Cruise Loch Ness and visit Eilean Donan Castle
What could be more enjoyable than a cruise up Loch Ness followed by a visit to the James Bond castle Eilean Donan Castle ?
Our private tour of the Highlands features a visit to Loch Ness , Glencoe , Buachaille Etive Mor and Eilean Donan Castle . The castle is in a unique location on a small island in the middle of three lochs .
Our promise – your guide will always be friendly , helpful and informative .
Loch Ness is the most famous loch in the world and the home of the Loch Ness monster . Loch Ness is the first stop on this tour . Take a cruise up the loch and enjoy the amazing Highland scenery .
Glencoe – see the stunning scenery of the paps of Glencoe , one of the most impressive peaks in Scotland. Glencoe is a beautiful rocky landscape featuring the Paps of Glencoe – giant mountains of solid rock. In the summer you might hear the piper in the car park playing a lament . When it goes quiet the silence is quite eery . Listen carefully and you might hear the wailing of ghosts from the Massacre of Glencoe. Your guide will take to the two best viewing points in Glencoe . One of the viewing points involves a short walk up the hillside facing the paps of Glencoe .
On this tour we pass Black Mount , a range of mountains stretching from Glen Orchy to Glen Coe, beside Rannoch Moor. The range features two Munros (Scottish mountains over 3000ft) and Loch Tulla , a small freshwater loch in front of the mountains .
Buachaille Etive Mor is the iconic mountain in the heart of the Highlands featuring a waterfall on the River Coupall in front of the mountain .
Eilean Donan Castle
Eilean Donan Castle is the stunning Highlands castle set on an island in the middle of three lochs. The castle is the most photographed castle in the UK and it featured in the films Highlander and James Bond and the TV series the Avengers . Your tour guide will take you to the three best locations for pictures of the castle .
Local food –
At Eilean Donan castle the Coffee Shop serves a wonderful array of home-made produce. Wholesome soups, freshly-made sandwiches, and some of the very best home baking that the highlands has to offer. You can also enjoy hot paninis, baked potatoes, filled rolls, fresh salads and hot dishes which utilise the best of locally-sourced ingredients.
Also “Heilan Scran” ( Highland food ) is Eilean Donan’s brand new Takeaway operation, offering fresh innovative dishes in a street-food style. With alternative ways to present the best and tastiest of fresh Scottish ingredients.
Eilean Donan means Island of Donan (a religious figure from the 12th century). Eilean Donan was Clan MacKenzie’s most important stronghold from the 13th Century until it was destroyed in 1719. Robert the Bruce was given refuge in Eilean Donan Castle by John MacKenzie, Second of Kintail when he was being hunted by the English at the beginning of the fourteenth century.
In 1719 three English frigates sailed into Loch Duich and bombarded the castle with cannon fire . A diretc hit on the arsenal caused a huge explosion . The castle then lay in ruins for nearly 200 years. In 1911 John MacRae-Gilstrap bought the castle and spent 20 years restoring it .