Reviewed · INVERNESS TOURS

Create Your Own Special 2 Day Tour

★ 5.0 · 12 reviews 2 days (approx.) Operated by Scotland's Highland Tours · Bookable on Viator
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The big draw here is control. Instead of following a fixed coach route, you work with Catherine to shape two days around Scotland’s best-known sights, then travel privately with Roger, the guide and driver. You can focus on Skye, add time for food and walks, or adjust plans along the way.

I like the private format, especially for two people who want a quieter ride and the freedom to stop without asking a busload of strangers. I also like the planning help: Catherine can assist with the route, restaurants, hotel choices, and bookings. The tradeoff is a packed schedule, and the price of $2,221.45 per group of up to two does not include meals, accommodation, or admission fees.

Key points at a glance

  • A genuinely flexible route: You can shape the two-day plan around your own interests instead of accepting a preset schedule.
  • Skye is the main prize: Portree, the Black Cuillin, and Eilean Donan create a powerful first day, though seeing the whole island would require more time.
  • Personal help before departure: Catherine has planned routes, restaurants, hotels, and schedule changes for guests with detailed requests.
  • Roger handles the road: He is described as caring, punctual, funny, and willing to make reasonable changes during the trip.
  • A private vehicle for two: The air-conditioned vehicle includes WiFi, parking fees, and bottled water.
  • Budget for extras: Meals, accommodation, and attraction tickets are not included, so your final cost will be higher.

A private Highland plan from Inverness

Create Your Own Special 2 Day Tour - A private Highland plan from Inverness

This is less a standard sightseeing tour and more a two-day driving service with a Scottish route built around you. Pickup begins at 9:00 a.m. from Inverness and the surrounding area, and only your group participates.

That private setup matters in the Highlands. Distances are long, weather can shift, and the best use of a stop depends on your interests. You may want castle interiors, mountain views, seafood, local history, or simply more time with a camera. A private guide can make those choices easier than a fixed group tour.

The company provides an air-conditioned vehicle, onboard WiFi, bottled water, and parking fees. You also receive itinerary planning, which may be the most useful part of the package. Catherine has helped arrange hotels, restaurants, and route changes for people with specific schedules.

The guide and driver named in the feedback is Roger. He is described as attentive, funny, punctual, and willing to change plans to suit the group. Those qualities matter on a two-day trip, since much of your time will be spent on the road with the same person.

Day one: Eilean Donan, Portree, and the Black Cuillin

Create Your Own Special 2 Day Tour - Day one: Eilean Donan, Portree, and the Black Cuillin

Eilean Donan Castle for four hours

Eilean Donan is one of Scotland’s most recognizable castles, set in a striking Highland location. The tour allows about four hours here, which gives you time to explore the family home and take photographs from several angles.

The castle is still used for special occasions. That detail gives the visit a more personal feel than a purely museum-like stop. You are not just looking at an old stone shell. You are seeing a historic home that retains a role in modern life.

Admission is not included, so add the entry fee to your budget if you want to go inside. If you prefer photographs and views, you can discuss how much time to spend outdoors with your guide. Four hours is generous for one stop, but it also uses a large part of the day.

I like this opening because it gives you a major Scottish sight before the route reaches Skye. The drawback is simple: if your priority is seeing as much of Skye as possible, a long castle visit may leave less time on the island.

Portree Harbour and the choice of Skye

Portree Harbour is scheduled for about four hours. The town gives you a useful base for seeing part of Skye, and the harbor provides a clear sense of place without requiring a strenuous outing.

The important point is that you cannot realistically cover every corner of Skye in one day while also allowing time for Eilean Donan, Portree, and the Black Cuillin. The plan specifically gives you a choice between the south and north of the island, or the option to extend your stay on Skye and see more of it.

That flexibility is valuable. If you care most about scenery, you can ask to favor one side of the island. If you want a slower trip, you can make Skye the main focus and spend more than one day there. If your two-day window is fixed, you will need to accept that some parts of Skye remain for another visit.

Portree is also a sensible place to discuss food plans. Meals are not included, but Catherine has helped with restaurant choices and bookings. Ask about this before the tour if you want a particular dining time, since your stops and driving hours need to fit together.

Same country, a completely different kind of day out:

The Black Cuillin in 30 minutes

The Black Cuillin receives a short 30-minute stop. These mountains form the dramatic center of Skye, and even a brief pause can give you time to take in the view and photograph the peaks.

Do not expect a full mountain outing in half an hour. This is a scenic stop, not a hike. If mountain scenery is your main reason for booking, tell Catherine and Roger early. The custom format may allow the emphasis to shift, but the supplied plan does not promise a longer walk or a specific trail.

The first day is therefore best for people who want a taste of Skye, not a complete island survey. Eilean Donan gets substantial time, Portree gets a useful visit, and the Black Cuillin adds a strong mountain finish.

Day two: Fort William and Glencoe

Create Your Own Special 2 Day Tour - Day two: Fort William and Glencoe

Fort William and the Old Fort

The second day includes about three hours at the Old Fort of Fort William. The town sits on Loch Linnhe, under Ben Nevis, and is known as Scotland’s mountain biking capital.

The stop combines history, outdoor culture, and food. You can explore the old fort area, take in the setting near the loch, and consider a meal at Crannog, described as a first-class seafood restaurant on the waterfront. Food is not included, so the restaurant would be at your own cost.

Three hours gives this stop more weight than a quick photo break. Still, the exact balance between the fort, town, views, and lunch should be discussed with your guide. If you are especially interested in the fort, ask how much time can be set aside for it. If seafood is a priority, ask Catherine to help with the booking.

Glencoe Visitor Centre and a painful past

The Glencoe Visitor Centre gets about two hours. This is an important stop for understanding the area’s past, including one of the bloodiest massacres in Scottish history.

Glencoe is also a major base for mountain scenery, with eleven Munros in the area, including Buachaille Etive Mor. You do not need to be a climber to appreciate the setting. The visitor center can give structure to the stop, while the surrounding peaks provide the visual drama.

The two-hour allocation works well for a history-focused visit and views. It may feel short if you want a serious hike, but the tour does not promise hiking time or guided mountain walks. Treat this as a place to learn, look, and ask Roger about the route and local context.

I appreciate that the plan does not reduce Glencoe to scenery alone. The massacre is part of the place, and the visitor center gives you a chance to understand why this valley matters beyond its dramatic appearance.

Loch Ness by way of Fort Augustus

Fort Augustus and the Caledonian Canal

Fort Augustus receives about two hours on the south shore of Loch Ness. The key sight here is the Caledonian Canal, an impressive piece of engineering that links Scotland’s lochs and waterways.

This is a good change of pace after the mountains and fort towns. Instead of another castle or viewpoint, you are looking at a working waterway and the engineering needed to move boats through the Highlands.

The stop is listed as free, so there is no admission charge for the canal visit. Two hours should give you time to view the canal and enjoy the village setting, though meals and drinks remain your responsibility.

Urquhart Castle and Loch Ness

The final Loch Ness stop allows about one hour in the Loch Ness region, with views and history from Urquhart Castle. You can also learn about the loch and its famous mysteries.

The information provided does not include an admission ticket for Urquhart Castle, so confirm what you want to visit and budget for any entry fee. One hour is enough for a focused stop, but it is not a long castle exploration.

This final section of the trip gives you a classic Highland ending: a large loch, a ruined castle, and stories that have made the area famous. It is also a reminder that the tour covers a great deal of ground in two days. The scenery may be memorable, but you will spend plenty of time in the vehicle getting between regions.

What the custom format really gives you

Create Your Own Special 2 Day Tour - What the custom format really gives you

The word custom can mean different things on different tours. Here, it appears to include planning before the trip and changes during the route. Catherine has worked through detailed requests, adjusted itineraries several times, and helped with restaurants, hotels, and other bookings.

That level of help can save you time. Planning a Highland route involves more than connecting names on a map. You need to allow for long drives, opening hours, food, weather, and the fact that a photograph stop can easily become longer than planned.

Roger’s flexibility is another useful part of the service. A fixed bus must leave on schedule. A private vehicle has more room for conversation and small changes, though you should not assume every request can be added without affecting the rest of the day.

The tour is offered in English. Confirmation is received at booking, and most people can participate according to the supplied information. Pickup is limited to Inverness and the surrounding area, so you should confirm your exact address before paying.

Is $2,221.45 good value for two?

Create Your Own Special 2 Day Tour - Is $2,221.45 good value for two?

The price is $2,221.45 per group of up to two, not per person. That works out to roughly $1,110.73 each when two people share the vehicle.

That is a significant price, but it includes a private two-day vehicle, a driver and guide, itinerary planning, parking fees, bottled water, air conditioning, and WiFi. The main value is not simply transportation. You are paying for a route shaped around your priorities and for help arranging the practical details.

The price does not include meals, hotel accommodation, or admission tickets. These extras could make a noticeable difference to your total. Ask for a clear plan for overnight accommodation and attraction visits before departure, particularly if you want to enter Eilean Donan Castle or Urquhart Castle.

I see the strongest value for two people who want privacy and personal planning. If you are happy with a fixed schedule and shared transport, this will likely feel expensive. If you have limited time, specific food or hotel needs, or a strong wish to adjust the route, the planning service may justify the cost.

The main limitation: too much Scotland in two days

Create Your Own Special 2 Day Tour - The main limitation: too much Scotland in two days

The route links Inverness, Eilean Donan, Skye, Fort William, Glencoe, Fort Augustus, and Loch Ness. Those are major Highland destinations, but the two-day window is ambitious.

You should think of this as a highlights trip. It can show you the shape of the region and deliver several famous sights, but it cannot provide a slow, thorough visit to every location.

The Skye section is the clearest example. You choose the south or north for one day, or extend your stay to see the entire island. If Skye is your top priority, consider asking Catherine to build the trip around more time there rather than trying to collect every stop.

The same applies to hiking. The schedule includes mountains and spectacular viewpoints, but the listed times do not provide for long walks. Tell the company if you want the trip to favor walking, castle interiors, food, or history.

Who should book this Highland tour?

Create Your Own Special 2 Day Tour - Who should book this Highland tour?

I would recommend it to a couple or two-person group that wants a private experience from Inverness and does not want to plan every detail alone. It also suits people with a short schedule who want to combine Skye, Glencoe, Fort William, and Loch Ness.

It is a good fit if you value personal attention. Catherine’s planning support and Roger’s reported willingness to adapt the route are central advantages, not minor extras.

I would hesitate if you want a relaxed two-day holiday with long walks, leisurely meals, or extended time in one place. The route is broad, and the attraction fees and overnight costs sit outside the headline price.

The cancellation terms are straightforward: you can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

FAQ

Create Your Own Special 2 Day Tour - FAQ

Where does the tour start?

Pickup is offered from Inverness and the surrounding area. The scheduled start time is 9:00 a.m.

How long is the tour?

The experience lasts approximately two days.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates, and the price covers up to two people.

What sights are included?

The route includes Eilean Donan Castle, Portree Harbour, the Black Cuillin, the Old Fort of Fort William, Glencoe Visitor Centre, Fort Augustus, and the Loch Ness region with Urquhart Castle.

Can I choose which parts of Skye to see?

Yes. You can choose to explore the south or north of Skye in one day, or extend your stay on Skye to see the whole island.

Are meals included?

No. Meals are not included in the tour price.

Is hotel accommodation included?

No. Customer accommodation is not included.

Are attraction admission tickets included?

No. Admission tickets for stops such as Eilean Donan Castle and other paid attractions are not included. Parking fees are included.

What is included in the vehicle service?

The tour includes an air-conditioned vehicle, WiFi onboard, parking fees, and bottled water. It also includes itinerary planning.

Should you book it?

Book this if you want Scotland planned around you, not around a fixed bus timetable. The strongest reasons are the private vehicle, Catherine’s personal planning help, and Roger’s attentive approach on the road.

Before booking, decide what matters most: Skye, castles, food, mountain views, history, or Loch Ness. Then ask for that priority to shape the two days. With a price this high and meals, hotels, and entry fees extra, clear planning is essential.

If you accept a fast highlights tour and value flexibility, this is a strong way for two people to see a broad slice of the Highlands from Inverness. If you want to linger, hike, or explore Skye in depth, spend the same budget on a slower itinerary with fewer stops.

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