Western Highlands & Hebrides
Discover the picturesque Western Highlands
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You are viewing the 2018 itinerary
Itineraries and pricing may vary by departure year
Discover the incredibly picturesque Western Highlands and the rugged, breathtaking coastal islands which lie off Scotland's western coast. This tour takes us on some of the world's most scenic railway journeys as part of a truly memorable exploration of the Highlands.
Meet your group and Tour Manager at the Novotel Edinburgh Centre in Edinburgh.
We journey along the incredible West Highland Line. At Fort William, we transfer by coach to the nearby village of Ballachulish, situated at the head of Loch Leven. On Day 3 we join the Jacobite Steam Train* for an unforgettable journey to Mallaig on the final leg of the iconic West Highland Line, perhaps the most scenic stretch of track in the UK, en route to Mallaig.
*Please note - on departures 18 April and 2 May the Jacobite does not operate and we make this journey using Scotrail's scheduled service. Please call for details
This morning we travel by coach to Oban and onwards to Isle of Mull. Later, we visit Duart Castle. After time to explore the castle's stately rooms and dungeons, we check in to Isle of Mull Hotel for 2 nights.
Today we enjoy a spectacular cruising tour around some of the tiny islands west of Mull. Here minke whales and dolphins can be seen. Later we cruise to Iona, before returning to Mull to visit Tobermory, enjoying some free time here.
Leaving Mull, today we return to the mainland by ferry to Oban. Here we visit the Oban Distillery for a "Sensory & Flavours" tour including whisky tasting. After lunch in Oban we continue by coach to Pitlochry, an attractive town in the heart of the Highlands, at the foot of Ben Vrackie, and spend three nights here at the Fisher's Hotel.
Enjoy a free day to relax in Pitlochry with its pretty Victorian centre, or perhaps take advantage of the local railway station to explore a little further afield. If you fancy a serene stroll then Pitlochry has excellent woodland nearby. Faskally Wood is set within Tay Forest Park on the banks of Loch Dunmore. and is only one mile north of Pitlochry. The wood is home to a wide array of tree species, some more than 200 years old. The wood has many well signposted paths which make it an easy area to explore amidst the fantastic views of the area. Loch Dunmore is wonderfully picturesque, it has a boat house and a timber footbridge. The manmade wood was originally used to train new foresters, made in the 19th century in the grounds of Faskally House the wood was home to the Forestry Commission School.
On today's excursion we travel north to Aviemore, a charming town in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. Later we transfer to the Cairngorm Mountain Railway, Scotland's only funicular line, for a trip up to the summit station, where, on a clear day, it is possible to see magnificent views across the national park. This evening, we gather for a final farewell meal at our hotel.
Please Note: For departure HHS1802 the Cairngorm Mountain Railway will be closed for maintenance. Please call for futher details.
After breakfast, we travel by rail down through the mighty Cairngorms to Edinburgh. Here the tour concludes, and you are free to make your own way home.
Please note that while every departure of this tour will feature the same excursions, the order may differ from that shown above.
We recommend that for this tour you arrange flights to and from Edinburgh Airport (EDI), which is approximately 8 miles from your base in Edinburgh.
It is your responsibility to check and fulfil the passport, visa, health and immigration requirements applicable to your itinerary. We do not accept any responsibility if you cannot travel, or incur any other loss because you have not complied with any passport, visa, immigration requirements or health formalities. You agree to reimburse us in relation to any fines or other losses which we incur as a result of your failure to comply with any passport, visa, immigration requirements or health formalities.
You may check in at the first hotel on your itinerary anytime after 14:00; your Tour Manager will be available between 16:00 and 18:00. However, if you are arriving later, you can meet your Tour Manager before dinner from 19:00.
An escorted experience
Comfortable accommodation in your destination
Delicious meals included
Exciting excursions and free time to explore
Not Included
This was our first experience with the company and we couldn't rate it highly enough. We enjoyed wonderful scenery and very pleasant hotel stops. For me the highlight was our visit to the islands of Iona (so peaceful and tranquil) and Staffa. The latter island contains Fingal's Cave which has been on my 'bucket list' since I heard the music by Mendelssohn when I was a child. This, coupled with a 'close encounter' with the only inhabitants, the puffins, made my tour. On the other hand riding on the Harry Potter train (The Jacobite Steam Railway) over the famous viaduct made my partner's! Another plus was the visit to the Oban Distillery where we listened politely to the interesting talk about making whisky while all the time thinking about the much looked forward to 'tasting' session. It didn't disappoint and neither did the entire tour. It was tremendous. Thank you GRJ!
Discover the picturesque Western Highlands
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