Scotland’s Wild Highlands & Islands (Natural Habitat Adventure)

Our Scotland nature adventure begins in Inverness, the largest city and cultural capital of the Scottish Highlands. From Inverness, a transfer is included to our historic country house hotel located just outside the village of Contin, about a 30-minute drive. Coul House, a grand stone manor house built in 1821, is the centerpiece of the Coul estate established by the Mackenzie clan in 1560. Gather for an orientation and welcome dinner with our Expedition Leader this evening.

From Contin, return to Inverness where we board a private boat at the marina for an excursion into Moray Firth, a large sea bay home to Scotland’s best-known pod of bottlenose dolphins, the most northerly population in the world. We don expedition suits and life jackets, then head out in a RIB (rigid inflatable) boat for an exhilarating high-speed cruise on the firth. Taking weather and tides into account, our skipper sets a course in search of dolphins. Once we enter Chanonry Narrows, we slow our speed in this protected area where we most frequently spot dolphins. Famously inquisitive, they sometimes swim right alongside our boat. Keep an eye out, too, for harbor porpoises, common and gray seals, and the occasional minke whale.

This afternoon, visit Culloden Battlefield and museum, a National Trust for Scotland site where the 1745 Jacobite uprising came to a harrowing end—the last major battle on British soil. As we wander this living landscape, we may see skylarks, wildflowers, and goats and Shetland cows grazing on the restored moorland, just as one would have in the 18th century. Continue to Clava Cairns, one of Scotland’s most evocative prehistoric sites, where the remains of a 4,000-year-old Bronze Age cemetery rest on a terrace above the River Nairn. Returning to our boutique inn, we anticipate a memorable dinner featuring contemporary Scottish cuisine prepared by Coul House's accomplished chef.

We drive a short distance this morning to the Great Glen, passing dramatic vistas to arrive at famous Loch Ness, one of the largest and deepest freshwater lakes in Britain. After a brief stop at ruined Urquhart Castle on a rocky promontory above the loch—one of Scotland’s largest medieval fortresses and the site of a half-century of conflict—we walk to the pier to board a high-speed RIB boat for an outing on Loch Ness. Of course, we hope for a glimpse of the furtive Nessie, the water monster of legend that is the subject of more than a thousand eyewitness accounts. We’re more likely, however, to spy nesting ospreys, eagles and waterfowl.

This afternoon, stop for a special presentation at Trees for Life, a rewilding project that seeks to restore the globally unique Caledonian forest that once covered much of interior Scotland. The predominantly Scots pine forest mixed with varied deciduous trees has been decimated over centuries, cleared for grazing and timber. Through partnerships with large landowners, restoring the forest ecology provides habitat for native species including red deer, pine marten, badger, red squirrel, wild boar, otter and the rare Scottish wildcat, while opening the door to possible reintroductions of keystone species such as beaver and lynx. Trees for Life is a Nat Hab philanthropy project, and guests on our trip will have a chance, if they wish, to donate to a special Nat Hab grove restoration project.

Reaching the shores of Loch Cluanie, look for red deer and scan the skies for golden eagles and other raptors. Our accommodation for the next two nights is in Glen Shiel in an old coaching inn that has long served travelers bound from the Highlands to the Isle of Skye. Ringed by scenic hills, the inn offers glorious views and cozy ambience.

Leave the inn this morning to drive about an hour to Fort William where we board the Jacobite steam train with first-class passage to Mallaig. This magnificent 42-mile one-way journey begins near Scotland's highest peak, Ben Nevis, and crosses the 21-arched Glenfinnan Viaduct (made famous as the route of the "Hogwarts Express" in the Harry Potter films) which overlooks Loch Shiel. Our rail trip concludes at Loch Nevis, the deepest seawater loch in Europe.

Once we disembark at Mallaig, we take a private boat cruise among some of the wildest landscapes in Scotland along the Knoydart Peninsula. Sandwiched between Loch Nevis and Loch Hourn in the West Highlands, the peninsula forms the northern part of what is traditionally known as “The Rough Bounds,” due to the region's harsh terrain and remote nature. Knoydart is also known as “Britain’s Last Wilderness,” renowned for its rugged grandeur and tranquility. As we cruise the craggy coast, often wreathed in clouds, keep an eye out for abundant sea life—we may see otters, dolphins, porpoises, minke whales, gray and common seals basking on rocks, and seabirds, including the majestic sea eagle. After lunch, sea conditions permitting, our skipper whisks us across Loch Hourn, the most fjord-like of Scotland's sea lochs, to Armadale on the Isle of Skye. (In inclement weather, we may take a larger ferry.) From here, we make our way back to the Cluanie Inn to close the loop and end the day.

More wild Scottish scenery is in store as we make our way to the Isle of Skye and on to Harris in the Outer Hebrides. Journey through forest and moorlands, past lochs and trout streams, to reach the coast. We’ll stop for photos of evocative Eilean Donan Castle, one of Scotland’s most iconic sites. Strategically perched on a small island where three great sea lochs meet, the original 13th-century fortification was built to protect adjacent lands from Viking raids. At Kyle of Lochalsh, cross the famous bridge to Skye and continue northwest across the island through the Cuillins Mountains. En route, we’ll stop in a few small villages and visit the Old Man of Storr, a large, prominent rock pinnacle overlooking the sea that’s visible for miles. We’ll also view Kilt Rock, a 300-foot-high wall of towering columnar basalt, and the Quiraing, part of the Trotternish ridge that was formed by a massive landslide that created high cliffs, hidden plateaus and sharp rock outcrops. At the port town of Uig, board the ferry to Tarbert on the Isle of Harris, cruising in the gleaming light of evening. At our hotel in the heart of town, a late dinner awaits on arrival.

The Isle of Harris is a diverse landscape of mountains and moorlands, crofts, lochs, meadows and sandy beaches. Its craggy coast, defined by cliffs and secret coves, offers nesting habitat for myriad seabirds. In high summer, discover the wildflower meadows that burst into color on the machair, a sparse veneer of green atop the sand. The single-lane “Golden Road” winds along the east coast of Harris among miniature fjords and tiny hamlets with Viking and Gaelic names. Along the way, we pass through historic rural settlements and stop at a weaving shop where world-famous Harris tweed is produced.

A highlight today is a private cruise to the Shiant Isles, one of the world's most famous seabird colonies. Located between Skye and Lewis, these columnar basalt islands are known in Gaelic as Na h-Eileanan Seunta, or the "Enchanted Isles." Though this tiny island group is uninhabited by humans, it is home to hundreds of thousands of seabirds, including a quarter-million puffins—2% of the entire global population. Some 7% of all razorbills in the U.K. also breed here, along with colonies of guillemots, cormorants, shags and great skuas. We often see seals lounging on the rocks, too.

Sept/Oct departures only: Fall trips will typically not visit the Shiant Islands, since the seabirds will have departed by this time. Instead, a private boat cruise will offer an alternate route, tracing the rugged Harris coastline east of Tarbert Marina, passing several remote and deserted villages, with views of the Shiant Isles offshore. As we cruise, scour the waves in hopes of seeing dolphins and whales from the boat before returning to our hotel for teatime.

This morning we visit one of Scotland's most intriguing archaeological sites, the Callanish Standing Stones. This 5,000-year-old ring of 13 gneiss pillars is arranged in a cruciform pattern around a 14-foot central monolith. Erected on the west coast of Lewis in the late Neolithic era, predating Stonehenge, the stones were a focus for ritual activity during the Bronze Age. Several other stone circles, arcs and alignments are also visible from the main site. Historians estimate the site was abandoned around 1,000 B.C. and ultimately buried beneath a thick layer of peat turf, not unearthed until 1857. We also visit a museum dedicated to the historical crofting life in the Hebrides before continuing to Stornoway, where we board the ferry back to the mainland. The 2.5-hour crossing is an opportunity to look for dolphins and whales from the observation deck. On arrival in Ullapool, we return to the Coul House Hotel, where our journey began.

Head deep into the glen for a canoeing excursion, providing an intimate perspective on the rugged beauty of the Highlands. We paddle the gentle Beauly River into steep-walled Aigas Gorge, watching for osprey overhead. The region is home to red deer, pine marten, golden eagles and many more species native to the area including the extremely rare—and very rarely seen—Scottish wildcat, the United Kingdom's only native feline and most endangered mammal. Since 2011, a crucial national program has engaged in efforts to bring this small, muscular tabby cat back from the brink of extinction. Later, a very special event is in store as we head to the home of our Scottish hosts—Warwick, Becky and their children—for a festive afternoon of traditional Gaelic entertainment. Enjoy a classic ceilidh featuring fiddle playing, robust singing, whisky tasting, stories, and other fireside amusements. Guests are invited to offer their own contributions, too! Return to Coul House for a final night.

After breakfast, transfer to Inverness to meet departing flights.