Best of the Scottish Highlands

Best of the Scottish Highlands

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tourhub | Newmarket Holidays | Best of the Scottish Highlands | 99836
tourhub | Newmarket Holidays | Best of the Scottish Highlands | 99836 tourhub | Newmarket Holidays | Best of the Scottish Highlands | 99836
1,013 Views
7 Days
From

$1595

$1356

Best of the Scottish Highlands

7 Days Starting and ending in UK

Visiting: Inverness, Carrbridge, Brodie Castle, Moray Coast Trail Start/Finish, Black Isle, Loch Ness, Strathspey Railway - (Aviemore, Station), Distillery House, Mallaig

Tour operator:

Newmarket Holidays

Tour code:

99836

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

25 - 49

Physical rating:

Low

Age range:

21-99

Tour operated in:
English
From:
$1595
$1356 (USD) including Flights from the UK Operator discount: -$238

Tourhub Members Discount - Sign In

-15%

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

Escape to the Highlands. 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

  • 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

  • An opportunity to join a tour and tasting at the Dalwhinnie whisky distillery

  • Set off on a tour of the beautiful Black Isle

  • Go mythical monster hunting on a boat trip on Loch Ness

  • A chance to visit the Victorian seaside town of Nairn

Itinerary

Expand All
Day 1 : Fly To Inverness
Location: Inverness, Carrbridge
Meals Included: No Meals

Following your flight into Inverness airport, you'll be met by your tour manager and make the short transfer to Carrbridge. Depending on your flight time, you might be able to explore Inverness before checking into your hotel.



Spend the rest of the day relaxing at your hotel or in the pretty village. Opposite your hotel, you'll find the famous Packhorse Bridge, which dates back to 1717 and is reputed to be one of the oldest bridges in Scotland.

Day 2 : Included Brodie Castle And Moray Coast Tour
Location: Brodie Castle, Moray Coast Trail Start/Finish
Meals Included: No Meals

This morning, we head to the rose-coloured, turreted Brodie Castle (entrance payable locally but free to National Trust members), 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 : Included Visit To Inverness And The Black Isle, And Wildlife Cruise
Location: Inverness, Black Isle
Meals Included: No Meals

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 : Included Visit To Loch Ness
Location: Loch Ness
Meals Included: No Meals

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 : Included Strathspey Steam Railway Ride And Visit To A Distillery
Location: Strathspey Railway - (Aviemore, Station), Distillery House
Meals Included: No Meals

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.



Your day also includes a visit to the Highland village of Dalwhinnie where you can explore, or visit a distillery to enjoy a guided tour and the chance to sample three different single malts (entry and tour payable locally).

Day 6 : The Road To The Isles From Fort William To Mallaig
Location: Mallaig
Meals Included: No Meals

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 : Fly Back To Your Local Airport
Location: Inverness
Meals Included: No Meals, No Meals

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.

What's Included

  • 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 (entrance payable locally by non National Trust members)

  • Return flights to Inverness

  • Coach travel throughout your time in Scotland

  • Escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager

  • Drive along the Road to the Isles from Fort William to Mallaig

  • Return flights to Inverness, with coach travel and transfers throughout

show more

What's Not Included

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 after Brexit

New rules apply when travelling to European Union countries and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The following are useful guidelines which will help you prepare for your next adventure. Note that these new rules do NOT apply when travelling within the United Kingdom or to the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland. You do require government issued ID when travelling by air though.
Passport - British passport holders need to have at least six months validity left on their passport and it needs to be less than ten years old; passports which have a longer validity than ten years are not valid for travel once the tenth anniversary of issue has passed. These rules do not apply to travel to Ireland where you can continue to use your passport as long as it’s valid for the length of your stay.
Visa - If you’re a tourist, 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. Different rules will apply to Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania; if you visit these countries, visits to other EU countries will not count towards the 90-day total. Travel to Ireland will not change and stays there will not count towards the 90-day total.
European Travel Information & Authorisation System (ETIAS) - Towards the end of 2022, it is likely that non EU citizens will be required to apply online for an authorisation to visit most European countries. The current details suggest there will be a charge of €7 per person and the authorisation will be valid for all trips made to the EU in a three year period from issue. We will advise you of confirmed details prior to your tour’s departure.
Border Control - At border control, you may need to show proof of your return journey - your travel documentation issued by us will be sufficient for this. You will also need to use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens if manual checks are required.
Healthcare Cover - You should always get appropriate travel insurance with healthcare cover before you go abroad which covers pre-existing conditions. You should understand the terms and conditions of your travel insurance and be happy with its cover for healthcare and travel disruption. Newmarket sell a comprehensive travel insurance policy. Ask our travel consultants for more information. You should also apply for a UK Global Heath Insurance Card (GHIC) which lets you get urgent state healthcare in Europe at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. Note GHIC is only valid in EU countries and not in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Mobile Roaming - Roaming charges have been re-introduced by some UK providers when visiting the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Prior to travel, please do check with your phone operator for the most up to date information.

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 after Brexit

New rules apply when travelling to European Union countries and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The following are useful guidelines which will help you prepare for your next adventure. Note that these new rules do NOT apply when travelling within the United Kingdom or to the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland. You do require government issued ID when travelling by air though.

Passport - British passport holders need to have at least six months validity left on their passport and it needs to be less than ten years old; passports which have a longer validity than ten years are not valid for travel once the tenth anniversary of issue has passed. These rules do not apply to travel to Ireland where you can continue to use your passport as long as it’s valid for the length of your stay.

Visa - If you’re a tourist, 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. Different rules will apply to Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania; if you visit these countries, visits to other EU countries will not count towards the 90-day total. Travel to Ireland will not change and stays there will not count towards the 90-day total.

European Travel Information & Authorisation System (ETIAS) - Towards the end of 2022, it is likely that non EU citizens will be required to apply online for an authorisation to visit most European countries. The current details suggest there will be a charge of €7 per person and the authorisation will be valid for all trips made to the EU in a three year period from issue. We will advise you of confirmed details prior to your tour’s departure.

Border Control - At border control, you may need to show proof of your return journey - your travel documentation issued by us will be sufficient for this. You will also need to use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens if manual checks are required.

Healthcare Cover - You should always get appropriate travel insurance with healthcare cover before you go abroad which covers pre-existing conditions. You should understand the terms and conditions of your travel insurance and be happy with its cover for healthcare and travel disruption. Newmarket sell a comprehensive travel insurance policy. Ask our travel consultants for more information. You should also apply for a UK Global Heath Insurance Card (GHIC) which lets you get urgent state healthcare in Europe at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. Note GHIC is only valid in EU countries and not in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Mobile Roaming - Roaming charges have been re-introduced by some UK providers when visiting the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Prior to travel, please do check with your phone operator for the most up to date information.

Check out our Q&As

  • Are airport transfers included in this tour?

    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.

  • What is the fitness level required to do this tour?

    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.

  • Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

    Yes

  • Do you require a visa for this holiday?

    If you’re a tourist, 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. Different rules will apply to Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania; if you visit these countries, visits to other EU countries will not count towards the 90-day total. Travel to Ireland will not ch

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Since 1983

  • Vaccination Requirements

    Your health and safety are pivotal to our operations, and every customer travelling on a tour with us must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Fully vaccinated means that you have had the full course of an approved vaccine a minimum of 14 days prior to your holiday. We also recommend that you travel with proof that you’ve been fully vaccinated.

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Our company’s mission is to enrich lives and improve wellbeing through travel. A big part of that is ‘Travel for Good’. Our ‘Travel for Good’ hub is our first step in a long journey to reduce carbon, offset anything we produce as a company and travel without harming the planet or the people of the destinations we go to.

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Please contact us for latest Covid-19 policies

  • Fitness to Travel

    We strive to give all our customers full care and attention, but we do need to know at the time of booking if there are any special needs or requirements. It is particularly important that we are advised of any disabilities and also if you intend to bring any specialist equipment such as a wheelchair with you. Please make sure that you make us aware of any requirements.

Reviews of this Operator

Mr Albert Owen  

Help is at hand at Newmarket holidays

04-Jan-2023

I tried to book myself on line for an Andre Rieu concert in Vienna but I didn’t manage to complete the booking. I rang the next day & spoke to Sharon who was very helpful. I am a 76 year old pensioner & not totally au fa with the internet. However, Sharon went through it step by step & I felt more confident. She completed the booking for me & said she would also send a paper copy.

Iain Moir  

Newmarket Holidays…top dollar!

06-Jan-2023

Having booked late the service we received from Newmarket staff has been excellent - helpful, friendly, painstaking and above all going further than we could really expect to ensure our requests were all satisfied. We would like to particularly thank Naima for her attention to detail and perseverance in following up our queries. This is the first time we have tried NH but it wont be the last

Miss F J Murphy  

This is the third holiday I have taken…

05-Nov-2021

This is the third holiday I have taken with Newmarket Holidays. They made it easy to change from the Holiday I originally booked to one in the UK. The tour leader was excellent as was our driver, both of whom went the extra mile to ensure we had a lovely holiday. There were difficulties at the hotel due to COVID but we were made very welcome and the staff went out of their way to help us. So I have no complaint about Newmarket's choice of hotel. I am a single traveller and normally do not like to travel in groups but the laidback atmosphere of Newmarket Holidays is fine.

Trustpilot
Caroline N, GB  

Hurrah for Eddie and Simon, Newmarket's highlands duo!

26-Oct-2021

Very happy time on an action packed trip to the Scottish highlands. Eddie as tour manager and Simon as driver. Eddie shared his passion for Scottish history and between them they treated us to many unscheduled cultural stops that enhanced our holiday. They went above and beyond all the time. Train trips were amazing and views unforgettable. Hotel was welcoming and food was good. Hot water aplenty for bath. We wanted to escape to another world for a few days and we truly did. THANK YOU. Chris and Caroline

Trustpilot
Tony King, GB  

Canada October 2021

28-Oct-2021

We have returned from our long overdue trip to Canada Niagara Falls to the Rockies stating in Toronto and finishing in Vancouver. Well we happened to be the first trip back after the Coiid outbreak and it was so good to go. The company had made sure we were all safe and masks were worn where ever they had to be but this did not dampen the trip at all, the Tour directors ( guides ) were brilliant and we saw and did so much it was a fantastic trip which I would recommend to everyone, defiantly one for the bucket list.

Trustpilot

Dates & Availability

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Saturday - Friday

Jun 15, 2024 - Jun 21, 2024
$1595 $1356 (USD)

Operator discount: -$238 (USD)

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Wednesday - Tuesday

Jun 26, 2024 - Jul 02, 2024
$1764 $1500 (USD)

Operator discount: -$264 (USD)

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Wednesday - Tuesday

Jul 03, 2024 - Jul 09, 2024
$1801 $1532 (USD)

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Wednesday - Tuesday

Sep 11, 2024 - Sep 17, 2024
$1614 $1490 (USD)

Operator discount: -$125 (USD)

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Wednesday - Tuesday

Sep 25, 2024 - Oct 01, 2024
$1619 $1495 (USD)

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Thursday - Wednesday

Oct 10, 2024 - Oct 16, 2024
$1669 $1545 (USD)

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Tuesday - Monday

Apr 01, 2025 - Apr 07, 2025
$1545 $1420 (USD)

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Friday - Thursday

Apr 18, 2025 - Apr 24, 2025
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May 29, 2025 - Jun 04, 2025
$1614 $1490 (USD)

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Thursday - Wednesday

Jun 26, 2025 - Jul 02, 2025
$1682 $1557 (USD)

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Thursday - Wednesday

Jul 24, 2025 - Jul 30, 2025
$1739 $1614 (USD)

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Monday - Sunday

Aug 25, 2025 - Aug 31, 2025
$1819 $1694 (USD)

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Thursday - Wednesday

Sep 18, 2025 - Sep 24, 2025
$1732 $1607 (USD)

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Thursday - Wednesday

Sep 25, 2025 - Oct 01, 2025
$1732 $1607 (USD)

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Thursday - Wednesday

Oct 02, 2025 - Oct 08, 2025
$1577 $1452 (USD)

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Thursday - Wednesday

Oct 23, 2025 - Oct 29, 2025
$1577 $1452 (USD)

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Book with Confidence

  • Low Deposit

    Newmarket Holidays requires a minimum deposit of 35% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of newmarket holidays charges.

    Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 48 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.

    At 34 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.

    At 15 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

  • Vaccination Requirements

    Your health and safety are pivotal to our operations, and every customer travelling on a tour with us must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Fully vaccinated means that you have had the full course of an approved vaccine a minimum of 14 days prior to your holiday. You can find the travel restrictions for different countries on www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. We also recommend that you travel with proof that you’ve been fully vaccinated.

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