The Outer Hebrides and the Highlands

Your holiday starts in Glasgow, a city which blends striking architecture, a rich cultural heritage, and a down-to-earth attitude. After checking in to our historic hotel and meeting the Tour Manager, there's time to look around the neighbourhood before dinner.

Within easy walking distance is Glasgow's cathedral and the city's main pedestrian boulevard, Buchanan Street, with its impressive variety of shops -not to mention a library, museum, and design centre. Another option is to relax with a drink in the hotel's award-winning champagne lounge, which overlooks the station concourse.

A 3-course dinner is served at our hotel this evening.

• Dinner

Leaving Glasgow after an early breakfast, we board the Scotrail service for a morning journey on the scenic West Highland Line from Glasgow to Fort William, a distance of 123 miles across the wild Scottish Highlands. Regularly voted 'the world's best train ride', we discover why as we travel through dramatic landscapes, passing heather-clad moors, Loch Lomond, and The Trossachs National Park.

Arriving around lunchtime, our hotel in Fort William sits on the banks of the River Nevis, four miles from the iconic Ben Nevis. With the afternoon at leisure, you could start exploring with a stroll along the river towards Glen Nevis. This peaceful glen is one of Scotland's best examples of a glaciated valley, and the film Braveheart was made here.

In the opposite direction, the centre of Fort William overlooks Loch Linnhe and is a 10-minute walk from the hotel. There you'll find a variety of seafood and fish restaurants, or cafés and delis for a light lunch.

Later, we gather at the hotel restaurant for a 3-course dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This morning we rejoin the West Highland Line and continue north through the remote West Highlands to the small fishing port of Mallaig. Regarded by many as the most scenic section of the route, our journey follows the banks of the saltwater Loch Eil, and crosses the remarkable Glenfinnan Viaduct. This impressive curved railway bridge is a feat of Victorian engineering, known for its on-screen appearance in films including the Harry Potter series. As we cross the River Finnan, the views of Loch Schiel are astonishing, and next to the loch is a monument to Bonnie Prince Charlie. The train then runs alongside the freshwater Loch Eilt, where trees cling to tiny floating islands.

On arrival in Mallaig, we catch our first glimpse of the Scottish coastline. From here, we catch the ferry to Skye then drive over the bridge to Ullapool. Here, we sail to Stornaway on the remote Isle of Lewis, with dinner onboard. Once on land, we transfer to our hotel in the secluded village of Borve on the West coast for a late check in and a peaceful night's rest.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today we're introduced to the Isle of Lewis by boat and coach. On a unique sea eagle safari, besides the chance to see these fantastic birds soaring above, there's also a possibility of spotting herons, seals or dolphins.

Stornoway is the largest town in the Western Isles and the capital of Lewis. We explore it by coach with a guide who is an expert in Hebridean history. Among other attractions, our tour takes in Stornoway Harbour, where pastel-hued houses line the bay and the Gothic Revival style Lews Castle stands. We may catch glimpses of Celtic culture in this characterful town where Gaelic is still spoken.

Between touring on land and water, we stop at the Royal Hotel for a fish and chips lunch overlooking the harbour. Later we return to our hotel with some time at leisure in the unspoilt village of Borve. You could wander down to one of the wild sweeping beaches, visit the Borve Standing Stones or simply unwind at the hotel ahead of dinner.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accompanied by our expert guide for the day, we visit the Ness Historical Society, whose mission is to preserve and promote the history, language and culture of North Lewis. The museum's historical artefacts and exhibits bring the heritage of the area to life, providing an insight into the island culture.

After free time for lunch in Stornaway we drive up to the magnificent Callanish Stones, that were erected 5,000 years ago, making them even older than Stonehenge. Forming a cruciform of thirteen stones with a monolith in the middle, we stand in the shadow of these giant Neolithic structures, which the 17th-century people of Lewis called 'fir bhrèige' or 'false men'.

Our final visit of the day is to Gearrannan Blackhouse Village, on the southwestern coast of Lewis, a preserved crofting township. With entrance included, we're free to look around the preserved blackhouses and traditional stone cottages with thatched roofs, and learn about the crafts and customs of the island's inhabitants. We transfer back to our hotel, where there's time to relax before dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This morning, our specialist guide joins us on a visit to the Stornoway Museum, which tells the story of this Outer Hebridean island and the people who have called it home for the past 5,000 years. With a range of artefacts and interactive exhibits, this is an interesting place to spend a couple of hours.

After time to find lunch independently in Stornoway, we board the ferry back to the fishing village of Ullapool. As we set sail, we see the Isle of Lewis disappear into the horizon while the mainland beckons in the distance.

From Ullapool, we continue by coach through the rugged mountain scenery of the Highlands, passing the River Beauly - one of Scotland's best salmon fishing rivers - to the historic city of Inverness. On arrival, we check in to our hotel in Inverness, where we dine this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This morning is free and you could take the opportunity to discover Inverness at your own pace. The city centre is a 5-minute walk along the River Ness and across the bridge, and you could also visit the Inverness Castle which faces our hotel. The VisitScotland information centre is nearby, just behind the Inverness Museum and Art gallery.

In the early afternoon we make our way to the station where we board the Scotrail service back to Glasgow.

After travelling beside the stunning mountains, lochs and forests of the Cairngorms National Park - passing the towns and cities of Pitlochry, Perth and Stirling - we reach Glasgow. Once we have checked in to our modern city centre hotel, we dine there tonight, the last evening of our holiday.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After the final breakfast this morning, our holiday in Scotland draws to a close. Once we have checked out of the hotel and said our goodbyes, it's time to head home. Alternatively, you could continue to explore more of Scotland's inspiring landscapes on your own.

• Breakfast