River Spey, Cairngorms National Park

Romantic Highland Getaway

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Overview

Suggested Itinerary

What's Included?

Accommodation & Prices

Car Hire

Overview

Self-Drive Holidays

6 Nights

Fully customisable itinerary
Prices from: £940 per person
Best time to go: November - March
Transport: Rental car included (optional)

Highlights

Highland hospitality

Relax each evening in wonderful accommodations where it will be a pleasure to unwind and enjoy peaceful evenings with a book or a spot of stargazing out to the clear Highland skies.

Glencoe

Glencoe is Scotland’s most famous and mystical glen, site of the infamous massacre of Clan Macdonald. Enjoy the spectacular views of the snowy mountains of Glencoe and the rust-coloured valleys around as you drive through.

Isle of Skye

The Isle of Skye is popular for its stunning and dramatic volcanic scenery, including the iconic Storr, spectacular Quiraing and Portree as its colourful capital. In winter there are fewer people around and these gorgeous landscapes will feel like they are all yours.

Historic castles

Perched atop Castle Hill, Stirling Castle is the former home of the Stuart monarchs. On the West Coast, Urquhart Castle overlooks mysterious Loch Ness, while on the shores of Loch Duich – Eilean Donan, Scotland’s most photographed castle.

Warming whisky

Throughout your journey, you will find cosy pubs to settle into in the evening, perhaps with a roaring fire and a dram of fine Scotch whisky – a wonderfully warming spirit.

Frozen lochs

Soak up the peace and tranquillity of the beautiful Scottish Lakeland, where the outstanding natural beauty of Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park provides opportunities to enjoy romantic strolls with frost underfoot and snow-covered mountains around.

A Romantic Winter Highland Getaway

The snow-sprinkled backdrop of the Scottish Highlands makes for a wonderfully peaceful and perfectly romantic winter getaway. Picture yourself walking by a still, ice-cold loch, surrounded by frosty mountains, exploring a medieval castle or sitting by a fire in a cosy pub, tucking into a hearty meal after being outside in the energising and crisp fresh air.

This romantic-themed self-drive tour delves deep into the Highlands taking you from Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park and through spectacular Glencoe on your way north. Travel onwards to explore the Isle of Skye, before finally heading to the ‘Capital of the Highlands’ in Inverness. Winter is a fantastic time to enjoy the Highlands with fewer people and snow-capped mountains all around.

The tranquillity of the Scottish Lakeland provides the perfect starting point for a romantic holiday that will allow you to switch off entirely and focus your mind and energy on beautiful landscapes and unique sights. Enjoy a beautiful sunset over the loch with the whole evening ahead to relax and unwind.

Make your way north on a stunning scenic journey, through Glencoe and across the remote and wild Rannoch Moor, into the heart of the Scottish Highlands. This is followed by another remarkable journey across the Skye Bridge to Scotland’s most famous island.

Explore Inverness, the Capital of the Highlands and mystical Loch Ness, enjoying a selection of the country’s finest mountain and lochside scenery. This area of Scotland boasts some magnificent and romantic castles, such as Eilean Donan and Urquhart Castle.

As you make your way from the Highlands back to the Lowlands you will pass through the very heart of Scotland and have the chance to take in a myriad of landscapes until you return to our capital of Edinburgh.

Suggested Itinerary

The holiday ideas on our website are just examples of the amazing trips we offer. Think of this itinerary as a starting point which can be tailored into something completely unique to you by our award-winning specialists.

We love the opportunity to use our first-hand knowledge and experience to design and deliver the perfect, bespoke holiday experience for you.

Day 1: Edinburgh to The Trossachs

Your romantic journey begins by travelling north to visit magnificent Stirling Castle as it sits on its high volcanic rock before continuing to the beautiful Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park.
Overnight – The Trossachs

Day 2: The Trossachs Sightseeing

The outstanding natural beauty of the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park provides wonderful walking opportunities. You can walk in the mountains or enjoy romantic strolls through woodlands or easier hill or loch-side tracks. There are numerous scenic drives to enjoy and lovely villages to explore.
Overnight – The Trossachs

Day 3: The Trossachs to the Isle of Skye

A wonderfully scenic journey takes you across wild Rannoch Moor and through spectacular Glencoe and into the heart of the Scottish Highlands. The snow-capped mountains of Glencoe are one of the most photographed sights in all of Scotland and you will definitely wish to stop.

Your journey continues through the Highlands and over the Skye Bridge to the Isle of Skye, where you will head for the colourful capital town of Portree.
Overnight – The Isle of Skye

Day 4: Isle of Skye Sightseeing

Today you have a full day on Skye to explore its romantic and often snowy landscapes and perhaps try an island whisky or two.

One of Scotland’s very best restaurants is nestled on the remote shores of Loch Dunvegan and all around are superb opportunities for walking and gazing at the magnificent sea views.
Overnight – Isle of Skye

Day 5: Isle of Skye to Inverness

Depart Skye and travel past the most famous and romantic of Scotland’s castles, Eilean Donan, standing majestically on an island at the point where three great sea lochs meet. Your route takes you by the shores of brooding Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle and onto Inverness – the Capital of the Highlands.
Overnight – Inverness area

Day 6: Inverness Sightseeing

A full day is now free to explore Inverness and the surrounding area. The riverside in Inverness boasts a wealth of fantastic restaurants and during December you will find a city lit up with Christmas lights.

You could also explore nearby Speyside, one of the loveliest areas of Scotland with its mountains, pristine pine forests, sparkling lochans, and world-class whisky distilleries.
Overnight – Inverness area

Day 7: Inverness to Edinburgh and depart

After breakfast, you will begin your drive back from the Highlands to the Lowlands of Scotlands, driving through Highland Perthshire and the very heart of our country. In Edinburgh, your wonderful Romantic Getaway to the Scottish Highlands will come to an end.

What's Included?

Your holiday includes:

Carefully selected en-suite accommodation for 6 nights including traditional Scottish breakfast
Comprehensive information pack
Personalised itinerary with our recommendations for the best places to eat and drink and sightseeing suggestions
Map of Scotland with our recommended driving route
7 days rental of an Economy car (other vehicle categories available) including comprehensive insurance
24-hour emergency contact number
Full financial protection

Your holiday doesn't include:

Travel insurance
Flights
Lunches and evening meals

Accommodation & Prices

Special Places to Stay

Premium

Standard

We know that after a busy day of sightseeing an exceptional place to stay makes all the difference. That’s why all of the accommodation we select is hand-picked using our first-hand knowledge of the best places to stay.

Our discerning team has a wealth of experience, and we extensively research and regularly review all of the accommodation we select for our clients.

Please choose from one of our accommodation categories below. If you wish to combine these categories or perhaps upgrade for a special occasion let us know in your enquiry.

Car Hire

Our packages include car rental and comprehensive insurance for the duration of your holiday. Absolute Escapes has an excellent relationship with a number of car hire operators and we are able to offer quality vehicles and great value for money.

If you plan to bring your own vehicle, we are also able to offer this itinerary without a rental car.

All our packages include:

Collision Damage Waiver
Super Damage Excess Waiver
Third Party Insurance
Theft Waiver
Tax

Economy

Vauxhall Corsa or similar

Good for 2 people
Maximum of 4 passengers
2 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

Compact

Ford Focus or similar

Good for 2 – 4 people
Maximum of 5 passengers
2 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

Intermediate

Volkswagen Passat or similar

Good for up to 4 people
Maximum of 5 passengers
3 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

Fullsize

VW Sharan or similar

Good for 5 people
Maximum of 7 passengers
3 – 4 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

How do our Self-Drive Holidays Work?

Since 2004, we've led the way in planning remarkable road trips in the UK. Like a perfectly tailored suit, each itinerary is crafted around you. Learn more about us and our self-drive holidays in our new guide. Read more

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Embrace winter in Scotland and you'll fall in love with snow-capped mountains, freezing lochs, and warm, Highland hospitality. Read on to discover our tips on experiencing the best of winter in the North. Read more