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Experience parts of Scotland that other tourists never visit. |
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Scotland's Hebrides Islands, off
its west coast, are remote and unspoiled. The rare Gaelic
language is still heard in these places, and the empty beauty
of the islands have a feeling of timelessness, belonging to no
time and to all time. |
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Detailed Day by
Day Itinerary for the
2011 Scotland's
Islands & Highlands Tour
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Me - David Rowell - your
hopefully friendly, helpful and possibly even intrepid tour
leader, here at the Callanish Standing Stones (see Day 12).
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Tour
Itinerary
This tour gives you an opportunity to visit
all the major islands off the west coast of Scotland.
You'll visit seven different islands,
and enjoy eleven different ferry and boat rides plus two
steam train rides. There's a huge amount more to
Scotland than 'just' Edinburgh and Glasgow. After this tour,
you'll have a much better understanding of the diversity of
this
semi-independent nation. |
Please
click here to open up a Google Map showing the daily
itinerary in summary form. Note that this is a bit, ahem,
experimental.
But hopefully it will help you understand in more detail where
we'll go.
And please
click here to return to the
main Scotland's Islands Tour page.
Itinerary
Day 1 (Saturday 11 June - or
earlier) Leave the US |
To arrive in Britain on Sunday, you probably need to take an
overnight flight on Saturday |
You should make your
own arrangements to fly from the US to Britain, departing on
Saturday 12 June - or earlier if you wish to spend extra time
in Britain
before the start of the main tour. |
Day 2 (Sunday 12 June - or earlier) Arrive in
Britain |
You can fly to London or to any other convenient city in
Britain |
Many people will fly to London, but you can
also choose other destinations in Britain such as
Manchester, or even Glasgow itself.
Choose whatever British city which makes best sense for you in terms of
convenience and cost.
Many of us will spend the night in
London. |
Tour Starts on Day 3 (Monday 13
June) :
Traveling to Scotland then coach to Campbeltown |
Our deluxe 38 seater coach has lots of space for everyone,
great views from its high seating and huge picture windows, restroom, even a video system
We travel alongside the Kyles of Bute this afternoon
The main street in Inverary
Campbeltown's waterfront
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If you're not already there, make your way to Glasgow today,
perhaps by train, and
if so, likely up the beautiful West Coast Main Line from London.
The tour starts at Glasgow's Central
Railway Station, where we're
met at the station by our luxury coach and personal driver/guide
at 12.30pm, giving people traveling from London.
We drive along the shores of Loch
Lomond and through the Loch Lomond National Park before
traveling around Loch Fyne and then enjoying an afternoon refreshment stop in the
small town of Inverary. Visit their jail - or perhaps
the renowned Loch Fine Whisky store and stock up on some
rare and wonderful whiskies.
We then continue down the Kintyre
Peninsula and to Campbeltown where we spend the night in
a small inn close to its harbor. Campbeltown is
the smallest of the six major whisky producing regions in
Scotland.
This evening we'll have a welcome
dinner and get to better know
our traveling companions.
Here's a
Google map showing today's route.
2010
Tour Member Jeanette's
Diary Record of this day on the 2010 tour.
Special Features - Two ferry rides,
Welcome Dinner |
Day 4 (Tuesday 14 June) :
Ferry to the Isle of Islay |
The Islay ferry nearing Port Askaig, with the Paps of Jura
in the background.
The lovely small Lochside Hotel in Bowmore - one of the hotels we'll be using for our two nights on Islay |
Today we travel
south to Southend, at which point we're only 19 miles
from the Irish Coast and - weather permitting - we may be able
to enjoy a fine view both of Ireland and the Mull of Kintyre.
Southend is reputed to be where St
Columba, Scotland's original missionary who brought
Christianity to the country, first set foot on the mainland in Scotland in
563. We see a stone footprint allegedly dating back to
the time of his landing at Southend in 563.
We then go up the west side of
the Kintyre peninsula to Kennacraig, where we then take a
ferry across the Sound of Jura, and over to the Isle of
Islay, famous for its distinctive peaty smoky (some would
even say seaweedy) whisky.
The ferry ride lasts 2 hrs 5
minutes.
We'll visit one of Islay's famous
distilleries and spend two nights in Islay's main town of
Bowmore.
Here's a
Google map showing today's route.
2010
Tour Member Jeanette's
Diary Record of this day on the 2010 tour.
Included
Meals - Breakfast
Special Features - Ferry Ride, Isle of Islay, Distillery
Tour |
Day 5 (Wednesday 15 June) :
Sightseeing around Islay |
Islay's 8th century Kildalton Cross, the best preserved of
these Celtic style crosses of anywhere in Scotland
Lagavulin - one of the seven distilleries on Islay, and some
might suggest the finest whisky of anywhere |
Once the home base for the Lords
of the Isles, Islay is the most southerly of the Hebrides
and is known for it's rich and colorful landscape, shaped by natural forces and human influence spanning
thousands of years. We'll spend some of today touring
around Islay, including a visit to Finlaggan, the historical
center of the Lords of the Isles.
A highlight of the day will be
visiting the Kildalton Cross in a very beautiful and remote
part of Islay that normal tours never go to.
The farmland, woodland and
peatland set below the sweeping hills support a wide variety
of wildlife from many bird species, including the rare
corncrake. Chances are you'll see many different birds
during our day of touring.
Later in the day, we visit a
different distillery, and then we spend a second night in
Bowmore.
Here's a
Google map showing today's route.
2010
Tour Member Jeanette's
Diary Record of this day on the 2010 tour.
Included
Meals - Breakfast
Special Features - Visit Finlaggan, Distillery Tour |
Day 6 (Thursday 16 June) :
Ferry back to mainland, overnight
in Oban |
Some of the many burial slabs at the Kilmartin Church.
In the distance, in the background, are some stone circles
that we'll also visit.
A view of Oban, with the distillery on the left and McCaig's
Tower above it. |
We take a 2 hr 20 minute ferry journey from Port Ellen back
to the mainland this morning, and then make our way north to
the town of Oban.
On the way we'll stop in the
Kilmartin area where you can look at and wonder about some
ancient stone circles and burial cairns, and then visit the churchyard
containing the largest collection of 14th and 15th century
carved burial slabs.
We arrive in Oban mid/late
afternoon and spend this evening in this lovely Victorian
era town, considered the gateway to the islands.
Here's a
Google map showing today's route.
2010
Tour Member Jeanette's
Diary Record of this day on the 2010 tour.
Included
Meals - Breakfast
Special Feature - Ferry Ride |
Day 7 (Friday 17 June) :
Ferry to the Isle of Mull |
Duart Castle dominates the Sound of Mull. We pass by
this imposing structure on our ferry ride.
Pretty little Tobermory, a lovely quiet town to relax in and
enjoy the view across the Sound of Mull.
|
This morning we travel across from Oban to Craignure on the
Isle of Mull. This is a short 45 minute crossing.
Mull is a beautiful island
with moorland, forest and mountains, and magnificent cliff
scenery to the south.
Upon arriving on Mull, we'll
travel by narrow gauge train to Torosay Castle and then
continue by coach to the picturesque fishing village of
Tobermory where we'll spend two nights.
Here's a
Google map showing today's route.
2010
Tour Member Jeanette's
Diary Record of this day on the 2010 tour.
Included
Meals - Breakfast
Special Features - Ferry Ride, Narrow Gauge Train Ride,
Torosay Castle visit, Isle of Mull |
Day 8 (Saturday 18 June) :
Cruise to the Isles of Iona and
Staffa |
Iona Abbey, a site of pilgrimage for thousands of people
every year.
Distinctive Staffa, with Fingal's cave on the right hand
side.
|
This morning we travel to the southwest tip of Mull and then
take a very short passenger ferry over to the sacred Isle of
Iona.
Iona is often referred to as 'The
Cradle of Christianity in Scotland' as it was here that St
Columba first landed after being banished from Ireland in
563AD. Once Settled on the island, Columba and his followers
built a wooden monastery. This was later replaced with stone
when the monastery was turned into a Benedictine Abbey
around 1200. Today the abbey has been fully restored and is
open to the public.
We then proceed by launch to the
distinctive island of Staffa, and Fingal's cave, made famous
in the overture written by Mendelssohn after a visit.
The island is composed of columnar basalt and overlying 'slaggy'
basalt. We hope to spend some time ashore if time and
currents allow before returning back to Fionnphort on Mull
and traveling back to Tobermory by coach.
Here's a
Google map showing today's route.
2010
Tour Member Jeanette's
Diary Record of this day on the 2010 tour.
Included
Meals - Breakfast
Special Features - Isles of Iona and Staffa, Ferry and boat
rides |
Day 9 (Sunday 19 June) :
A ferry, a castle and maybe a monster |
The ruins of Urquhart Castle on the shores of Loch Ness |
This morning we leave Tobermory and take a ferry across the
Sound of Mull back to the mainland, and then travel in our
coach up to Loch Ness, with another ferry ride across Loch
Linnhe en route.
At Loch Ness we'll visit the ruins
of Urquhart Castle on the shores of Loch Ness. Then
we'll visit the Loch Ness Monster visitor center in the
nearby tiny town of Drumnadrochit before continuing on to
Fort William for the evening.
Here's a
Google map showing
today's route.
2010
Tour Member Jeanette's
Diary Record of this day on the 2010 tour.
Included
Meals - Breakfast
Special Features - Two ferry rides, Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness
Visitor Center |
Day 10 (Monday 20 June) :
A train, a ferry, a castle and the Isle of
Skye |

The Jacobite Steam Train from Ft William to Mallaig
Eilean Donan Castle
The new Skye Bridge was controversial when first opened -
many islanders didn't want Skye to become more accessible to
mainlanders! |
This morning we travel by a beautifully restored vintage
steam train along the route featured in 'Harry Potter' and
described as the 'Top Railway Journey in the World' by
Wanderlust Magazine in 2009.
This train takes us from Fort
William to Mallaig.
At Mallaig we have time for lunch
and then take a ferry
over the Sound of Sleat and onto Skye. This has been
listed by the American Travel Writers Guild as one of the
top ten ferry rides in the world.
We then travel
to the famous new Skye Bridge and drive over it back onto
the mainland, where we make a short sidetrip to the renowed
Eilean Donan Castle, perhaps the most instantly recognizable
of all Scotland's castles.
After a visit to Eilean Donan, the
clan home for the MacRae and MacKenzie clans, we return back
to Skye and drive to the small town of Portree for the
evening.
Here's a
Google map showing
today's route.
2010
Tour Member Jeanette's
Diary Record of this day on the 2010 tour.
Included
Meals - Breakfast
Special Features - Jacobite Steam Train, Ferry ride, Eilean
Donan Castle, Isle of Skye |
Day 11 (Tuesday 21 June) :
Ferry to the Outer Hebrides and the
Isles of Harris and
Lewis |
The Cuillin Mountains on the Isle of Skye
Dunvegan Castle and its beautiful lochside setting
Our hotel for two nights in the Outer Hebrides - the Royal
Hotel, looking out onto the bay in Stornoway |
We travel to another castle today - Dunvegan Castle on Skye,
voted by the UK Sunday Times Travel Museum as offering one
of the best days out in Britain.
At Dunvegan you'll have time to go on a small boat tour to
see the seals and herons.
After sightseeing around the
island with the famous and impressive Cuillin mountains as
backdrop,
we take a ferry from the tiny town of Uig over to Tarbert on the
Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides.
We then travel by coach onto the
Isle of Lewis and to our home for the next two nights in
Stornoway.
Here's a
Google map showing
today's route.
2010
Tour Member Jeanette's
Diary Record of this day on the 2010 tour.
Included
Meals - Breakfast
Special Features - Dunvegan Castle, Ferry ride, Isles of
Harris and Lewis |
Day 12 (Wednesday 22 June) :
Sightseeing around the Isle of
Lewis |

The Butt of Lewis lighthouse, at the northwestern tip of the
Hebrides.
The Black House is a traditional long three room house -
living and sleeping rooms for people, and a room for cattle.
Dun Carloway is an ancient broch or small fortress more than
2000 years old.
The Calanais or Callanish standing stones are in an area
full of such ancient mysterious constructions. |
We'll enjoy a fascinating day of touring around the Isle of
Lewis today.
We first go all the way up to the
Butt of Lewis and the lighthouse there - this is the most
northwestern point of the Hebrides.
We next visit the Black House in Arnol. This is a traditional style thatched house.
It has a continually burning peat fire inside, but no
chimney. The peat smoke preserves the thatch.
People lived in this house until the 1960s. Next to it
is a 1920s style croft cottage which we can also visit.
We travel on to visit a tweed
woolen mill - together with the adjacent Isle of Harris,
this area is famous for its Harris Tweed.
Next we visit Dun Carloway, one of
the best preserved broch towers in Scotland and dating to
about the first century BC.
Lastly we visit the Calanais
Standing Stones, a cross shaped setting of stones dating
back to about 3000 BC, and from which other stone circles
can be seen in the area.
We then return back to Stornoway
and a farewell dinner at the hotel this evening.
Here's a
Google map showing
today's route.
2010
Tour Member Jeanette's
Diary Record of this day on the 2010 tour.
Included
Meals - Breakfast, Dinner
Special Features - Visit four attractions, Farewell Dinner |
Day 13 (Thursday 23 June) :
Ferry back to mainland and
return to Edinburgh or Glasgow |

The MV Isle of Lewis travels between Stornoway and Ullapool.
It steams at 18 knots and holds 123 cars and 680 passengers. On board facilities include an observation lounge, quiet
area, lift for the disabled, shop, children's play area,
food service and
bar.

The Victorian resort town of Pitlochry
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An early morning start today when we take the 7.00am ferry
from Stornoway back to Ullapool on the mainland.
Our coach then drives us down
through the Highlands to Inverness and on to the lovely
Victorian resort town of Pitlochry where we'll stop for lunch.
After lunch we continue on to Edinburgh, and finally to
Glasgow. We expect the coach to arrive in Edinburgh at
about 4.15pm and into Glasgow at 5.30pm.
You are free to leave the tour in
Inverness, Edinburgh or Glasgow (or anywhere else on the coach's route from
Ullapool back down to Edinburgh and Glasgow).
Here's a
Google map showing
today's route.
2010
Tour Member Jeanette's
Diary Record of this day on the 2010 tour.
Options :
You can now choose to either immediately travel on from
Inverness/Edinburgh/Glasgow
or to stay for some extra time in Scotland in either city.
Included
Meals - Breakfast
Special Feature - Ferry Ride |
For More Information
Please return to the main
page for more information about our
2011 Scotland's Islands Tour.
And here's a link to jump you directly down to the
booking form.
The Travel Insider is
licensed by the State of Washington as a seller of travel -
registration number 602 036 247.
Originally published
30 Jun 2010, last update
30 May 2021
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