5-Day Scotland Tour: Isle of Bute, Highlands & Loch Ness
Experience Scotland’s most iconic attractions on our 5-day private tour from Glasgow or Edinburgh. This carefully paced itinerary showcases the Isle of Bute’s Victorian grandeur, the dramatic Highlands, legendary Loch Ness, and historic Stirling Castle. Perfect for first-time visitors or travellers with limited time, this tour captures Scotland’s essential landscapes and heritage in five immersive days.
Travel stress-free in our luxury vehicle with your owner-guide Graeme, who handles navigation, bookings, and shares insider knowledge throughout your journey. Every tour includes traditional bagpipe performances at scenic stops and complimentary whisky tastings.
Planning a longer visit? Our 7-Day Highland, Island & Cultural Heritage Tour explores Scotland’s east coast heritage sites, additional islands, and deeper cultural immersion.
5-Day Scotland Tour: Itinerary at a Glance
Day 1: Puck’s Glen, Mount Stuart House, Largs
Day 2: Loch Lomond, Trossachs National Park, Inveraray (Old Jail or Inveraray Castle), Loch Awe (Kilchurn Castle Photostop), St Conan’s Kirk, Oban
Day 3: Castle Stalker (Photostop), Glencoe, The Great Glen, Fort Augustus, Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness, Inverness
Day 4: Clava Cairns, Culloden Battlefield, Cawdor Castle, Pitlochry
Day 5: Loch Tay, Falls of Dochart, Rob Roy Macgregor’s Grave, Loch Lubnaig, Hairy Coos at Kilmahog, Stirling Castle
5-Day Scotland Tour: Day-by-Day detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Argyll & The Isle of Bute Puck’s Glen Forest Hike and Mount Stuart House
Your Scotland tour departs from Glasgow or Ayrshire, following the Clyde Estuary to the seaside town of Gourock. We board the ferry from McInroy’s Point and sail the 20-minute crossing to Hunters Quay near Dunoon. As we approach the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll, we drive six miles north alongside the Holy Loch to our first stop at Puck’s Glen.
Pull on your hiking boots for the mile-and-a-half trail through Puck’s Glen. This forest walk crosses wooden bridges over cascading waterfalls and clear pools. The route includes steep inclines and uneven ground, requiring a reasonable level of fitness. You may spot red squirrels, deer, woodpeckers, and pine martens along the way.
After the hike, we journey southwest through the Argyll forests to Colintraive for a five-minute ferry crossing to Rhubodach on the Isle of Bute. We travel south through the Victorian seaside town of Rothesay to Mount Stuart House.
This neo-Gothic mansion is a masterpiece of Victorian architecture, set within 300 acres of gardens and woodland. Built in the late 19th century for the 3rd Marquess of Bute, the interior design draws inspiration from history, astrology, art, and mythology. Join a guided tour to explore the house and its grounds.
We return to Rothesay for the final ferry crossing to Wemyss Bay, then travel south to your overnight accommodation in Largs or Seamill.
Overnight: Largs or Seamill
Day 2: Largs to Oban Trossachs National Park, Loch Lomond, Inveraray & Kilchurn Castle
Departing from the historical seaside town of Largs, (famous for the Battle of Largs 1263 when the last pitched battle between the Vikings and Scots took place), we travel north to the tantalising Trossachs National Park.
Your first stop takes you to the conservation village of Luss on the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond. Enjoy a leisurely stroll through this village with views of Loch Lomond and Ben Lomond, Scotland’s most southerly Highland mountain.
We continue north through the Arrochar Alps with a photo stop at Rest and Be Thankful, the mountain pass between Glen Croe and Glen Kinglas.
Our next destination is Inveraray, a Highland town on the western shores of Loch Fyne, known for its oysters and seafood. You can visit neo-Gothic Inveraray Castle, the ancestral home of the Duke of Argyll (Chief of Clan Campbell), or explore Inveraray Jail, a preserved 19th-century prison with exhibits on convict transportation to Australia. Many prisoners held here died during the voyage to New South Wales and Tasmania.
Time for lunch at a traditional inn or to browse the Georgian streets and local shops.
Departing Inveraray, we travel north to Loch Awe in Argyll and Bute. Scotland’s longest freshwater loch (over 25 miles), Loch Awe, provides views of 15th-century Kilchurn Castle, the former home of the Campbells of Glenorchy.
Before reaching Oban, we can stop at St Conan’s Kirk in the village of Loch Awe. Built in 1907 by Walter Douglas-Campbell for his mother (to save her the journey to the parish church in Dalmally), this church displays Norman, Romanesque, Gothic, and Celtic architecture.
Overnight: Oban
Day 3: Oban to Inverness Castle Stalker, Glencoe, The Great Glen & Loch Ness
Take some time to explore Oban (meaning “little bay” in Gaelic), a bustling harbour town and gateway to the Isles. You can browse the boutique shops, climb up to McCaig’s Tower for panoramic views, or enjoy a visit to the 1790 Oban Whisky Distillery.
Having spent the morning exploring Oban, we set off travelling north to Inverness, the capital of the Highlands.
Travelling north along the coastal route beside Loch Linnhe, we stop for a photo opportunity at Castle Stalker. This 14th-century castle sits on a tidal islet on Loch Laich and was built by Clan MacDougall around 1320. Interestingly, Castle Stalker was used as a filming location for Monty Python and the Holy Grail as the “Castle of Aaargh”.
Our next destination is Glencoe, where we stop to photograph the Three Sisters mountains. This mountainous glen is steeped in clan history and the tragedy of the 1692 Massacre of Glencoe, when the MacDonald Clan were killed by government forces under Campbell command. We’ll stop in the glen to absorb the atmosphere and hear the story of the massacre.
After lunch at the Clachaig Inn, situated in the heart of Glencoe, your Scottish journey continues through the Great Glen. This geological fault line bisects the Scottish Highlands, running 62 miles (100km) from Fort William to Inverness on the edge of the Moray Firth. You’ll experience impressive Highland scenery as we tour through this ancient glacial valley.
Time permitting, you have the option to visit the Caledonian Canal at Fort Augustus, Invermoriston Falls, or Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness before settling at your accommodation in Inverness.
Overnight: Inverness or Nairn
Day 4: Inverness to Pitlochry; Clava Cairns, Culloden Battlefield & Cawdor Castle
On day four, we visit the prehistoric burial chambers and standing stones at Clava Cairns. These chambers and standing stones date back more than 4,500 years.
Only a five-minute drive from Clava Cairns, we travel to Culloden Battlefield, site of the last Jacobite Rebellion, which came to a tragic end on April 16th, 1746. You’ll have time to walk the sacred battlefield and visit the cairns and gravestones of the fallen clans. This atmospheric site gives visitors insight into the conditions the clans endured that fateful day. You can discover stories from both Jacobite and Government perspectives in the Culloden visitor centre.
Leaving the eerie Culloden Moor, we take the short 10-mile drive to Cawdor Castle, a five-star visitor attraction just outside Nairn.
This 14th-century castle is the ancestral home of the Campbells of Cawdor and holds intriguing connections to Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The castle remains home to the Cawdor family today.
You may wish to stroll around the three gardens, which have been carefully maintained, or explore the ancient medieval tower built around the legendary holly tree held within the castle.
From Cawdor, we travel along Britain’s highest public road, journeying through the Cairngorms landscapes en route to the Victorian spa town of Pitlochry in Perthshire.
Overnight: Pitlochry.
Day 5: Pitlochry to Stirling Castle Loch Tay, Falls of Dochart, Rob Roy’s Grave & Stirling Castle
On the morning of your final day, you can choose to stroll through the popular spa town of Pitlochry before we depart.
We travel onward, skirting along the side of Loch Tay to the Falls of Dochart at Killin.
From Killin, we take the short drive to Rob Roy MacGregor’s final resting place in Balquhidder. We’ll share stories about this legendary Highland rogue in the peaceful surroundings before heading east to Stirling Castle.
En route, we stop at Loch Lubnaig and Kilmahog to (hopefully) spot some hairy heilan’ coos, and enjoy a wee tune or two on the bagpipes.
When we arrive at Stirling Castle’s courtyard, you’ll experience the views, cobbled paths, and talks given by the experienced and knowledgeable Historic Scotland guides on site. You’ll tour one of Scotland’s largest and most important medieval castles. Stirling Castle is one of Scotland’s most visited attractions, and once you’ve explored it, you’ll understand why.
Having completed your Scotland tour, you’ll be driven back to your chosen accommodation in central Scotland.
Book Your 5-Day Scotland Tour
This private 5-day tour offers an immersive introduction to Scotland, from the Isle of Bute’s Victorian architecture to the legendary Highlands and Loch Ness. Travel in our luxury Ford Tourneo (accommodating up to 8 passengers) with your owner-guide Graeme in full Highland dress.
What makes our tours different:
- Private tours (no sharing with strangers)
- Complete flexibility to adjust timing and stops
- Traditional bagpipe performances at scenic locations
- Complimentary whisky tastings throughout
- Owner-guided expertise (not hired drivers)
This tour can be extended with additional days to include the Isle of Skye, Outer Hebrides, or other destinations based on your interests.
Need more time? Our 7-Day Highland, Island & Cultural Heritage Tour explores Scotland’s east coast heritage sites and offers deeper cultural immersion.
Pricing: See our Price Guide for transparent tour rates, or contact us for a personalised quote.
