Day 1 Morning departure for the journey north for an overnight stop.
Day 2 After breakfast, travel by coach to meet the kilted Safari Rangers who will transport you into Europe’s last wilderness. From the mountain tops, the scenery is breath-taking with regular sightings of Grouse, Mountain Hares, Deer and Golden Eagles. Stop off for a “wee dram” at a Mountain Bothy. (NB The Safari may need to be split into two groups, if this is the case each group will have free time in Pitlochry before or after each safari). Continue to Kingussie and the Duke of Gordon hotel for a four night stay.
Day 3 Depart for Inverness with free time in the Highland Capital. After the visit and taking a short detour for photos of Loch Ness, travel to the coastal Dunrobin Castle, the most northerly of Scotland's great houses and the largest in the Northern Highlands with 189 rooms. Dunrobin Castle is also one of Britain's oldest continuously inhabited houses dating back to the 1300s, and is home to the Earls and later, the Dukes of Sutherland.
Day 4 Board the Strathspey steam train for a stunning trip through the Scottish Highlands. Free time in Grantown before heading to the Cairngorm National Park. Here, your herder will take you on a 20 minute walk along a rough track to the mountain enclosure. Walk amongst the only free-range reindeer herd in the UK. For those less able there is transport laid on for part of the walk. Alternatively, visit the reindeer paddock and exhibition.
Day 5 Today head up the “Whisky Trail" with free time in Nairn before heading over the Kessock Bridge to join the Dolphin Spirit for a cruise into the Moray Firth to see the pod of resident dolphins.
Day 6 Time to leave Kingussie and head south for an overnight stop.
Day 7 After breakfast, depart the hotel and commence the homeward journey.
Situated in the town of Kingussie in the heart of the Scottish Highlands and the Cairngorm National Park. All bedrooms are en-suite, TV, tea/coffee making facilities, restaurant, lounge bar and ballroom. Lift to 1st and 2nd floor. Some ground floor rooms available.
Single room supplement £90
Holiday insurance £17.50
(70 years and over £28.00)