6 Day Clan Macdonald Private Tour

Discover the history of one of Scotland's greatest clans - the Macdonalds - with a six day private tour from Inverness that includes the Isle of Skye, the West Highlands and the ancient heartland of the Macdonald Lords of the Isles at Finlaggan on the Isle of Islay. Throughout the tour we explore the historic lands of the Macdonalds of Sleat, Clanranald, Glengarry, Keppoch, Glencoe and Dunyveg.

Day 1 – Starting from Inverness we visit Culloden Battlefield to explore the bloody history surrounding Charles Edward Stuart and his Jacobite supporters (which included the Macdonalds of Keppoch, Clanranald, Glengarry and Glencoe). We then follow the Great Glen down the banks of Loch Ness before turning west to Glen Shiel and the Five Sisters of Kintail mountains. Arriving at Eilean Donan Castle (which was involved in a 'less than successful' Macdonald uprising in the 1530s) we enjoy a viewpoint break before we cross the bridge to the Isle of Skye on our journey north to Portree for our overnight stay.

Day 2 – A full day on the Isle of Skye begins with a tour to the Trotternish Peninsula (clan Macdonald lands) including the Old Man of Storr and to Kilt Rock. Continuing north we pass the ruins of Duntulm Castle, a former clan stronghold, before arriving at the Museum of Island Life. Nearby is the grave of one of the clan's most celebrated figures - Flora Macdonald. The afternoon takes us south to the Sleat Peninsula to explore the Museum of the Isles (which tells the history of the Macdonalds) along with the ruins of Armadale Castle, the last ancestral home of the Macdonalds of Sleat before our return to Portree for our overnight stay.

Day 3 – Leaving Portree we return to the Sleat Peninsula for the mid-morning ferry (40 minute sailing) across the Sound of Sleat to Mallaig and follow the 'road to the Isles' through the lands of the Macdonalds of Clanranald to Glenfinnan where they stood with Charles Edward Stuart as the Standard was raised in 1745. After a visit to the Jacobite monument and museum we pass through Fort William on route to the magnificent Glencoe, home to the Macdonalds of Glencoe and location of the infamous massacre of 1692. Leaving Glencoe we continue south to Oban for our overnight stay.

Day 4 – Departs from Oban as we head south through the stunning historical landscapes of Kilmartin Glen, where we explore the traditional West Highland grave slabs that were prominent during the height of the Lordship of the Isles. We continue on a scenic drive that takes us past the ancient Dunadd hill fort from where the early Gaels ruled the lands of Dalriada, before we arrive at Kennacraig where we board the afternoon ferry for a 2¼ hour sailing across to the Isle of Islay, where we will stay for the next two nights.

Day 5 – A full day on the Isle of Islay begins with a visit to Finlaggan, the ancestral heartland of the Lords of the Isles. From Loch Finlaggan the descendants of Somerled, the chiefs of Clan Donald, ruled a lordship that at its height in the mid-fifteenth century encompassed most of the Hebrides and a large swathe of the Highlands. The afternoon takes us south to explore the ruins of Dunyveg Castle the ancient stronghold of the Macdonalds of Dunyveg. Before returning to our overnight accommodation there is the option to enjoy one of Islay's most famous export - whisky!

Day 6 – Departs from Islay as we take the early morning sailing back to the mainland. It is then a scenic drive back toward to Oban. After a late lunch stop we continue north through Fort William and visit the nearly 800 years old ruins of Inverlochy Castle, location of two famous Macdonald battle victories. The late afternoon takes us through the lands of the Macdonalds of Keppoch before reaching the ancestral lands of the Macdonalds (Macdonells) of Glengarry where we stop at the ruins of Invergarry Castle before our return to Inverness.