min from Kyle of Tongue

  • Stop for a coffee/lunch at The Pier (loch side café) and restroom break here, and also petrol (gas).

  • Location:

    A836, Lairg IV27 4EG, United Kingdom

  • Contact: +44 1549 402971

  Stop 4: Falls of Shin

  • 9-minute drive

  • The Falls of Shin is known for being one of the best places in the UK to spot salmon in their natural habitat.

  • Location:

    Lairg IV27 4EE, United Kingdom

  Stop 5: Ardvreck Castle

  • 1 hour drive from Falls of Shin

  • Ruinous castle sitting on a rocky promontory in Loch Assynt. Structure dates back to 1490.

  • Location:

    Lairg IV27 4HL, United Kingdom

  Stop 6: Knockan Crag

  • 19 min drive from Ardvreck Castle

  • Fascinating geological snapshot of Scotland's remote past and how the mountains were formed.

  • Location:

    Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve, Knockan Crag, Elphin, Lairg IV27 4HH, United Kingdom

  • Contact:  +44 1463 725000

• Stop 7: Stac Pollaidh

  • 16 min drive from Knockan Crag

  • Popular, iconic mountain known for its jagged, rocky sandstone crest and stunning 360-degree views of Assynt, including Cul Mor and Suilven.

  • 2.75 mile hike if you wanted to do that but views should be good from the bottom as well

  • Location:

    Stac Pollaidh, Ullapool IV26 2XY, UK

  Stop 8: Caledonian Hotel 'A Bespoke Hotel’

  • 25 minute drive from Stac Pollaidh

  • Into Ullapool for dinner and rest.

  • Location:

    Quay Street, Ullapool, IV26 2UG, United Kingdom

  • Contact: +44 1854 612306

• Stop 1: Corrieshalloch Gorge

  • 17 min drive from Caledonian Hotel

  • Victorian suspension bridge over a 200ft waterfall. Comes from the Gaelic meaning "Ugly hollow" but is quite the opposite.

  • Location:

    Braemore, Garve IV23 2PJ, United Kingdom

  • Contact: +44 1854 333333

  Stop 2: Chocolates of Glenshiel

  • 11 hr 42 min drive from Corrieshalloch Gorge.

  • Scotland's best and award winning chocolates, made there and inspired by flavors of Scotland and the Highlands. Perfect place to grab a coffee, some cake, and delicious chocolates to enjoy today or take home! They also happen to sell my sisters pottery here ;)

  • Location:

    Chocolates of Glenshiel, A87, Kyle IV40 8HW, United Kingdom

  • Contact: +44 7445 646444

  Stop 3: Eilean Donan Castle

  • 10 min drive from Chocolates of Glenshiel

  • Fully restored 13th Century Castle on an island where 3 different lochs meet. Beautiful scenery. Can visit inside the castle if you want (it's my least favorite castle especially for the price ~$20-$25 per person). Cute café and gift shop.

  • Location:

    Eilean Donan Castle, Dornie, Kyle of Lochalsh IV40 8DX, United Kingdom

  • Contact: +44 1599 555202

  "Stop 4": Skye Bridge

  • 14 min drive from Eilean Donan Castle

  • Not technically a stop and you have to go over it to get to Skye but it’s very cool and has great views of the water and isle as you come onto it.

  Stop 5: Broadford Hotel

  • 11 min drive from Skye Bridge

  • Check in and explore. Have dinner at Broadford Hotel Restaurant or Claymore Restaurant

  • Location:

    Broadford - Isle of Skye - Highlands, Broadford, IV49 9AB, United Kingdom

  • Contact: +44 1471 820308

Old Man of Storr:

• 50 min drive from Broadford Hotel

• Paid parking: about $8 for 6 hours.

• The trail is a 1.5 to 2-hour round trip (according to the internet - I did NOT make it in 2 hours) featuring a steep, partly gravel, and sometimes muddy path with spectacular views.

• Location:

  Old Man of Storr Car Park, Skye IV51 9HX, United Kingdom

Lealt Falls:

• 8 min drive from Old Man of Storr

• Free parking.

• Short walk along a good gravel path to the first viewing area; a sturdy wooden bridge and platform over the gorge. The area can be windy, caution is advised near the gorge.

• Location:

  Lealt Falls Car Park, Lealt, Portree IV51 9JW, United Kingdom

Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls:

• 6 min drive from Lealt Falls

• Technically parking is $8 for the day but if you just go to the view and are there less than 15 minutes I wouldn't worry about it unless there's a monitor. Go to the barrier and look over it to your left: there it is!

• Location:

  Kilt Rock & Mealt Falls Viewpoint Public Parking, Portree IV51 9JE, United Kingdom

Staffin for Lunch:

• 4 min drive from Kilt Rock

• Lunch at: The Hungry Gull

• Location:

  Staffin, Portree IV51 9JU, United Kingdom

• Contact: +44 7909 323848

The Quiraing:

• 7 min drive from The Hungry Gull.

• Mid-summer the car park will fill up quickly.

• The distance of the entire walk/hike is 4.2 miles (I don't believe you need to do the whole thing and the views are great from the beginning).

• Hiking shoes are a must if you do decide to do it as it can take you on some cliffs. It is classed as Hard for difficulty and medium for length. Again, beautiful to stop at even if you don't do the hike.

• Location:

  The Quiraing, Portree IV51 9LB, United Kingdom

Skye Museum of Island Life:

• 26 min drive from the Quiraing.

• Last entry is at 4:30pm, tickets are $10.00 per person. I didn't book it in case time doesn't allow but you should be able to get tickets there no problem.

• Museum dedicated to preserving a township of thatched cottages as they would have been on Skye at the end of the 18th Century.

• Location:

  Portree IV51 9UE, United Kingdom

• Contact: +44 1470 552206

The Fairy Glen:

• 21 min drive from Skye Museum of Island Life.

• An old landslide gives this hillside, known for its folk tales about fairies, an otherworldly look.

• There is a famous stone circle where you can leave coins for fairies.

• Location:

  The Fairy Glen, Highland Skye, Uig, Portree IV51 9YG, United Kingdom

Dinner in Portree:

• 28 min drive from Fairy Glen

• Dinner at: Fish and Chips (this is the name of the chippy)

• Some of the best fish and chips ever (if you liked Mcleods in Inverness you'll like this too).

• Location:

  Fish & Chips, 1 Quay St, Portree IV51 9DE, United Kingdom

Back to Broadford House:

• 38 min drive from Fish & Chips

• Back to Broadford house for rest and relaxation!

• Location:

  Broadford - Isle of Skye - Highlands, Broadford, IV49 9AB, United Kingdom

Fairy Pools:

• 42 min drive from Broadford House

• Paid parking: not sure how much.

• You CAN swim in these waters if you choose, but you'll definitely need warm clothes after and towels.

• Beautiful crystal clear pools that go into the mountains. Do not need to walk to the mountains to get the full affect.

• This WILL be busy (most places will but especially fairy pools). The earlier you get there the better.

• Spend at least a couple hours here, it's amazing.

• Location:

  Fairy Pools, Isle of Skye IV47 8TA, United Kingdom

Talisker:

• 14 min drive from the fairy pools

• Start of Tour: 11:20am

• Refunds and rescheduling are accepted up to 48h before the tour.

• Reservation under Keri Boyd

• Location:

  Talisker, Carbost, Isle of Skye IV47 8SR, United Kingdom

Dunvegan Castle and Gardens:

• 33 min drive from Talisker

• Price per person is $18.67.

• There is no specific time for the castle and gardens entry ticket.

• Beautiful castle and gardens, good café for lunch.

• Seal boat tours are first come first serve, with the last one at 4:30pm.

• Confirmation: DUN-COL-MRS5A5-A

• Location:

  Dunvegan Castle & Gardens, MacLeod Estate, Dunvegan House, Dunvegan, Isle of Skye IV55 8WF, United Kingdom

Skye Skyns:

• 16 min drive from Dunvegan

• Scotland's only sheepskin tannery.

• Tours are free and take place at regular intervals throughout the day, no need to book.

• There is a Yurt café and showroom where you can get sheepskin souvenirs. Very cool and unique place.

• Open until at least 4:30pm (winter hours, can't find the summer hours but I'll keep an eye out).

• Location:

  Skyeskyns, 17 Lochbay, Waternish, Isle of Skye IV55 8GD, United Kingdom

• Contact: +44 1470 592237

Back to Broadford:

• 1 hour drive from Skye Skyns

• Back to Broadford for rest. Can stop in Portree for dinner or wait til Broadford. Portree is about halfway

• Location:

  Broadford - Isle of Skye - Highlands, Broadford, IV49 9AB, United Kingdom

Stop 1: Glenfinnan Viaduct

• It will take 2 hours and 15 minutes to get from Broadford House to Glenfinnan Viaduct

• Arrival: 10:30am

• The Jacobite Train leaves Ft William at 10:10am (as far as I can tell, I'll keep an eye on it and let you know if it changes).

• To see it cross the bridge at Glenfinnan Viaduct you should get there no later than 10:30am to be on the safe side.

• You will need to walk to the viaduct viewing point (5 min walk) and then just wait. I believe there is a visitor center there as well.

• Location:

  Glenfinnan Viaduct, Glenfinnan PH37 4LT, United Kingdom

Stop 2: Glencoe Visitor Center:

• 57 min drive from Glenfinnan Viaduct.

• Parking is $6

• Cute gift shop, visitor center with tons of info about Glencoe, as well as a café where you can have lunch (it was delicious last time I was there and very convenient before the longer drive).

• There is also a Turf and Creel house that you can go into and get a feel for how people of Glencoe lived at the time of the infamous massacre of 1692 (more about that in the visitor center).

• Location:

  Glencoe Visitor Centre - National Trust for Scotland, Visitor Centre, Glencoe, Ballachulish PH49 4HX, United Kingdom

• Contact: +44 1855 811307

Stop 3: Callander

• 1hr 38 min drive from Glencoe Visitor Center

• Trossachs Woollen Mill

• This is a souvenir shop and café attached to a farm. They sell lettuce, potatoes, carrots, etc in packets that can be fed to the very friendly Highland "Coos" outside the shop.

• Location:

  A84, Callander FK17 8HB, United Kingdom

"Stop 4": Stirling

• Drive by Stirling.

• You should be able to see (depending on the weather) Stirling Castle (my second favorite castle) on your left as you drive by and potentially the Wallace Monument.

Stop 5: The Falkirk Wheel

• 45 min drive from the highland cows

• Parking is $6.

• There is a 5-10 minute walk to the Visitor Centre.

• This is the world's one and only boat lift; an engineering marvel, it connects the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal in a half-turn, taking only 5 minutes.

• To ride the wheel it is £17.95 ($24). The last time currently is at 3:50pm (there are 90 spaces)

• Location:

  Falkirk Wheel Car Park, Falkirk FK1 4RS, United Kingdom

Stop 6: The Kelpies

• 13 min drive from Falkirk Wheel.

• The Kelpies are a pair of horse heads that stand 100ft tall and pay homage to the working horses of Scotland.

• There is a visitor center and café. The Kelpies are a bit of a walk from the car park but no more than 10-15 mins. Beautiful at any time of day.

• Location:

  The Kelpies, 269W+F7, The Helix, Grangemouth, Falkirk FK2 7ZT, United Kingdom

• Contact: +44 1324 590600

Stop 7: Edinburgh Marriott Hotel Holyrood

• 1hr drive from the Kelpies

• Check in at hotel and get settled before going to dinner.

• World's End pub is about a 9 minute walk away if that sounds good.

• Location:

  81 Holyrood Rd, Old Town, Edinburgh, EH8 8AU, United Kingdom

Bo'Ness Steam Train Ride

• 45 min drive from the the hotel

• Departs: 10:30am

• Must arrive 30 minutes before train departs. Arrive at: 10:00am.

• Order Reference: D7FGSBCW7

• Location:

  Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway, Station, Union St, Bo'ness EH51 9AQ, United Kingdom

Hume Castle

• 1hr 16 min drive from Bo'Ness Railstation

• Heavily modified remnants of a late 12th/early 13th century castle held by the powerful Hume/Home family; wardens of Eastern March who became successively the Lords Home and the Earls of Home.

• Hume Castle Preservation Trust is the charity that owns it today and it is open to the public free of charge.

• Location:

  Hume Castle, Kelso TD5 7TR, United Kingdom

Johnnie Walker Experience

• 30 min walk from the hotel, 10 min by car.

• Refunds and rescheduling are accepted up to 48hr before the tour.

• There is a flavor profile quiz I will send you all to fill out and you get a drink at the beginning of the tour based on that. Super fun.

• I'm not sure there's much parking so I'd probably leave the car at the hotel and then walk or grab a taxi/bus to Johnnie Walker.

• Location:

  145 Princes St, Edinburgh EH2 4BL, UK

Harry Potter Locations Tour

• 16 min walk from hotel

• Start time: 10:30am

• Confirmation #: 1756802309

• Booking Reference #: 1374047527

• Location:

  William Chambers Monument 45 Chambers St, Edinburgh EH8 9BL, UK

• End location:

  Royal Mile

  Edinburgh EH1 1QS, UK

Lunch

• Restaurant: Makars Mash Bar (if you can get in-wait times can be over an hour)

• Time: 12:45pm

• I will try to make a booking. They open 30 days in advance and I'll make sure I'm on in May to do that but I can't promise anything.

• Location:

  9-12 Bank St, Edinburgh EH1 2LN, United Kingdom

• Contact: +44 131 392 8390

Edinburgh Castle

• Entry Time: 1:30pm - 2:00pm

• Order #: 20260317-222495363

• Location:

  Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NG, United Kingdom

• Contact: +44 131 225 9846

Walk the Royal Mile

• Walk and explore the Royal Mile.

• You can stop at St. Giles Cathedral (6 minute walk from the castle on the right).

• Then stop at Tron Kirk Market (a market of local artisans set up in an old church.) Perfect for unique gifts/souvernirs if you still need some. (2 min walk from St. Giles).

• And loads of other things to see!

Dinner and rest before going home!