Spectacular Scenic Scotland!
The spectacular stunning Scottish Highlands were officially crowned in a recent poll as the most beautiful location across the whole of Britain, beating other scenic destinations such as Devon and Cornwall! With the breath-taking abundance of deep blue lochs, undulating coastline, wild expanses, magnificent woodland combined with rugged hills and mountains, it is no surprise that the world-famous countryside of Scotland won this accolade. The Scottish Highlands boasts an impressive 4,887 hills and mountains, 330 lochs and 776 walking trails, so why not join one of our delightful luxury door-to-door coach holidays where you will be able to just sit back and relax to enjoy the magnificence and romance of the Scottish Highlands! If you are lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of an impressive stag majestically standing in the heather rich glens or an eagle swooping through the clear blue skies. The Highlands are filled with a mystical air, one moment you see the hills, the next they are gone with the ever-changing weather of sunny spells and dark shadows with white snow-capped mountains to add a touch of magic.
To add to this stunning scenery, you will hopefully catch sight of a shaggy Highland ‘coo’ (cow in the old Scots language). They somehow manage to navigate their way through the rugged land with their long fringe (‘dossan’) blocking their view. Even if they can’t see too well, they can dig through snow with their long horns to find food. Just in case you need to know, a Highland bull’s horns grow forwards and slightly downwards, whilst the female’s face upwards and are longer and finer!
Heading further northwest from the Highlands discover your very own slice of heaven, a Hebridean odyssey!
The Outer Hebrides is an idyllic arc of over 200 islands with pristine, powder-white beaches, wild Atlantic waves, and breath-taking scenery. With mile upon mile of unspoilt beaches, crystal clear waters, rugged mountains, and lochs galore all combining to make this a very special corner of the world. These islands of untouched beauty also contain a wealth of wildlife including puffins and gannets. As well as being an exceptional place for beauty and wildlife they are also home to ancient historical sites with enigmatic ruins and standing stones (Scotland’s Stonehenge, but older!), dating back thousands of years.
The Isle of Skye also know as Cloud Isles in Old Norse is the largest island in the Inner Hebrides. Connected to the mainland by bridge the island is renowned for its spectacular scenery of rising mountains, cascading waterfalls and blazing sunsets.
Further on encounter Loch Maree, regarded by many as Scotland’s bonniest loch with its wealth of special wildlife and biodiversity. The next scenic delight on this route is Gairloch with its pretty harbour and magnificent views.
Then travelling closer to the mainland, we discover Scotland’s stunning Northwest Passage. This includes the scenic Scottish equivalent of Route 66 - the unforgettable North Coast 500 route, (516 to be exact…) described as one of the world’s most beautiful road trips. This jaw dropping journey brings together stunning coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, rugged mountains, remote fishing villages and a wealth of unforgettable experiences.
Going even further North and visiting the iconic location of John O’Groats with its famous sign saying it is 874 miles to Land’s End. John O' Groats is named after a Dutchman, Jan de Groot. In 1496 King James IV granted De Groot the ferry franchise between the harbour and Orkney.
The Earldom of Orkney was first held for the Norwegian Crown until 1468, when the King gave Orkney to the Scottish Crown as part of a marriage agreement with King James III. Orkney contains some of the oldest and best-preserved Neolithic sites in Europe and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of these sites, Skara Brae, dates back over 5,000 years ago making it older than Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids of Giza! Another magical location on Orkney is the Ring of Brodgar a massive stone circle, with at least 13 prehistoric burial grounds. As Orkney does not have mammals such as foxes, badgers, or weasels many species of birds, such a puffins, kittiwakes and guillemots have been able to thrive on the island.
Back on the mainland following the winding coastal road to Inverness there is more fascinating wildlife to be seen from Brora beach, a small golden sandy beach with Jurassic rocks and a sloping sea front. This rural and unspoilt beach is great for wildlife watching, if you are lucky, you might catch sight of dolphins, minke whales, and grey seals off the coastline. The name Brora is derived from Old Norse and means "river with a bridge".
Just a little further down this scenic journey and you will see the majestic Dunrobin Castle, looking like a French château with its fantastic gardens. It is the largest house in the Highlands of Scotland with 189 rooms, and one of Britain's oldest inhabited houses.
The final part of this magnificent journey, before heading south, is the Pass of Drumochter meaning simply 'high ridge' and is the iconic mountain pass between the northern and southern central Scottish Highlands.
So, if you would like to fall under the spell of magical Scotland and enjoy some of these breath-taking adventures, then just click here to book onto one of our luxury scenic Scottish Tours for 7 days from £819 per person.
Tachas fhèin – Enjoy yourself in Scots Gaelic!