Drynachan Tours

Many of our guests are not used to driving on the “correct side” of the road and it can become very tiring for the designated driver in your party. So why not take a day out (especially our American or antipodean guests who are on the grand tour and covering a lot of mileage) and let your driver actually enjoy the scenery as well?

On the other hand you may like a rest from driving completely, in which case we can pick you up from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen or Inverness airports, or train stations and take you on a tour of the Highlands to suit you. Based here at Drynachan - the heart of the Highlands - we can take you on some of the suggested tours, where our knowledge of the area will take your trips to a special level.

A visit to those favourite distilleries and a taste of those special “expressions”, can be enjoyed without worrying about driving. You choose the distilleries (island whiskies are dependent on ferry timetables). We can transport you and maybe give away some of the secrets en route........

Many of these tours have been enjoyed by our previous guests, and we hope these suggestions will enrich your holiday, whether you choose to drive yourself or we take you. Drynachan has maps here for you to borrow, with the complete itinerary printed out to help you enjoy your day trip.

Packed lunches or complete picnics can be supplied to make the days even more special.

Just click on the Tour you would like to see and a description and photographs will open up, re-clicking the tab will closed it back down.

Applecross Peninsula

"A panoramic picture - a secret stop point looking at Sheildaig Village and Island"

Leaving Drynachan and heading north through Fort Augustus, alongside Loch Ness to Drumnadrochit, we will leave the main road and follow the smaller roads through Beauly and Muir of Ord.

Near the village of Contin we start to head west. On the horizon a mountain range comes into view which we will eventually be driving straight through. The scenery now starts to rise dramatically.....

>Outside the Applecross Inn.

Following the road through Kinlochewe and the Bein Eighe mountain range to Torridon, the road narrows and meanders this way and that with plenty of photo opportunities.

Arriving at the remote village of Shieldaig our journey continues through the treeless landscape driving along a single track road with stunning views of the islands of Raasay, Rona and Skye beyond. BREATHTAKING scenery and one of our favourites.

Eventually we reach the village of Applecross, where the Applecross Inn has won many “pub” awards over recent years for its’ excellent food.

Leaving the village of Applecross the road climbs and climbs and becomes the highest road in the UK at 2200 feet above sea level and the views can only be described as awesome and the best in Europe.

The road homewards on the A87 goes past Eilean Donan Castle and the ‘Map of Scotland’

Journey length about 210 miles

Bealach Na Ba.

Ardnamurchan Peninsula

Strictly speaking Ardnamurchan covers only the peninsula beyond the villages of Salen (in the south) and Acharacle (in the north), but nowadays the term is used much more generally to include the neighbouring districts of Sunart, Ardgour, Morvern, and even Moidart (which was part of the former county of Inverness-shire, not Argyll).

View across Eilean Chaluim Cille bay to Ardnamurchan Point and lighthouse. Ardnamurchan Point, which has a 36 metres (118 ft) tall lighthouse built on it, is commonly described as the most westerly point of the British mainland although Corrachadh Mòr, a kilometre to the south, is a few metres further west.

Glenfinnan Viaduct

Driving towards Spean Bridge we will take the ‘back road’ through Banavie to see distant views of the Nevis range. Then we head west along the road to the isle past the Glenfinnan viaduct, (perfect for HarryPotter fans as this was made famous in the films) Loch Eil and Eilt andthe sea lochs Ailort and Moidart.

We can now travel to the furthest point west on the British mainland to the Ardnamurchan Lighthouse, built in 1849.

Returning to our journey, we pass through Resipole and Strontian. Here there are breathtaking views across the loch towards Glencoe. We then make our way to Ardgour to catch the ferry across Loch Linnhe to Conan Ferry and back up the A82 through Fort William to home and Invergarry.

Ben Nevis looking over Loch Lochy

Aviemore & Cairn Gorm Mountain

A view from the Ptarmigan Top Station.

Leaving Drynachan we head south to Spean Bridge and east along the A86, passing 'Glenbogle' Castle (from BBC Monarch of the Glen) and onwards towards Newtonmore and the Highland Folk Museum.

On the Funicular Railway leaving the top station.

Crossing the A9 we head towards Aviemore and the Funicular Railway. The railway takes you about 2km up the northern face of the U.k’s 6th highest mountain Cairn Gorm. At the top is Ptarmigan Station, approx 1,097 metres. There is a shop and restaurant here.

Our next port of call is the village of Boat of Garten. An RSPB Bird Reserve, specialising in the Osprey, it is possible to view the young feeding in their nest, from the reserve hide.

Birds on a feeder at Boat of Garten Bird Reserve

One of the luxuries of Drynachan Tours is the ability to mix and match. We could now take in a distilleryor continue through the mountains towards Tomintoul, Cockbridge, Craithie and Balmoral Castle (dependent upon tickets it can be arranged for a complete day out at the Castle). Returning back through Braemar (where the Royal highland games are held) and Pitlochry.

Eilean Donan Castle & Glenelg

Eilean Donan Castle at night

On leaving Drynachan we will head westward over Claunnie Moor, toward Loch Duich and Eilean Donan Castle. This will be our first stop of the day, where you can walk around the castle, grounds and shop, experiencing the sights, sounds and smells of how the castle used to be.

We will then head back towards the Mam Ratagan pass, where there are stunning views of the Five Sisters of Kintail and Loch Duich. We continue down to Glenelg where we will take the ‘unique ferry’ over the sea to Skye.

Glenelg Ferry

Like all Drynachan tours, we can now adapt the journey to suit you. We can continue up to the islands ‘capital’ of Portree and some retail therapy, divert to another castle at Dunvegan or the distillery at Talisker.

We now head for ‘home’ driving back over the Skye Bridge at Kyle of Lochalsh.

Skye Bridge from the mainland.

Isle of Skye

Part of the Quiraing (on the Trotternish Peninsula)

Climbing the road out of Invergarry our first stop will be the Glengarry viewpoint, known as ‘the map of Scotland.’

Our journey then crosses over Claunnie Moor towards Loch Duich and Eilean Donan Castle.

As we travel over the Skye bridge we get our first views of the Cullin Range. We head towards Portree, the main town and shopping centre where the Skye Batik shop is well worth a visit.

Heading north from Portree we pass the Old Man of Storr and Kilt Rock, continuing towards Staffin where we head west over the Quairaing and the small ferry port of Uig.

>Kilt Rock Waterfall

Looping back round towards Portree we head south, with the Cullin mountain range ahead, and our journey back to Drynachan begins.

This tour can be altered to include Dunvegan Castle and/or Talisker Distillery.

Sunset heading towards UIG

Nevis Range & Glencoe

Winter Glencoe

Heading south along the A82 towards Fort William we will pass the Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge, where there is a memorial for those lost in W.W.II and other conflicts up the present day in Iraq and Afghanastan. The view from here across to the Nevis range is stunning.

The Nevis Range consists mainly of the mountains - Ben Nevis, Carn Mor Dearg and Aanoch Mor and is home to the UK’s only gondola ride. At the top there is a shop and restaurant and several short walks to specific viewpoints.

We continue on towards Fort William where we can divert through Glen Nevis. Here there is a walk through the gorge or we can just stop for the odd ‘Kodak’ moment and admire the view.

Glen Nevis hawser bridge

Moving onwards, we now travel to Glencoe and Ranoch Mor stopping at the visitor centre and experience the eery quietness of the glen nearby where the massacre took place.

Returning to Fort William we can always stop to try some of the “Dew of Ben Nevis” at the distillery.

Nevis Gondola ride

Speyside Distilleries

A small selection of the Speyside Whiskies

With over half of the Scottish Whisky distilleries located in the Speyside area, the choice is unlimited.

So choose one or two of your favourite distilleries, then pick your favourite expressions. Let us do the driving so that you can then experience the full enjoyment of the distillery tours and sample your favourite whiskies.

Stills - need we say more

We leave Drynachan heading south for Spean Bridge where we then head east towards the Drumotcher Hills, through Newtonmore and across to Aviemore and Grantown on Sprey. From here we will head towards your individual choice of distillery.

Look at the list to choose from:

Aberlour, Allt A’bhainne, Aultmore, Balmenach, Balvenie, Benriach, Benrinnes, Cardhu, Cragganmore, Craigellachie, Dailuaine, Dalwhinnie, Drumguish, Dufftown, Glenallachie, Glenburgie, Glendronach, Glendullan, Glen Elgin, Glenfarcas, Glenfiddich, Glenglassaugh, Glen Grant, Glen Keith, The Glenlivet, Glenlossie, Glen Moray, Glenrothes, Glen Spey, Glentauches, Imperial, Inchgower, Kininvie, Knockando, Knockhill, Linkwood, Longmorn, Macallan, Macduff, Mannochmore, Miltonduff, Mortlach, Speyburn, Strathisla, Tamdhu, Tamnavulin, Tomatin, Tomintoul, Tornmore.

Please note that not all distilleries have tours of the production area and some only produce whisky for blending.

Glenmorangie Distillery (north of Inverness) another possibility

Sutherland & Caithness (the far North)

Bonar Bridge

We will drive along the complete length of Loch Ness to Inverness. Heading across the Kessock bridge we go northwards to the village of Tain. A visit to the Anta Potteries are great for the retail therapy and a coffee break before an optional stop at the distillery of Glenmorangie.

Crossing the Dornoch Firth bridge we will head towards Bonar Bridge and the Falls of Shin.

Heading towards the west coast you pass through Rosehall, Ledmore and Knockan, before following the coast to Ullapool and the bay and Gruinard.

Possibly the remotest Phone Box

Driving along the shores of Loch Maree, we return to Kinlochewe and slowly head back across country to Drumnadrochit and Loch Ness towards Fort Augustus and home.

This tour can be altered, if required to go right up to the north coast, to include Tongue and along to the west coast or to John O'Groats and Wick.

Everything in Caithness and Sutherland is remote

Tour Costs

Drynachan Tours range from £145.00 (Eilean Donan and Glenelg) to £175.00 (Caithness and Sutherland). They do not include the cost of any admissions to castles, distilleries etc.

If we organise an island trip - the cost of the ferries etc are extra (excluding Glenelg ferry).

Please note:- PRICES ARE PER TOUR and each of the tours are for up to four people maximum.

DRYNACHAN BED & BREAKFAST

At the heart of the Highlands

Telephone: +44(0)1809 501353
Email: Drynachan

Arrive a stranger - leave a friend

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