Known as the Queen of the Hebrides, the beautiful Isle of Islay is rightly famed for her whiskies, including favorites like Laphroaig, Ardbeg and Bruichladdich; but, there is so much more to this most beguiling of destinations. Departing from Edinburgh we make our way to the Atlantic coast, and ferry terminal, stopping along the way to see Loch Lomond, famed in song and story and Inveraray, seat of the mighty Clan Campbell. The ferry journey takes around two hours and offers spectacular views over to the islands and back to the mainland. Once we arrive we’ll get you settled into your accommodation and leave the rest of the day and evening to soak up the quiet and peaceful surroundings.

   The second and third days are spent exploring all that Islay has to offer (and weather permitting, the remote Isle of Jura as well). We’ll include distillery visits, coastal walks along pristine white beaches and atop cliffs with spectacular views over to Ireland. Your guide will also make stops at some of the most important historical sites on the island, like the medieval church at Kildalton, with its 1200-year-old carved stone Celtic Cross, perhaps the best in the British Isles. We’ll also spend time walking out to Finlaggan, the now long-forgotten seat of the Lords of the Isles, Chiefs of Clan Donald who once ruled a great sea-kingdom from this site. These are fun packed, fresh air days seasoned with drams of the best single malts.

   On the fourth day, the trip returns to the mainland, and we head north along the fjord of Loch Fyne to Kilmartin Glen and turn the clock back 6000 years to the age of the earliest farmers. Kilmartin is home to Neolithic burial chambers, stone circles and earthworks that take us back to the dawn of Scotland. Here too is Dunadd Fort, historical coronation site for the Dark Age Kings of the Scots. In this place, the past is all around. We then continue north through the coast of Argyll to Oban, the Gateway to the Islands and a great town for us to spend the night.

We can begin the last day with a tour of Oban Distillery (optional), and then head east through the rough and dramatic mountains of Breadalbane back to the Lowlands. After a short stop below the mighty ramparts of Stirling Castle, we make our way back to Edinburgh.

*For time-strapped visitors, this tour can be done over four days by cutting out the overnight stop in Oban.

**All rates are available on request, and subject to seasonal variation, accommodation preferences and group size.

'These are fun-packed, fresh air days seasoned with drams of the best single malts.'