Pre Tour - August 2nd - You will have the day to relax at our Edinburgh Airport accommodation and get adjusted to the time change before the tour starts the following morning. Overnight Edinburgh International.
Day 1 - August 3rd - You will meet this morning at our Edinburgh Airport accommodation this morning before we make our long drive towards the Western Islands. Our drive will take us through the Trossachs National Park with a few photo op stops along the way. We will also stop at St. Conan's Kirk, spectacularly sited over Loch Awe. You will fall in love with this wee Romanesque Church! After some exploring we make our way to Taynuilt where we Stop for Lunch at a local tearoom. After lunch we make the short drive to Oban. Oban is known as the Gateway to the Isles and has a lovely seafront, great shops, McCaig's Tower and of course, Oban Distillery. Once in Oban we board the Glen Etive for a Majestic Line Private Charter 3 Night Boat Trip where we will take over the entire boat! We will glide through Splendid Coastal Scenery, visit coastal communities, soak in the local history and culture, Enjoy Delicious Gourmet Food and experience the very best of Highland Hospitality Afloat. We will first head south toward the Slate Islands for our first evenings anchorage. Welcoming Dinner and Overnight Onboard Glen Etive. (B,L,D)
Day 2 - This morning we wake up in the Slate Islands, so called as the slate quarried at one time was to be found on roofs all round the world. We will explore Ardencaple Bay just to the north of the Isle of Seil joined to the mainland by the famous “Bridge over the Atlantic”. This quaint humpbacked bridge spans a narrow channel waterway called the Clachan Sound. Because both ends of the sound spill into the Atlantic Ocean, the little one-arched bridge has been dubbed the “Bridge Over the Atlantic.” We then cruise further south to rugged Jura, the most northerly of the Southern Hebrides, famous for the deer, the barren mountains known as the Paps of Jura, and also for being the place where George Orwell wrote 1984. We will Anchor at Craighouse after lunch and go ashore to sample the “uisge beatha”, the water of life from the Jura Distillery. The distillery originally opened in 1810 and has been the lifeblood of the community to this day. Jura is home to 212 people, 6,000 deer, one road, one pub, and one whisky distillery! Then an afternoon cruise across to the mainland for overnight anchorage in Tayvallich. Dinner and Overnight Onboard Glen Etive. (B,L,D)
Day 3 - This morning we make a visit to a Local Artist’s Gallery in Tayvallich, before continuing the journey north to Crinan, a pretty village, set at one end of the Crinan Canal. Crinan is a tiny harbour village that lies on the west coast of Scotland in the regional of Argyll known as Knapdale. The popular Crinan Canal, a true unexpected delight, enters the Sound of Jura here and the town looks out across Loch Crinan to Duntrune Castle. Planning for the canal to be built first began in 1773 by James Watt, the inventor of the turbine engine. The canal was built to provide safe passage for travelling goods and a short cut saving sailors the long trip round the Mull of Kintyre. After lunch we visit Dunadd, a hillfort dating from the Iron Age and early medieval period, home to the kings of Dalriada. It is hard to believe that this wee spot saw so much history unfold between AD500 and AD900 and played such an important part in what has since become Scotland. The original Scots were migrants from Ireland who from about 500 settled across Argyll in ever greater numbers, founding the Kingdom of Dalriada. Dunadd was the capital of the kingdom and was the place where its Kings were anointed. We then continue our cruise for an evening anchorage off the Island of Kerrera where we may be lucky enough to spot sea eagles! Dinner and Overnight Onboard Glen Etive. (B,L,D)
Day 4 - This morning we take the Short Ferry Crossing over to the Isle of Mull. Once on Mull we head to the Jetty at Ulva for an Isle of Mull Sea Eagle Adventure. These trips are especially designed to get Nature Lovers and Photographers as close as possible to the 4th Largest Eagle in the World, the magnificent White Tailed Sea Eagle. These spectacular birds have wingspans in some cases of over 8 feet. On a Mull Charters Trip, you regularly have eagles taking fish from the surface of the sea as close as 25 feet away. Sometimes as they swoop down on their final approach they actually fly directly over the boat and as they take the fish you can hear the wind through their wings and the splash as they touch the water! There are lovely views on route of Coastal Cliffs, Rounded Peaks, Flat-topped Lava Hills and the dominating scree peak of Ben More, as well as the rounded and cliffed slopes of the small island of Eorsa. We will find some lunch on mull making our way to Tobermory where we will get checked into our accommodation before dinner. Dinner and Overnight Tobermory, Mull. (B,D)
Day 5 - This morning we depart the dock at Tobermory to take a Treshnish Isles Cruise. The journey around Mull's West Coast affords an abundance of wildlife and stunning views on a comfortable journey to enjoy the dramatic surroundings. While on the cruise watch for Dolphins, Eagles, Whales and Basking Sharks, the perfect mix of wildlife and scenery. We land on the Isle of Staffa, the most dramatic of all the Scottish islands with the geological splendour of its Hexagonal Pillars and Fingal's Cave. While on our way to Staffa we will have our Packed Picnic Lunch and keep an eye out for Dolphins, Porpoises and Minke Whales which are often seen during the warmer months. Once back in Tobermory you will be able to find some dinner on your own. Tobermory was built as a Fishing Port in the late 18th century and is now the main town on Mull. It is a picture- postcard of a place with the brightly painted buildings along the main street to the pier and the high woodland-fringed hills surrounding the bay. The town has a good variety of shops, hotels, and other accommodation as well as being the administrative centre for the island. The harbour is always busy with fishing boats, yachts and the ferry to and from Kilchoan. Overnight Tobermory, Mull. (B,L)
Day 6 - We will spend some time investigating Oban this morning after departing the boat. Oban derives its name from the Gaelic Language and means 'little bay. Nestled on the west coast and surrounded by miles of dramatic shores and beautiful countryside, the seaside town is a great place for a wee wander. We will then make our way north to Fort William with a side trip through the striking mountains of Glencoe with its assemblage of peaks, ridges and valleys which rise up above the peat hags and scattered lochans of Rannoch Moor. The waters which tumble from these high mountains give rise to a series of spectacular waterfalls that gather initially at the 'Meeting of the Three Waters' to form the River Coe. We will stop at the Clachan Inn for Lunch before we visit the site of the Glencoe Massacre. Against a backdrop of craggy peaks and the tumbling River Coe, the Glen offers some of Scotland's most spectacular scenery but has also seen one of the most violent acts in Scottish history when in 1692 the Clan McDonald were massacred on this very spot! We then travel further north and alongside the spectacular shore of Loch Linnhe and then get settled into our accommodation near Fort William before we gather for dinner. Dinner and Overnight near Fort William. (B,L,D)
Day 7 - This morning you will board the Jacobite Steam Train, also known as the Hogwart's Express, from Fort William to Mallaig. Described as the Greatest Railway Journey in the World, this 42 mile trip takes you past a list of impressive extremes. Starting near the Highest Mountain in Britain, Ben Nevis, it visits Britain's Most Westerly Mainland Railway Station, Arisaig passes close by the Deepest Freshwater Loch in Britain, Loch Morar and the Shortest River in Britain, River Morar, finally arriving next to the Deepest Seawater Loch in Europe, Loch Nevis! The train crosses the 21-Arched Glenfinnan Viaduct (a location made famous in the Harry Potter films) which overlooks Loch Shiel and the Jacobite Monument. After some time to wander in the lovely town of Mallaig we will have Afternoon Tea before taking a One Hour Wildlife Cruise. We leave the harbour with the Isles of Skye, Rhum and Eigg to our right. Crossing the entrance to Loch Nevis we travel to Green Island on the Knoydart Peninsular. The waters are frequently visited by a variety of birds, seals, porpoises, dolphins, whales and basking sharks. We then return to Fort William here you can find some dinner on your own. Overnight near Fort William. (B,L)
Day 8 - This morning before leaving Fort William behind we board the Souters Lass for a loch cruise departing from Fort William Town Pier. The cruise will sail on Loch Linnhe and Loch Eil, surrounded by wonderful wildlife and unique views of Ben Nevis. While onboard we will receive a fascinating commentary throughout from our Skipper learning about its history, wildlife, geology, industry and more. Often times you will see Seals, Porpoise, Dolphins, a whole host of birdlife. We will let you find some lunch in Fort William and do a bit of shopping and exploration before heading out of town to Kenmore, our home for the next 5 nights. We then make our way to Fort Augustus on Loch Ness where you can find some lunch on your own. After exploring Fort Augustus we make our way up the road to Drumnadrochit where we will board a Loch Ness Cruise for a possible Nessie Sighting! The village is know to the locals only as Drum and it is a delightful place for a wee wander. After our cruise on Loch Ness, we make our way to our accommodation to get checked into before dinner. Dinner and Overnight near Inverness. (B,D)
Day 9 - Today we make our through Inverness to Kenmore on the shores of Loch Tay where we will spend the next 5 Nights in a Luxury Farmhouse. Before we leave the area we will stop at Culloden Battlefield, a desolate stretch of moorland that looks much as it did on 16th April 1746, the date of the last battle to be fought on British soil. Here Bonnie Prince Charlie made his last stand for the Stewart Cause. We will find out why this battle that lasted only one hour changed the way of life of the Highlands forever. We will have Lunch in a nearby Village Tavern before visiting the 4000 year old Clava Cairns, one of Scotland’s most evocative sacred prehistoric sites. The cairns are dominated by a line of three exceptionally well-preserved burial cairns, each enclosed by stone circles. We know little about who the cairn builders were, for they left no written record. The actual remains of those buried within the cairns no longer survive because of overzealous archaeological digging in the early 20th century. The sight is one of the most evocative sights we visit and we know you will love it! We then make our way south to our accommodation with a few stops along the way. Dinner and Overnight Kenmore on Loch Tay. (B,L,D)
Day 10 - Today we travel to Blair Atholl at Blair Castle, ancestral home of the Dukes of Atholl. Blair Castle is set in extensive parklands, including the recently restored Hercules Garden and Diana's Grove, and with 725 ears of history and over 30 rooms open to the public, an absolute delight to explore! We will have a guided tour of the castle and then you will have some time on your own in the castle and on the grounds before we gather for a Traditional Highland Afternoon Tea at a lovely old manse. Just a few minutes away from the castle we find the House of Bruar, the home of Scottish Country Clothing. Traditional Heritage Tweeds and Fine Cashmere coats stand alongside the latest cutting-edge offerings from Barbour, Musto and Aigle in the clothing halls and their Knitwear Hall, which is home to the widest selection of pure cashmere in the UK. Nowhere else will you find such a rich selection of premium materials in both traditional Scottish and excitingly contemporary styles. You can also find the Finest Country Fayre of Traditional Scottish Food and Drink in the Food Halls and Delicatessen. While here, we will find some lovely things to take back home for our dinner. Dinner and Overnight Kenmore on Loch Tay. (B,L,D)
Day 11 - This morning we will join Highland Safaris as we head into the hills to experience this sub Arctic Wilderness and search for elusive White Hare, Ptarmigan and Red Deer on their Alpine Safari! Our safari includes Hot Chocolate, Coffee and Tea, a Dram of Dewars Whisky with Shortbread in their Mountain Bothy. Even on those occasion when we don't see an abundance of wildlife this is a very special outing! When we return from our safari we will have Lunch in the Café and look through the shop before we experience a Red Deer and Barn Owl Encounter where we come face to face with Britain’s largest native land mammal – the majestic Red Deer and meet and encounter their tame Barn Owl in a hands on demonstration as well as discovering the natural wonders of Highland Perthshire on a fun and inspiring short walk. We will visit Iain Burnett, the Highland Chocolatier where we have a Gourmet Chocolate Tasting Flight of five chocolates, you will learn about the difference between gourmet chocolate and compound chocolate, what makes São Tomé Cocoa so special, how Iain chooses his ingredients, and how to identify the amazing flavour profiles in each chocolate. Dinner on your own in Kenmore. Overnight Kenmore on Loch Tay. (B,L)
Day 12 - This morning we journey just a short ways join a Loch Tay Safari. We will have fun on Loch Tay as we skim over the surface of the waters of Perthshire's Largest and one of Scotland’s Deepest Lochs! Surrounded by stunning and dramatic landscape, in an area steeped in history, myths and folklore you will be mesmerised by mystical and spell binding stories of the people who have shaped the very fabric of this amazing area throughout the ages. We will see Queen Sybilla's Island, the Loch Tay Fault Line, Deep Point and Kelpie Lair, the Abandoned Village of Lawers and the Crannog. We will Lunch at Scotland's Oldest Inn before a visit to my favorite Glen in all of Scotland, Glen Lyon. On the way, we will stop in Fortingall to see the Fortingall Yew standing next to the wee church there. The yew tree which grows there has been estimated to be 5,000 years old and is the Oldest Living Organism in Britain and possibly the world. The churchyard also has grave slabs and incised crosses that are hundreds of years old. You will have the rest of the afternoon free to explore Kenmore before dinner. Dinner and Overnight Kenmore on Loch Tay. (B,L,D)
Day 13 - This morning we travel to Crianlarich to Board a Train to the World Famous Rannoch Station on the edge of Rannoch Moor. This remote station stands in the wilderness of Rannoch Moor and is the most Remote Train Station in Scotland! It was built to be ready for the first train ever to run from Glasgow to Fort William on 7th August 1894 as part of the West Highland Line, a romantic and beautiful railway that travels from Glasgow to Mallaig through majestic country of heather moors, hills and viaducts. Rannoch Station is magical and unbelievable place and while here we will have Afternoon Tea at the Rannoch Station Tearoom, the most Remote Tearoom in Scotland! After some time to explore and take in all the majestic beauty of this area we then take the train back to Crianlarich and start our journey back to Kenmore. On the return journey, we will travel up the other side of Loch Tay going through Ardeonaig and Ardtalnaig and Acharn and then returning back to our lovely home for our last night at Kenmore. You will be able to find some dinner on your own this evening in Kenmare. Overnight Kenmore on Loch Tay. (B,L)
Day 14 - This morning we leave Kenmore and the Highlands behind as we make our way back toward Edinburgh. On our way south we will stop in Crieff before making our way through Glendevon and then to Falkirk. Crieff is a Traditional Scots Market Town set amidst Perthshire’s stunning scenery. The attractive and bustling town centre supports a wide range of family- run businesses offering the best of food and drink, clothing, gifts, crafts and arts. Once in Falkirk, we visit the Falkirk Wheel, a rotating boat lift in central Scotland, connecting the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal. During our one hour journey we sail through the sky to join the Union Canal over 100 feet above. After smoothly moving along the aqueduct and through the Roughcastle Tunnel to the beginning of the Union Canal, we then descend to the start point. While here we will visit Helix Park to see the Scottish Kelpies, the world's largest equine sculptures. We will have a Guided Walking Tour that takes you through the vision of artist Andy Scott and how history and industry impacted on his designing of these breath-taking sculptures. The pinnacle of the tour is that you get to experience a Kelpie from the inside, and see for yourself the breathtaking engineering and design of the Kelpies. We then make it to our accommodation just outside of Edinburgh for dinner and then we are out to a Performance of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo! Farewell Dinner and Overnight just near Edinburgh. (B,D)
Day 15 -August 17th - Return to Edinburgh International Airport for the journey home.
