Torridon Scotland. Four days. What to do?
 

My wife and I are spending several weeks in Scotland during May 2017. We have planned our time in Glasgow, Islay, Mull and Skye. On May 28th we will be in Torridon or thereabouts and have four days up our sleeves before we need to be in Edinburgh. The plan is to spend a day driving the coast between Applecross and Torridon. After that the itinerary is open.
We would appreciate any suggestions of what to do next.
Should we base ourselves in the Torridon for a few days before making a bee line for Edinburgh? If so, what are the recommendations?
Or should we wander back to Edinburgh leisurely? Again recommendations please.

I would continue the tour up the coast taking in Gairloch, Inverewe Gardens, Ullapool and probably reaching Scourie the end of the first day.

Second day continue up to Durness, maybe walk on Faraid Head, or Sango Sands and visit Smoo Cave. Follow the north coast all the way to the much gentler but no less beautiful scenery of Caithness and stay at Mey House which many regard as the best B&B in Scotland.

Third day, boat and bus trip to Orkney from John O'Groats, see the sites of Skara Brae, Maeshowe, Ring of Brodgar and St Magnus cathedral. On returning to the mainland at about 8pm drive down the Caithness and Sutherland coast to the Royal Marine Hotel at Brora.

Fourth day an unrushed drive back to Edinburgh with a possible detour to Culloden or a distillery tour at Dalwhinnie.

Remember it won't really matter if you make any of the days really long ones as sunset is after 10pm and it won't get completely dark at all.

Seconding all the above. Also Loch Maree and Ben Eigh are stunning. Whilst in the Applecross area eat at the Kishorn Seafood bar and The Applecross Inn.

I could also suggest an alternative that features a remarkable, beautiful and very lonely road that goes past one of Scotland's most intriguing prehistoric monuments, followed (if you're interested in Scottish history) by a visit to a little church that was a focal point for the infamous Clearances that followed the 1745 rising.

On day 2 (above) I'd continue past Durness and around Loch Eriboll to the non-village of Hope, then follow a tiny road that parallels Loch Hope south (past impressive Ben Hope) to Dun Dornadilla (or Dun Dornigail) - an ancient <i>broch</i> or fort that sits next to the road with only sheep and wind for company. It's a powerfully evocative stretch of road.

http://gardyloo.us/20130614_173Hs.jpg
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http://gardyloo.us/20130614_118Hs.jpg

You could overnight in Lairg, then the next day visit the Falls of Shin between Lairg and Bonar Bridge. Then cross the bridge to Ardgay and drive up Strath Carron to historic Croick Church.

During the last years of the Highland Clearances (in the 1840s) families evicted from their nearby farms were bivouacked in the Croick churchyard awaiting transport to - somewhere - maybe the coast, maybe Glasgow, maybe Ireland, maybe North America - and scratched heartbreaking messages in the church's windows, which you can still see today. http://gardyloo.us/20130614_63Hs.jpg and http://gardyloo.us/20130614_25s.JPG

It's beautiful, sad and sobering. An understanding of the Clearances (and the introduction of sheep farming to the exclusion of traditional land uses) will help you see the Highlands with new eyes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_Clearances

Map - https://goo.gl/maps/X7T2U1rPmkr

Wow. Those pictures are gorgeous, gardyloo.

My daughter and I simply loved the boat trip from John O'Groats and the tour of Orkney. We were happy that we were dropped off in Kirkwall after the tour with an hour or two to visit St Magnus Cathedral and the Bishops Palace across the street. Chocolate ice cream cones on a bench under the trees in the rain is a memory to last forever!!

But we also enjoy all the scenery and history to take in if you drive leisurely through the Highlands via Fort William, Glencoe... maybe through the Trossachs and through Stirling before return to Edinburgh. I certainly would NOT make a beeline to Edinburgh with so many other places to visit along the way.