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Fishing villages and dramatic coastal scenery, castles and high rolling heather moors, spectacular mountains plus an island excursion – east to west this tour is a visual delight and the very essence of Scotland. Day 1: The old kingdom of Fife not only has its own racing circuit at Knockhill near Dunfermline, the area also makes for great coastal touring by way of the old fishing villages of the East Neuk (east corner) of Fife. Don’t miss the especially picturesque harbour at Crail, before turning north for the handsome town of St Andrews – great shopping here. Then it’s over the Tay Bridge for Dundee and on up the coast, via Arbroath and Montrose for Aberdeen, Scotland’s third city. Day 2: The road west through Royal Deeside is an especially attractive road for tourers, past the little granite towns of Banchory, Aboyne and Ballater for Balmoral Castle, holiday home of the British royal family for generations. From there turn north across the rolling heathery hills for Tomintoul – highest village in the Highlands – and the ‘whisky capital’ of Dufftown. Take in Glenfiddich Distillery here and overnight at nearby Craigellachie. Day 3: A round trip day starts with a turn north for the town of Elgin, famous for its cashmere production at Johnstons of Elgin. Then it’s west for the fascinating Fort George – a complete 18th-century military fort (finest of its kind in Europe). Continuing west then north, the Kessock Bridge by Inverness takes you to the Black Isle and the old Scottish burgh of Cromarty, then circle back to Beauly (Scottish craft centre) and take the hill road south for Loch Ness. (Keep a sharp lookout here!) Return to Craigellachie via Inverness and an open moorland road south of Nairn to reach Grantown-on-Spey. Day 4: A great day in the mountains. From Craigellachie follow the Spey upstream for the Cairngorms National Park. From Aviemore, take the high road into the Cairngorm Mountains to ride Britain’s highest funicular railway - amazing views across the valley. Westwards again, via Kingussie and Laggan to reach the Great Glen, then Invergarry leads on to Glen Shiel – big hills on every side, including the soaring Five Sisters of Kintail. Overnight at Plockton – stunning, sheltered Highland village. Check out the palm trees. (Yes, really!). Day 5: Discover the Isle of Skye. So much choice. Take the Skye Bridge for Broadford, then take the Elgol road. Some say the view of the Cuillin Hills from Elgol is simply the finest anywhere in the UK. Then return north for the main town, Portree – shopping, heritage centre, to loop round the north of the island, the Trotternish peninsula. Return to Plockton by the Skye Bridge. Day 6: Back through Glen Shiel for the Great Glen, then south to Fort William. Continue through atmospheric Glen Coe and the wide-open fast stretches of Rannoch Moor. Crinalarich, still amongst the high hills, is where you select Edinburgh via Stirling or Glasgow via Loch Lomond.
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