Wild West Coast Adventure (Part 1)

The star of this private day out is the Glenelg ferry, a working piece of Highland heritage that carries you from the mainland to Skye on the last manually operated turntable car ferry in the world. The route also brings you ancient stone towers, the Five Sisters of Kintail, Loch Ness, and Plockton’s palm-lined bay.

I like the blend of big views and small stops. You get time for a waterfall walk at Invermoriston and a coffee option at The Cluanie Inn, then visit the unusual Dun Telve and Dun Troddan brochs without paying separate entry fees. Guide Bill’s flexible planning is another plus, especially when weather changes.

The main drawback is the length of the day. Nine to 10 hours includes a good deal of driving, and some stops are brief. This is a scenic touring day, not a hike-heavy outing, and the ferry crossing depends on its operating schedule.

Key points at a glance

• The Glenelg ferry is the star attraction: Cross to Skye aboard the MV Glenachulish, the world’s last manually operated turntable car ferry.
• The route reaches beyond the standard Skye run: You’ll travel through Loch Ness, Loch Cluanie, Glen Shiel, Ratagan, Glenelg, Skye, and Plockton.
• Two ancient brochs add real substance: Dun Telve and Dun Troddan are about 2,000 years old and sit only 500 meters apart.
• Bill can adjust the day: Grant Driving Tours guide Bill has used alternate plans to work around weather and offers a personal, easygoing style.
• It suits a private group well: The price is $1,032.20 for up to seven people, making the cost more reasonable when shared.
• Expect scenery, not a rushed checklist: The day includes driving through mountain country, with short walks, viewpoints, and village time along the way.

A private route from Loch Ness to the west coast

This tour begins with a gentle run along the north shore of Loch Ness from Inverness. The loch is familiar from postcards and legend, but the value here is seeing it as the opening chapter of a much longer journey toward Kintail and Skye.

Because the vehicle is private, the pace can feel more personal than a large coach outing. You travel only with your own group, up to seven people, in an air-conditioned vehicle with private transportation, bottled water, and snacks included.

Bill is the named guide for Grant Driving Tours. His approach, as reflected in the way the day is described, includes more than simply pointing out landmarks. He can offer several plans when weather patterns shift, and he has a warm, conversational manner that suits a long day in the car.

You should still keep your expectations realistic. The 9 to 10-hour duration includes the time spent moving through the Highlands. You’ll stop often enough to break up the journey, but this is not a single-site excursion with hours at every attraction.

Invermoriston Falls and the Clog and Craft Shop

The first proper stop is Invermoriston, where you have about 30 minutes for a leg stretch and a look around the Clog and Craft Shop. It is an unusual pairing: a quirky souvenir stop with a short walk beside the falls.

The falls give you a chance to leave the vehicle early in the day and enjoy a little fresh air. Thirty minutes is enough for a quick stroll and photographs, but not for a long woodland walk or an unhurried shop visit.

I like this kind of opening stop because it keeps the morning from becoming a long, unbroken drive. The Clog and Craft Shop also adds a bit of local character. It is not presented as a grand museum, and that is part of the appeal. You get a curious, offbeat stop rather than another polished visitor attraction.

If you prefer long walks, you may find the stop short. Treat it as a reset for your legs and a taste of Invermoriston, not as the main event.

Loch Cluanie and the road through Kintail

From Invermoriston, the road turns northwest toward Loch Cluanie. The loch is surrounded by hills reaching about 1,000 meters, giving this section a more enclosed, mountain-bound feel than the opening stretch beside Loch Ness.

The Cluanie Inn offers a possible coffee stop. The wording matters: this is an option, not a guaranteed scheduled break. You may stop for coffee, or continue toward Glenelg if the timing and conditions make that the better choice.

This is one of the strengths of a private tour. A guide can judge the day as it develops instead of following a fixed coach timetable. If you need a warm drink or a short pause, the Cluanie Inn may be useful. If you are eager to reach the ferry or spend more time at a later stop, you can press on.

The drive through Kintail is a major part of the experience. You are not simply being transported between attractions. The mountain scenery, lochs, and changing road views are part of what you are paying for.

Glen Shiel and the 1719 battle site

The Glen Shiel stop lasts about 15 minutes and focuses on the site of the Battle of Glenshiel, fought on June 10, 1719. Government troops defeated an alliance of Jacobites and Spaniards here, in what is described as the last close engagement of British and foreign troops in Great Britain.

Fifteen minutes is a short visit, so do not expect a large museum or a long guided history talk. The interest comes from standing in the setting and connecting the surrounding hills with a specific event.

I find brief historical stops work best when they give the scenery a human story. Glen Shiel does that without taking over the day. If military history is your main reason for visiting Scotland, this will probably feel too limited. If you enjoy adding context to a scenic route, it earns its place.

The Five Sisters from Ratagan Pass

The Ratagan Pass is one of the finest viewpoints on the route. The old road runs from Shiel Bridge over the hills toward Glenelg, following an older drovers’ route and later serving as a military road built by Major Caulfeild for access to the barracks at Glenelg.

At the viewpoint, you have about 30 minutes to take in the Five Sisters of Kintail. The view is the kind that rewards a little time, since the mountains are best appreciated from a quiet roadside lookout rather than through a hurried window glance.

The pass also explains why this route feels different from a basic Skye transfer. You are using an old approach to the island, not simply heading straight for the modern bridge. The road itself is part of the story.

Road conditions and weather can affect the experience. The high viewpoint may be misty or clouded, and the road is scenic rather than fast. That uncertainty is normal in the Highlands. Bill’s ability to consider alternate plans is useful here, but no guide can guarantee clear mountain views.

Dun Telve and Dun Troddan brochs

In the valley of Gleann Beag, you’ll visit Dun Telve and Dun Troddan, two well-preserved broch towers dating from about 2,000 years ago. They are unusually close together, only about 500 meters apart, so you can experience both as part of one compact stop.

Dun Telve still reaches more than 10 meters in places. Dun Troddan is shorter at 7.6 meters, but it is better preserved. Their scale, design, and stone construction make them much more than scattered ruins.

The stop is scheduled for about 30 minutes and has no additional admission fee. That makes it a particularly good value moment: you get an important archaeological site without adding another ticket or a major detour.

You should expect a simple, open-air visit rather than a large interpretation center. The reward is the structures themselves and the setting in Gleann Beag. Wear shoes suitable for uneven ground, though the tour information says most people can participate.

Crossing to Skye on the MV Glenachulish

The ferry is the most distinctive part of the day. From Glenelg, the MV Glenachulish crosses the Kylerhea straits to Skye. It is the last manually operated turntable car ferry in the world, and the crossing is included in the tour price.

The ferry ride takes about 30 minutes. The boat turns on its platform to load and unload vehicles, a practical design that also makes the crossing feel like a living piece of transport history.

The crossing follows a route used for centuries because this is the closest point on the mainland to Skye. A car ferry has operated here since 1934, and the present service keeps that unusual tradition going.

There is one practical point to remember: the ferry is a working service, not a guaranteed private charter. The crossing depends on operating conditions and schedule. If it cannot run, the day’s exact plan may need to change. That is worth accepting because the ferry is precisely what makes this route special.

The ferry also gives the tour a strong sense of place. You are not merely checking Skye off a map. You are reaching the island by a small, historic crossing before later returning by the Skye Bridge.

Plockton, Highland cattle, and palm trees

After time on Skye, the route returns over the Skye Bridge and heads for Plockton. This makes the trip a loop rather than a simple out-and-back journey, and it lets you experience both the old ferry crossing and the modern bridge.

Plockton is known as the Jewel of the Highlands, though the village needs no grand label to make an impression. It sits on a sheltered bay with views across Loch Carron, and its mild setting supports palm trees, an entertaining contrast with the rugged mountain country earlier in the day.

You have about an hour here, the longest stop on the route. That gives you time to stroll, look across the bay, and keep an eye out for Highland cattle. The village is a welcome change of pace after the pass, brochs, and ferry.

Plockton is also a good place to avoid overplanning. The appeal is the setting and the chance to wander at an easy pace. If you want a major museum or a long activity, the stop may feel light. If you like attractive villages and a quiet coastal finish, it is well chosen.

What the $1,032.20 group price buys you

The listed price is $1,032.20 per group, for as many as seven people. That is a serious total for a day out, but the calculation changes when a family or group shares it. At the full seven-person capacity, the cost is about $147.46 per person before any separate personal spending.

The price includes private transportation, an air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water, snacks, and the ferry crossing. There are no additional entry fees for the listed destinations and attractions, so you are not constantly reaching for your wallet at each stop.

The real value is flexibility and coverage. In one long day, you reach the Loch Ness shore, Kintail, Glenelg, Skye, and Plockton, with a private guide rather than a large shared group. For a small party that values convenience and a custom-feeling route, the cost can make sense.

For one or two people, the price is harder to justify unless you place a high value on private transport and a guide. You are also paying for a full day of scenic driving, not just the time spent standing at attractions.

Who will enjoy this day most

I would choose this tour if you want to see several Highland regions in one outing and prefer a private vehicle to public transport or a large coach. It is especially well suited to families, couples, or groups of friends who can share the cost.

It also fits you if you enjoy variety: waterfalls, a shop, lochs, a battle site, a mountain viewpoint, ancient towers, a ferry, a bridge, and a coastal village. The route has enough changes of scene to keep the day moving.

The tour is less suitable if your priority is serious walking. The listed stops are short, and much of the experience happens from the road. It is also not available for cruise ship passengers arriving at Invergordon Cruise Port.

Pickup is offered, confirmation comes at booking, service animals are allowed, and the tour is described as suitable for most people. The tour runs on local time, and free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book the Wild West Coast Adventure?

Book it if the idea of crossing to Skye on the MV Glenachulish excites you, and if you want a full Highland route rather than a single famous viewpoint. The brochs, Ratagan Pass, and Plockton give the day more character than a straightforward Skye bridge trip.

I would be cautious if you dislike long drives, need guaranteed weather, or want extended time at every stop. The day is busy, and the ferry adds an element of uncertainty, but that is also the reason this experience feels more distinctive than a standard sightseeing loop.

For a group of up to seven, the private format and broad route offer solid value. With Bill at the wheel, you can expect a personal day shaped by the conditions, with room for coffee, scenery, history, and a few good laughs along the way.

FAQ

Where does the Wild West Coast Adventure begin?

The tour is based in Inverness, and pickup is offered.

How long does the tour take?

The experience lasts approximately 9 to 10 hours, including the driving time through the Highlands.

How many people can join the private tour?

The price covers one private group of up to seven people.

Is the Glenelg ferry included?

Yes. The ferry crossing is included in the tour price and takes about 30 minutes.

What is special about the Glenelg ferry?

The MV Glenachulish is the last manually operated turntable car ferry in the world.

Are there extra admission fees at the stops?

No additional entry fees are listed for the destinations and attractions included in the tour.

Is the tour suitable for cruise ship passengers at Invergordon?

No. This tour is not available for cruise ship passengers at Invergordon Cruise Port.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted.