An ideal opportunity to experience two islands of great contrast, and indeed rivalry, each equally majestic.

Day One

Depart Inverness/Glasgow/Edinburgh for the Isle of Skye, with a choice of routes to the famous Road to the Isles. After crossing the Skye Bridge, head to the so-called "Garden of Skye" - the southerly Sleat peninsula.

Your Hotel

Sheltered by a gently curving bay, your charming whitewashed hotel sits right on the seashore, enjoying expansive views over the Sound of Sleat to the wilderness of Knoydart. This, the most southerly part of Skye, is an area of great natural beauty, often referred to as the Garden of Skye thanks to its abundant bird life and profusion of wild flowers. The hotel lies at the heart of a sprawling 23,000-acre estate, where trout fishing, stalking and shooting can be arranged if you feel the urge. This is a Gaelic-speaking community and the bar is a convivial meeting place for the locals, who mix happily with hotel guests, often to the accompaniment of traditional music and Gaelic song in front of the roaring log fire. Candlelit meals in the wood-panelled dining room reflect the estate's culinary riches, with wonderful shellfish and game featuring prominently on the menu. Langoustines are landed at the old stone pier, and oysters come from the hotel's own oyster beds.

What to see and do

Skye is a large island, with many contrasts of its own. On the little harbour right beside the hotel is the headquarters of 'The Gaelic Whiskies', where you can sample an excellent range of connoisseur brands before browsing in the nearby craft shop. The surrounding area of hills, moorland, woodland and seashore offers endless opportunities for walking and drinking in the magnificent sea views. Don't miss the enchanting walk to the Point of Sleat, from where you can gaze across to the small isles of Rum and Eigg and dream of future visits! Further afield, in the north of the island, you'll find historic Dunvegan Castle, and Portree, the bustling island capital. A day trip to the unspoilt neighbouring island of Raasay is also well worth considering for those who enjoy walking in the wilds!

Day Three

A full day's driving today takes you first to the port of Armadale, where you catch the short ferry to Mallaig. From here you will have tiome to explore the stunning sandy beaches of Arisaig - made famous by the movie Local Hero, before reaching the remote Ardnamurchan peninsula - the most westerly part of mainland Britain. Your second short ferry of the day takes you direct to Tobermory - Mull's main village.

Mull

A sheer paradise for lovers of Scotland's natural heritage, Mull is an island gem, with an enviable diversity of wildlife thriving everywhere from dense woodland glens to the grassy slopes of Ben More. Its many miles of coastline boast fantastic sandy beaches ' particularly at Calgary and Ardalanish ' whilst off-shore is one of Europe's prime habitats for whales and dolphins: Take a boat trip and spot minke whales, bottlenose dolphins, and maybe seals and harbour porpoises. Meanwhile, lively Tobermory has a bustling vitality and is a great place for a weekend break. Brightly painted houses provide a colourful backdrop to the picture-postcard harbour and the 'craic' in waterfront bars rivals anything on the mainland.

A world away from all this, but in reality just a short ferry crossing, tiny Iona is a deeply spiritual place, a historic Christian pilgrimage ' birthplace of Scottish Christianity and final resting place of the former Labour leader, John Smith. Regular ferries take passengers through the day- and don't miss the walk to the other side of the island, to discover more sandy beaches.

Your hotel

Basking in the picture-postcard charm of Tobermory's stunning waterfront, your hotel has been cleverly converted from a row of fisherman's cottages into a delightful family-run establishment. Comfortable lounges and bedrooms offer a warm welcome just a stone's throw from one of the world's prettiest working harbours. The inviting - and locally popular - restaurant enjoys views across to Calve Island and offers plenty to tempt your palate- advanced booking is advised.

From £259 per person for holidays in February & March 2008, from £299 for April, from £359 for May - September and from £329 for October holidays, based on 2 people sharing a room, for 4 nights on a bed & breakfast basis. Prices include ferry travel to/from Mull and in one direction to Skye.

All our touring holidays include a map of Scotland with recommended routes from your specified starting point, suggestions on places to see and visit depending on your personal interests and our expertise to help you get the most from your holiday.

All itineraries and room types are presented subject to availability at specific hotels.

The McKinlay Kidd Guarantee

All our holiday prices include a service charge of £7 per person per night towards the costs we incur in researching, planning and designing your holiday.

We guarantee to refund this service charge if you believe that arranging your holiday through McKinlay Kidd has not met your expectations for value. All we ask is that you write to us within 7 days of your return and explain your reason for claiming the refund. This will ensure that we can improve the experience for all our future guests.