The Skye 3 Day Tour from Edinburgh

3 day tour to the dramatic natural beauty and delights of Skye. Stay two nights in Portree on Skye. This tour runs daily. Best way to see Skye quickly.


  • 2 Nights on Skye
  • Wide range of accommodation types - including hostels
  • Best & cheapest Skye tour from Edinburgh
  • See lots of Scotland in three days
  • Quirang, Old Man of Storr, Cuillins, Eilean Donan - All of it!
  • Very Popular so early booking advised!

Luss, Loch Lomond, Rannoch Moor, Glencoe, Fort William, Ben Nevis, Five Sisters of Kintail, Portree (Skye), Talisker Distillery, Dunvegan Castle, Kilt Rock, Old Man of Storr, Lealt Falls, Flora McDonald’s Grave, Black Houses, Eilean Donan Castle, Fort Augustus, Loch Ness, Pitlochry.


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This tour operates on: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Every Day

Day 1 - The Journey North

From Edinburgh we head west to collect our Glasgow passengers* and then make our first stop at the picturesque conservation village of Luss (1), on the ‘Bonny, Bonny’ banks of Loch Lomond.lomond luss1

Travelling north via Tyndrum (2) we pass over the atmospheric Rannoch Moor (3) - one of Europe's great wildernessesrannoch tulla1

before enjoying time to walk and admire the dramatic Glencoe valley, site of the 1692 massacre of the MacDonald Clan.(4)

glencoe9

After lunch in the Fort William area (5), we pause for photos at Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, then stop to admire Glen Garry and the stunning Five Sisters of Kintail (6) mountain range.

five sisters1

Our journey ends in the charming village of Portree, on the Isle of Skye, where we check into our accommodation.

portree2

Day 2 - Exploring Skye

After breakfast we depart Portree for a full day’s touring - options include a visit to Talisker distillery (8)* and Dunvegan Castle*(7), or a trip to Uig and a stop to visit Flora MacDonald’s grave and the unique Black Houses, ancient dwellings of the Scottish Highlanders.

skye7

We continue our journey where we can view Duntulum Castle (9), take photos of Kilt Rock and perhaps enjoy a walk at the Lealt Falls.

Our day on Skye ends with the opportunity to admire the Old Man of Storr (A), before we return to Portree for drinks in the bar, time to admire your photos and post a few for your friends to admire and bed.

skye10

Day 3 - Homeward - Eilean Donan, Ness & Cairngorms

We commence our return via the much photographed Eilean Donan Castle* (B), backdrop for the movie, 'Highlander'; (interior closed in winter) then move on to the pretty loch-side village of Fort Augustus (C) for lunch and views of Loch Ness (D).

eilean donan8

Our journey south continues over Laggan and the Grampian mountains with our last stop, for refreshments, in the Victorian resort town of Pitlochry, (E) before returning to Edinburgh with a view of the iconic Forth Rail Bridge.

*PLEASE NOTE: Luggage is restricted to one piece per person.  *If the 3 day tour has no Glasgow pick-ups it will travel from Edinburgh via Stirling and will not visit Loch Lomond but offer an alternative route.

*All featured castles & distilleries open April-October - alternatives offered during October-March which may alter the route. Talisker Distillery closed on Sundays except during June, July and August.

3 day Skye

The trip and customer service was fantastic. My email enquiries got response very quickly and professionally. The tour was amazing even the weather was not that perfect sometimes but our tour guide Dom always tailored the best agenda for us. Besides, the B&B was just fabulous but it was varied for everyone. 

Best Tour of the Highlands

I went for the 3 day tour to the Isle of Skye. The guide was very good and enthusiastic. He kept the journey more enjoyable and memorable with his stories and jokes. The bus coaches were comfortable and had USB points which were very useful. Would be appreciable to also have WiFi on board which was the only drawback. The tour gave us ample time to see most of the attractions at our own pace and also in a relaxed manner. 

3 Day Skye Tour

Our tour guide was Martine and she was wonderful! Very knowledgeable and friendly and so nice to my Mum! She was always willing to pull out my mum's wheelchair for any stops she wanted to participate in and for those few sights and attractions that were not wheelchair accessible, Martine even stayed with my Mum to keep her company. The tour was a whirlwind but it was beautiful and we got to see so many great places! The bus was comfortable, the accommodations arranged for us were great, and I would highly recommend this 3 day tour!

Amazing...

Amazing bus, Amazing tour itinerary, excellent accommodation that they suggested and also the tour guide was brilliant

Excellent Tour & Lots of Toilet Stops

It was an excellent tour. The tour guide Martin was very knowledgeable person. We had enough toilet stops and plenty of own timings to explore the places.

Learned a Lot!

Kudos to Martine our driver and guide for being so friendly and knowledgeable. I learned a lot about Scotland during the tour. She makes sure that you have enough stops for toilet breaks and photo ops. She's hilarious and I'll make sure to book another Timberbush tour with her next time I'm back to Scotland.The reservations team were so patient as well to answer all my inquiries about my accommodation. Overall it was a fun experience.

Great Tour

We did the 3 day tour and it was well worth it! Our guide, Dom, was pleasant and knowledgeable. He made the drive fun and interesting with his stories of Scottish history. We were able to see and learn a lot and it was better than I expected. Overall, a great experience and would definitely recommend!

Recommended!

We took 3 days trip from Edinburg to Isle of Sky, Loch Ness and many other stunning places. Such a great way of getting to know that beautiful country! We would never be able to hear so many interesting facts and stories if not for our tour guy Gregor. He was keeping us entertained through the trip but without being too intrusive. We couldn't ask for more :) If you are first time in Scotland, definitely the best way to travel.

Great Trip through Great Country

We took the three days trip from Edinburgh through the Highlands all the way north to the Isle of Sky and back.
Definitelly the best option if you are visiting Scotland for the first time. You get to see loads of amazing stuff, including castles, lovely towns and spectacular nature. Isle of Sky is breathtaking and when you get to higlands there, you feel like falling down to your knees, spreading your arms wide open and shouting "Freedom".
Our tour guide, Gregor, made the trip even more fun with loads of interesting facts. We had a chance to dine with him and his friend (tour guide from another bus) Andrew at the Isle of Skye and thanks to that we now know that you could fit all the people in the world into the Loch Ness three times over and other interesting facts you wanna tell your friends about.

Best Way to Visit Scotland

The 3 day Skye tour from Edinburgh is by far the best way to view/travel and learn about the history behind Skye. And every other location you happen to pass on the way. Our guide Callum was an absolute fountain of knowledge. His passion for his job absolutely shines through in the work he does, his love for his country and everything in it is absolutely evident across every minute of the tour.

The tour was well planned with plenty of stops and breaks, loads of photo opportunities. Callum always had a suggestion for somewhere good to eat or drink. He's definitely quite the story teller, with a great personality attached. 

Inclusions

PLEASE NOTE: Prices shown are for transport and driver-guide only.

Exclusions

Accommodation is not included in the price, but will be reserved for you, and you simply pay for the accommodation when you arrive there. You will get details of accommodation after the tour is booked

The tour price includes the services of a friendly, knowledgeable and experienced Driver-Guide and transportation on one of our luxury modern air-conditioned coaches.

All accommodation is payable on arrival to the accommodation provider. Please note that many Bed and Breakfasts do not have card machines and do require guests to pay in cash. 

Accommodation rates do vary between providers and seasons. For this reason we are only able to give you an estimated rate until a booking has been made. Estimated rates are as follows:

Youth Hostel: £18.00 - £25.00 per person per night
B&B: £40.00- £65.00 per person per night
Hotel: From £75.00+ per person per night

All hotels require credit card information in order to secure a booking. If you wish us to reserve a hotel room on your behalf, we will contact you for your budget and credit card details.

Please note a single supplement may apply. The above accommodation rates are valid until March 2020.

Optional Extras:  Dunvegan Castle, Eilean Donan Castle

The Little Details

  • Minimum Age: Age 5+
  • Min Age: 5 years
  • Tour Vehicle Type: Mini Coach
  • Months of Operation: All Year
  • Duration of Tour: 3 Days
  • Departure Point: Edinburgh
  • Departure Point: Green Ensign Ewart Pub, at 521-523 Lawnmarket, Edinburgh, EH1 2PE
  • Departure Time: Departs: 09:00 Please arrive 15 minutes prior to departure
  • Expected return Time: Returns: 19:30 (day 3)
  • Duration of Tour: 3 Days

Rates & Dates

 StandardConcession
Nov, Dec 2018, Jan & Feb 2019 £130 £124
March 2019 £150 £144
April - May & October 2019, March 2020 £159 £153
June - September 2019 + Peak £179 £173
November 2019 - March 2020 £135 £129

Certain Dates are designated peak periods and operate High season rates as below:

  • Easter - 13 April - 27 April 2019
  • Spring Bank Holiday: 24 - 31 May 2019
  • Christmas / New Year:  15 Dec 2019 - 4 January 2020

Please note: discounts are available for students, seniors and children.

Rates vary from month to month. check on booking for the correct rate for your date.

Booking Notes

  • Prices are quoted per person per tour
  • PLEASE NOTE: Prices shown are for transport and driver-guide only.
  • Reduced Discount prices are offered to persons over the age of 60, students and children under the age of 16. Please note we cannot carry children under 5 years old on any tour.
  • This tour operates daily
  • Any booking is subject to our Booking Terms.

*Please note: all featured castles and distilleries open April - October. Alternatives offered during October - March which may alter the route. Talisker distillery is closed on Sundays.

If the tour has no pick-ups in Glasgow, it will travel from Edinburgh via Stirling and will not visit Loch Lomond but offer an alternative route.

Please note that for individual travellers, single ensuite accommodation on Skye is very limited, especially in high season - please check with us however we may have to offer you alternatives.

Current typical costs of accommodation per person per night are approximately: £75+ for hotels, £40-£60 for B&B"s and guest houses and £18-£25 for youth hostels. These are reserved for you.

Reviews

  • Amazing Stories & Music

    I really recommend this tour to everyone. The places we visited in the Highlands and Skye were unforgettable.

    • Name: Gonazalo
    • Review Date: 11.01.16
  • Amazing Time!

    Such an amazing time. We did The Isle of Skye tour. The sun came out on the second day and we saw the most perfect rainbow. It was really pretty "magical." As far as our guide, Stuart was just the best. Thank you so much for such a memorable experience.

    • Name: Sonja
    • Review Date: 16.11.15
  • An Amazing Experience

    What an amazing experience! I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Scotland and wanting to get out of the major cities and really see what this country has to offer.

    • Name: Liddies
    • Review Date: 07.01.16
  • Excellent Tour

    Excellent tour , Tour guide Alan wa much helpful in terms of breaks during the tour. Guide knowledge was awsome & really appericate his involvement during the complete tour.

    • Name: Manoj
    • Review Date: 10.08.16
  • Fabulous Trip

    Fabulous trip. Exactly what we wanted and expected. Marten, our guide, was knowledgeable and entertaining. Accommodation was exceptional. Luckily the weather was fabulous as well. Don't miss Eilan Doran Castle. All highly Recommended

    • Name: Diana
    • Review Date: 13.04.16
  • Guide Made it Perfect

    I strongly recommend this tour to everyone. The tourist attractions that we have visited in the Highlands and the Isle of Skye are simply stunning. What's more our guide Pete made this trip absolutely perfect with his experience and amiability. We have really had the opportunity to learn from him lots of things about Scotland history, traditions, music and even Gaelic! He did his best to make everybody enjoy the experience and he succeeded in. If we had gone on our own we would have never discovered this amazing routes and real Scottish life. Pete is an expert, you can ask him about almost anything! In addition the accommodation that was arranged for us really met our expectations. I am totally convinced that we couldn't have taken more advantage of our time.

    • Name: Eva
    • Review Date: 10.01.16
  • Had an Awesome Trip

    The trip and customer service was fantastic. My email enquiries got response very quickly and professionally. The tour was amazing even the weather was not that perfect sometimes but our tour guide Dom always tailored the best agenda for us. Besides, the B&B was just fabulous but it was varied for everyone. Had an awesome trip.

    • Name: Hsing
    • Review Date: 07.06.17
  • Magical Experience

    Our guide was incredibly knowledgable and funny and made our trip absolutely outstanding. The scenery was breath-taking and despite the long hours in the coach, every place we got to at the end of each drive was so magnificent it was worth the wait!

    • Name: Tessa
    • Review Date: 20.11.15
  • Most Fun Trip

    It's one of the most fun trip I have ever had.. The tour guide Martine is really great! She led us 3 days going through all planned attractions with many interesting stories of history, movies and legends; also she took care lots details which made the trip safe and comfortable (including the music)! And the most attractive thing from the touring is Martine's Humor, brought the whole team such a fun and wonderful trip!

    • Name: Qix
    • Review Date: 24.08.16
  • Really Enjoyed the Skye Tour

    I really enjoyed the 3 days tour in Skye. Martin was such a great guide, full of knowledge about the Scottish history. All the little detail about the history throught the tour was amazing. Thank you very much for that! The b&b was perfect, so comfortable and great breakfast. I had an amazing time.

    • Name: Valerie
    • Review Date: 10.06.16
  • Skye Wonderland

    I highly recommend this tour anytime of year, but if you are looking for Scotland's natural beauty in its most raw, rustic and rugged state, I'd recommend a winter visit. There were many times where I had to pause for minutes at a time and stare in wonder at the majesty around me.

    • Name: Anonymous
    • Review Date: 28.01.16
  • Tour was Excellent

    This tour was excellent. and the guide really made sure we enjoyed the trip! 5 Star!

    • Name: Paula
    • Review Date: 17.02.16

Some Places We Will Visit

  • Luss

    Small traditional village on Loch Lomond that is a heritage site protecting its pretty streets. The Loch Lomond cruise boats depart from pier here.

  • Rannoch Moor

    50 square miles of boggy and peaty moorland that separates the southern highland line from the Glencoe Massif. An SSSI and one of Britain's few wild uninhabited places.

  • Tyndrum

    Small village to the south of Rannoch Moor that sits on the battlefield where Bruce was defeated by the macDougalls in 1306. It was a mining community once and there is talk of a new gold mine opening.

  • Fort William

    Fort William is the gateway to the Western Highlands and one of the country's main tourist centres. It stands at the head of Loch Linnhe, with the snow-topped mass of Ben Nevis towering behind.

  • Portree

    Skye's largest town and a charmingly friendly stop-off popular with all visitors.

  • Uig

    The A87 runs northwest from Portree to the tiny ferry port of Uig, dramatically set in a horseshoe bay and the departure point for ferries to Tarbert (Harris) and Lochmaddy (North Uist).

  • Laggan

    Laggan is approximately 7 miles along the road to Fort William and is situated in the Central Highlands of Scotland, surrounded by the Monadhliath and Grampian mountain ranges. "Monarch of the Glen" was filmed entirely on location in the area.

  • Pitlochry

    Small Highland tour that is a frequent stopping place for coaches travelling along the A9. Somewhat a one road town of shops and cafes.

  • Fort Augustus

    At the more scenic southern end of Loch Ness stands the village of Fort Augustus, originally set up as a garrison after the Jacobite rebellion of 1715, and headquarters of General Wade's campaign to pacify the Highlands. Today Fort Augustus is a busy little place; full of monster-hunting tourists and boats using the flight of five locks to enter or leave Loch Ness on their journey along the Caledonian Canal.

Castle Visited

  • Dunvegan Castle

    The Clan MacLeod has had its family seat at Dunvegan Castle since about the 12th century. It remains the seat of the Clan and a castle well worth visiting for its history and excellent state of repair

  • Eilean Donan Castle

    One of the world's quintessential castles: Eilean Donan is familiar from films and stunning in its romantic location. Open daily.

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