The Celtic Wilds Tour: 10-Day Scottish Highlands & Isles

Day 1

Exclusive Arrival in Skye – Edinbane Lodge & Castle Heritage

A private transfer takes you from Inverness Airport to Edinbane Lodge, a historic property known for its award-winning dining. Upon arrival, enjoy a welcome tea overlooking the Edinbane River before taking a short walk along the riverbank, a level path that passes stone bridges and native woodland.

If you arrive early, head to Dunvegan Castle & Gardens to get a feel of Skye’s history. The MacLeod clan has lived here for more than 800 years, and inside the castle you’ll find rooms filled with old family treasures and portraits. Just outside, you will see the walled gardens full of blooming flowers and offer lovely views over Loch Dunvegan.

For dinner, Edinbane Lodge serves a seasonal tasting menu. Expect dishes like hand-dived scallops with seaweed butter, Highland venison with blackcurrant jus, Skye langoustines with garlic foam, and heather-honey parfait with whisky caramel. The meal is paired with wines from local Highland vineyards and other carefully chosen labels.

Overnight:  Isle of Skye

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 2

Where the Cliffs Touch the Sky – A Journey Through Skye’s Wild Beauty

Begin with a drive to the Quiraing Trailhead and prepare for a guided hike following a well-marked path along the ridge. You will pass formations such as the Needle, the Prison, the Table, and more. The route offers elevated views of the Trotternish Peninsula, the Sound of Raasay, and distant peaks of Torridon. Once at the summit, enjoy a gourmet picnic prepared by the lodge chef. This could include smoked salmon sandwiches with dill cream, venison sausage rolls, mature Isle of Mull cheddar with oatcakes, raspberry cranachan pots, and shortbread.

Continue to Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls, a viewpoint where a sheer cliff face resembles pleated tartan and a waterfall plunges 55 meters into the sea. Opt for a short detour to Staffin Beach. Here. you'll see fossilized dinosaur footprints from the Jurassic period when it's low tide. Afterwards, return to Edinbane Lodge for a fireside whisky nightcap and choose from their selction of Isle of Raasay Single Malt and Torabhaig Legacy.

Overnight:  Isle of Skye

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 3

Fairy Pools & Talisker Indulgence – A Day of Nature and Fine Whisky

Head to the Fairy Pools for a guided walk along a clear stream that winds through small waterfalls and deep blue-green pools. If you like, you can take a short cold-water swim in designated areas, with towels and warming drinks ready afterward. Lunch is served at The Old Inn in Carbost, with dishes such as pan-seared scallops with garlic butter, Hebridean lamb stew, smoked haddock chowder, sticky toffee pudding, and fresh artisan sourdough bread.

The afternoon continues with a hike at Talisker Bay, a black-sand beach framed by towering cliffs and frequented by seabirds, including fulmars and kittiwakes. Return to Talisker Distillery for a whisky-pairing dinner after. The menu includes Highland venison loin with juniper jus, Skye langoustines in citrus butter, celeriac purée with truffle oil, and dark chocolate mousse with whisky caramel. Each course is paired with Talisker expressions, from the 10 Year to the Distiller’s Edition.

Overnight:  Isle of Skye

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 4

Where the Sea Meets the Cuillin – Skye’s Stories in Motion

Begin the day with a transfer to Portree Harbour, where you’ll board a private RIB boat for a guided sea safari across the Inner Sound. You’ll pass close to the Isle of Raasay and nearby smaller islands, keeping an eye out for dolphins, seals, and occasionally sea eagles. A picnic lunch on a quiet, secluded beach includes smoked salmon sandwiches, Highland venison sausage rolls, mature Isle of Mull cheddar with oatcakes, fresh berry tartlets, and elderflower presse.

The return journey hugs the Cuillin coastline, with stops to take in sea arches and hidden caves accessible only by boat. Back at Edinbane Lodge, dinner includes seared scallops with pea purée, slow-braised Highland beef, pan-roasted cod with samphire, wild mushroom risotto, and cranachan with whisky cream. Guests can also join an optional evening session with a Gaelic storyteller, sharing myths and legends inspired by Skye’s striking landscape.

Overnight:  Isle of Skye

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 5

Where Lochs Converge and Islands Await – A Passage to Mull

After checking out from Edinbane Lodge, drive to Eilean Donan Castle, a restored 13th-century fortress where three sea lochs meet. You’ll have time to explore the Great Hall, historic kitchens, gardens, and a collection of Jacobite artifacts. Lunch after sightseeing is at the Eilean Donan Coffee Shop with dishes like Cullen skink (smoked haddock soup), smoked salmon platters, venison pie, haggis with neeps and tatties, and sticky toffee pudding.

Continue the drive to Oban for the ferry crossing to Mull (45 minutes). On arrival, check in to the Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa in a sea-view room. Dinner at Òran na Mara Bistro offers a menu of hand-dived scallops, Loch Fyne oysters, grilled langoustines, Mull lamb with rosemary jus, and rhubarb cranachan with whisky cream.

Overnight:  Isle of Mull

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 6

Calgary Bay Serenity – Coastal Walks, Art Trails & Spa Indulgence

For day 6, start with a scenic drive to Calgary Bay. Known for its white sandy beach and surrounding grassy dunes, this place is perfect for a relaxed walk along the shore with opportunities to get photos of seabirds and beautiful coastal rock formations. A short trail at the edge of the beach leads to viewpoints overlooking the Sound of Mull. Lunch is at Calgary Arts Café, where the menu highlights include smoked haddock chowder with crusty bread, Mull crab sandwiches on brown bread with lemon mayo, venison burgers topped with wild berry compote, seasonal root vegetable soup, and homemade shortbread with clotted cream.

After lunch, follow a cliffside hiking trail that passes through wildflower meadows and skirts the edges of dramatic sea cliffs. Along the way, small art installations appear at intervals, each with a plaque describing the artist and inspiration. Sea-view perches also provide rest stops which are ideal for spotting seals on offshore rocks or gannets diving for fish. Return to the hotel for a 60-minute ishga Full Body Massage, using seaweed-based oils sourced from the Hebridean coast. You can then enjoy your dinner at the Sea Deck Bar featuring fresh seafoods paired with wine or whisky at the end of the night.

Overnight:  Isle of Mull

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 7

From Sacred Shores to Scenic Seas – A Day on Iona

After breakfast, begin today's adventure with a scenic drive to Fionnphort, a small harbor where fishing boats bob in the sheltered bay. A short ferry crossing will bring you to Iona, an island long regarded as the spiritual heart of the Inner Hebrides, known for its luminous white sand beaches. A private guide will lead a tour of Iona Abbey. With it being one of Scotland’s most important religious sites, it traces its history from the arrival of St. Columba to its role in early Christian monastic life. Nearby, explore the ancient royal burial ground and the ruins of St. Oran’s Chapel before enjoying quiet time to wander Iona’s serene beaches

Lunch is at the St Columba Hotel Restaurant with dishes prepared with vegetables from the hotel’s organic garden and freshly caught seafood. Choose between a gentle kayaking tour along Iona’s coastline, passing rocky coves and crystal-clear shallows, or a meditative beach walk, allowing for moments of stillness and reflection after lunch. Once you’re ready, come back to Craignure for a relaxed dinner at Macgochans.

Overnight:  Isle of Mull

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 8

From Wild Shores to Flowing Falls – A Journey Through Mull’s Essence

Start the day with a guided nature walk near Lochdon, an area that is known for its diverse wildlife and wetland habitats with the route covering low-lying moorland and coastal paths. Your guide will explain local ecology and conservation efforts during the walk. A short drive brings you to Tobermory Distillery, one of Scotland’s oldest working distilleries, for an additional tasting and a behind-the-scenes look at their coastal-influenced production methods.

The day continues with a walk to Eas Fors Waterfall, a three-tiered cascade that drops directly into the sea. Viewing points are only accessible through a short trail that offers unobstructed views of the upper falls and mid-level plunge pool. Finally, dinner is reserved at An Cala Ciùin with a five-course tasting menu that shows and exemplifies Mull’s seasonal produce.

Overnight:  Isle of Mull

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 9

Between Lochs and Legends – The Timeless Soul of Glencoe

Day 9 starts with a ferry ride from Mull to Oban, where your private driver meets you for a drive through the Highlands to Glencoe. Along the way, you’ll pass lochs and rugged mountains shaped by ancient glaciers. Lunch is at Loch Leven Seafood Café, right by the water, where fresh shellfish is served simply to highlight its natural flavor, paired with crisp white wines from the café’s selection.

Then, start on a guided hike into Glencoe’s Lost Valley, a hidden glen steeped in legend and framed by towering cliffs. Your guide will be sharing stories of the infamous Glencoe Massacre and the geological forces that carved this hauntingly beautiful terrain. After a full day, return to Oban by late afternoon and board the ferry back to the Isle of Mull. Dinner is at Òran na Mara Bistro so expect seasonal produce and freshly caught seafood be transformed into modern Scottish dishes.

Overnight:  Isle of Mull

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 10

Departure

For your last day, savor your breakfast as you look back on the journey you took over the last days. Embrace the stillness of your suite that became your resting place and home for almost a week before packing up and checking out. Once you’re ready, a private driver will be waiting to take you to your next destination.

Home?

Or another unforgettable destination with us?

Either way, we’ll be honored to have become part of a journey that will shape the rest of your days and change the way you see beauty in places.

Meals included: Breakfast