Isle of Islay & the West Highlands Private Tour from Edinburgh or Glasgow
Duration
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4 Days
Location
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Islay
Tour Type
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Private
Group Size
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Up To 8
Language
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English
Description
The Isle of Islay is one of our favourite islands and is most famously known for its fantastic peated whisky. If there was ever a tour where you would rather someone else drive, then this is it!
Have you ever wondered what a whisky theme park would be like? While it may not have amusement rides it really gives so much with 10 whisky distilleries to choose from & some of the biggest whisky brands in the world along with the second oldest working distillery in Scotland, Bowmore.
Not only that the mouth-watering seafood is worth a visit in itself, as is the fantastic scenery, dramatic coastlines & excellent wildlife.
The road to Islay is not bad either with the journey to and from the island varied with visits to other famous sites such as Glencoe, Oban, Kilmartin Glen & Stirling Castle.
Itinerary Highlights
Total Duration: 4 Days
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Day 1 : Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, Luss, Inveraray Castle*, & Islay
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Day 2 & 3 : Whisky Distilleries, Cross of Kildalton, American Monument, Kilmartin Glen, Dunnad Fort & Oban
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Day 4 : Castle Stalker, Glencoe, Rannoch Moor, Falls of Dochart, Stirling Castle, & Doune Castle
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Whisky Distilleries to choose from: Laphroaig, Ardbeg, Bowmore, Lagavulin, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila, Kilchoman, Port Ellen & Ardnahoe
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*Inveraray Castle is closed Tuesday's & Wednesday's​
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**We recommend booking up to two whisky tours and others we can visit their visitor centres, but each customer has different tastes so we will help create the perfect tour.
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Route Map
Tour Information
​Departure & Return
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Tour will start at chosen pick up location (Please inform us when booking, we can pick up anywhere in Edinburgh or Glasgow and offer a hotel pick up service or if you would want to start/end the tour at one of the main airports this is often a popular option.
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*This can be changed to anywhere in Scotland if you get in touch to find out if available (surcharge may apply)
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Check In 0800
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Departs 0815
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End Time (1830) Approx
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**These can be changed by request although this is the recommended start time
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Tour Options
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This tour can be extended to 5 days by request to visit more distilleries.
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What to bring
​It is recommended to pack suitable footwear for hiking, waterproof clothing, umbrella, suncream and midge spray (insect repellent). We can get all 4 seasons in one day in Scotland!
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Child Seat Regulations
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Due to insurance policies we regret we do not carry children under the age of 2. Children must normally use a child car seat until they're 12 years old or 135 centimetres tall, whichever comes first.
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What's Included​
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Experienced English-Speaking Driver/Guide
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Driver Guide Overnight Accommodation & Meals
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Exclusive use of our Luxury Mini Van (Mercedes V Class or Ford)
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Dual Air-Conditioned Vehicle
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Fuel/Parking
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Ferry to and from Islay
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Local Taxes (VAT 20%)
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Hotel Pick Up/Drop Off
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Bottled Scottish Water
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Dedicated Tour Planning Agent
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What's Not Included
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Entry to Visitor Attractions
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Meals
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Guest Accommodation (This must be booked before confirming the tour)
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Whisky Tours - must be booked in advance to ensure availability
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Tour Tips​
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Accommodation and ferry availability will need to be confirmed before booking this tour.
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Carry some cash as certain businesses in the Highlands only accept cash payments
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Accommodation on Tour
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We can assist booking accommodation but can not take payment so this would be need to be booked independently.
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Below are the requested locations:
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Day 1 & 2 Islay
Day 3 Oban
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*Get in touch if you would like to book out of this area or if you have trouble finding any suitable accommodation.
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Cancellation Policy
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If you cancel your reservation 14 days before departure date a full refund will be given minus the 20% non-refundable deposit.
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Full T&C's can be found here
Tour Itinerary
The tour will start at your chosen location (Edinburgh or Glasgow, including surrounding area). Your kilted guide will meet you at the arranged time and give you a quick introduction to the tour. We will then depart the city and towards the Scottish Highlands & on through the Trossachs National Park making a stop at the stunning Loch Lomond. The stop will be in the conservation village of Luss famed for its picturesque cottages, fantastic views, and beautiful pier. From Luss we will head west along Loch Long & Loch Fyne where we will come to the Campbell stronghold of Inverary which has the impresiive Inveraray Castle. This will be our lunch stop and the castle will be an option if you want to visit the interior or just explore the town We will continue onwards to make the last main drive of the day towards Kennacraig to catch the ferry to Islay. Day 2 This day is completely customised to the groups interests. You might want to start the day with a small hike up to the American Monument before starting the whisky distilleries. We will work with you to choose the most efficient plan to ensure we maximise the day’s events. Day 3 Day 3 will all depend on ferry timings and what ferries are available. Ideally, we would spend half a day on the island and then make the journey back over to the mainland to ensure we have time to visit Dunadd Fort & Kilmartin Glen before ending the day in Oban. Once we know ferry availability, we could plan another distillery or two or another small hike or visit other parts of the island not seen yet. Day 4 Day 4 we will depart the town of Oban and head east along Loch Linnhe & through Appin making a stop to view the gorgeous Castle Stalker. Going from there we will shortly arrive at the Glencoe area where we will have the opportunity for multiple photo stops to enjoy some of the best scenery Scotland has to offer with the most photographed mountain Buachaille Etive Mor standing guard at the Bealach. (Mountain Pass) Driving east from the A82 we will start making our way down the Highlands and on to the Falls of Dochart in Killin which are like an oil painting and not to be missed. We can enjoy a spot of lunch in Killin or in the Callendar area along with a visit to our most famous residents the Hairy Coos (Highland Cows). You have the option to visit either Doune Castle or Stirling Castle before arriving back into Edinburgh approx. 1830.
Attractions
Below we have added links to some of the attractions & sites that can be visited on this tour that have websites.
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Please visit attractions websites for up to date prices and availabilities. I
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Castles can be booked on the day at the gate or in advance online Stirling Castle may be best booked in advance depending on the time of year.
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Any whisky distillery tours must be booked in advance as these sell out far in advance although we can still visit distillery visitor centres for tastings and access distillery only release whiskies.
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Please Note: Some attractions will be closed through the winter months ( December - March)
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Islay 4 Day Tour FAQ's
Our FAQ's can be found here but FAQ's specific to this tour are below:
Where do we stay overnight? We stay in Islay day 1 & 2 and Oban on day 3. Accommodation must be booed before we can confirm the tour along with ferry availability. (We will help source accommodation as it can be limiting on the island)
Can you reserve my accommodation? We cannot book this on your behalf but can help locating suitable accommodation providers.
How many Whisky Distilleries can we visit? We recommend 1 tour per day and visiting 3-4 distilleries, but you could choose to tour 2 in one day if you preferred.
Is the tour flexible to change routes? - Yes of course, we can adjust the tour to do this in reverse or offer changes on any of the days. The tour itinerary relies on ferry times so we may need to adjust stops a little to make it work if certain ferry times are not available.
Should we book attractions in advance? Yes! Any whisky tours must be booked weeks in advance to ensure availability. Castle tours are easier to book on the gate or a day or two before
Where will we eat after the tour finishes each day? When booking accommodation please ensure there are adequate facilities nearby. Usually after the tour ends each day the driver guide will need some down time - so transport may be limited. On occasions the driver can assist and provide transport if required.