3 Day Clan Macdonald Tour
Discover the history and traditions of one of Scotland's greatest clans - the Macdonalds - with a three day tour from Inverness to the Isle of Skye and the West Highlands where we explore the lands of the Macdonalds of Sleat, Clanranald, Glencoe, Keppoch and Glengarry.
Day 1 begins at Inverness where we visit Culloden Battlefield to explore the bloody history surrounding Bonnie Prince Charlie 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 viewpoint break before we cross the bridge to the Isle of Skye on our journey north to Portree for our overnight stop.
Day 2 begins with a tour to the Trotternish Peninsula (ancient Clan Donald lands) including the Old Man of Storr and to Kilt Rock. Continuing north, we pass the ruins of Duntulm Castle, 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. We then take the late afternoon ferry across the Sound of Sleat to Mallaig (or Arisaig) for our overnight stop.
Day 3 departs from Mallaig/Arisaig through the lands of the Macdonalds of Clanranald to Glenfinnan where the Clanranald stood with Bonnie Prince Charlie as the Standard was raised in 1745. After a visit to the Jacobite monument and museum we take a breath-taking drive through the magnificent Glencoe, home to the Macdonalds of Glencoe and location of the infamous massacre of 1692. Leaving Glencoe we head back 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 of Glengarry where we stop at the ruins of Invergarry Castle before our return to Inverness.
Private Tour Price (per tour)
May to September: £2050
April & October: £1850
Tour Information
Depart Inverness
Return Inverness
(3 Days)
This tour is available on Tuesday to Saturday start days from Inverness.
Tours are exclusively for your private group only (up to 3 persons) and prices are per tour. We only offer private tours and do not combine individuals or separate groups – if your group size is less than 3 the advertised tour price still applies. Prices include all taxes and a driver/guide (John Alasdair Macdonald) but exclude your accommodation costs, entrance fees and meals.
Accommodation Options
We recommend that you book accommodation in Portree (Day 1) and Mallaig or Arisaig (Day 2) to make the most of your trip. Whilst we do not book accommodation for you we are happy to help with advice on where to stay and eat. The tour quote will include a list of accommodation recommendations and suggestions for overnight locations.
Please note that accommodation options in Portree are often booked quite far in advance. We can consider alternative overnight locations around the Isle of Skye such as Uig, Edinbane, Dunvegan, Broadford, Isleornsay and Armadale, though ideally an evening meal option needs to be within walking distance. Please email with any specific suggestions and we will endeavour to adapt the itinerary to suit if possible.
Tour Itinerary
The tour itinerary is based on experience, previous clients feedback and timings. However, we have some flexibility and the tour itinerary can be adapted (in advance) to suit specific requests if possible. Please let us know any requests through the 'Extra Information' section when completing a Tour Enquiry Form.
Ferry Sailings
In the event of a ferry cancellation from Armadale to Mallaig on Day 3 we would have an extended road journey (approx. 3 hours) to reach Glenfinnan by road and complete the majority of the day's itinerary, with a slightly later arrival in Inverness.
