Glencoe and the Highlands

Transcription

1 Luxury Walking Glencoe and the Highlands View Trip Dates Book Now Trip Grade: Blue 4

2 Glencoe and the Highlands If you re looking to combine superb hiking with a touch of luxury, this is the trip for you. We start by exploring Highland Perthshire - a land of heather clad hills, long glens and beautiful forests. After some days hiking in the glens and to the tops, we transfer west to Glencoe. This is one of Scotland s best regions for hiking and is our base for the last few days of the trip, allowing us to hike spectacular trails with amazing views. Along the way you ll enjoy a taste of Highland culture with a whisky tasting session, a storyteller and the opportunity to visit local arts and crafts shops. Highlights Hike in two of the Highland s most beautiful regions, experiencing contrasting landscapes Enjoy an exciting day speeding between rarely visited islands on a privately-chartered zodiac Relax as you stay in two of the very best hotels anywhere in the Scottish Highlands Book with confidence We guarantee this trip will run as soon as 2 people have booked Maximum of 8 places available per departure PLEASE NOTE The itinerary may be subject to change at the discretion of the Wilderness Scotland Guide with regard to weather conditions and other factors.

3 Planned Itinerary Day 1 Into Highland Perthshire Day 2 Hiking Glen Lyon Day 3 The Fairy Hill of Caledonia Day 4 A Maritime Adventure Day 5 Wilderness and a Waterfall Day 6 Hiking in Glencoe Day 7 Rob Roy's Grave & Creag an Tuirc Arrival Info Your Guide will meet you at the entrance of Perth Railway Station 10.30am on Day 1 of your trip Departure Info You will be returned to Perth Railway Station 4:00pm on the final day of your trip PLEASE NOTE The itinerary may be subject to change at the discretion of the Wilderness Scotland Guide with regard to weather conditions and other factors.

4 Day 1 Into Highland Perthshire Meeting in Perth, a short transfer takes us to a historic library for the trip welcome. After lunch, we head to Killin at the west end of Loch Tay for the first hike of the trip a short but steep ascent of a peak which offers outstanding views across Loch Tay. Back in the glen, it s a short transfer to our comfortable Highland hotel. (L, D) Walk details: 5km/ 3 miles 450m/ 1480 ft of ascent approx. 2 hours Day 2 Hiking Glen Lyon Glen Lyon is one of the most beautiful glens in Scotland, flanked by steep sided hills which offer wonderful walking on their grassy summits. Our guide will choose a suitable hike on the day which could be an easy walk along the valley floor, or perhaps a hike to one of the easier summits. This evening, we enjoy a whisky-tasting session at the hotel before dinner. (B, L, D) Walk details: 10km/ 6 miles 750m/ 2460 ft of ascent approx. 6 hours Day 3 The Fairy Hill of Caledonia On our final day in Perthshire, we ll aim to climb the iconic hill of Schiehallion the Fairy Hill of Caledonia. An excellent trail snakes up the whaleback mountain to its lofty summit at 1,083m, which rewards us with expansive views across the Highlands. Back at the hotel, enjoy a pint of Schiehallion ale or perhaps a local whisky to celebrate! (B, L, D) Walk details: 10km/ 6 miles 750m/ 2460 ft of ascent approx. 6 hours

5 Day 4 A Maritime Adventure After breakfast we transfer west to Oban, where we jump on board a privately chartered RIB (zodiac) for a memorable journey to Glencoe on the sea. We won t take a direct route instead, we ll visit some islands along the way, stepping ashore to explore empty beaches and coves. We then speed up Loch Linnhe, keeping an eye out for wildlife such as porpoises or dolphins, before arriving in Loch Leven and transferring a short distance to our fantastic hotel, which boasts a commanding location on the hillside. (B, L, D) Walk details: 4km/ 2 miles minimal elevation gain approx. 2 hours Day 5 Wilderness and a Waterfall We start from the village of Kinlochleven where will climb on a good trail through the forest. You ll soon be able to hear the thunder of falling water - The Grey Mare s Tail waterfall is impressive falling almost 50 feet. We ll continue on our hike as the path comes out of the woods and eventually reaches a remote loch, surrounded by mountains and wild moorlands. On the return, we ll enjoy stunning views down the length of Loch Leven to the Pap of Glencoe. In the evening, a storyteller shares tales of the Glencoe s dark history before dinner. (B, L, D) Walk details: 13km/ 8 miles 350m/ 1150 ft of ascent approx. 5 hours

6 Day 6 Hiking in Glencoe Some of the best views in Glencoe are from a rarely climbed peak that will be our target today. Following a faint trail, we hike up the flanks of the open hillside. The views open up quickly as we gain height. Reaching the summit, the views are simply sensational, as we gaze directly across the valley at the north face of Buachaille Etive Mor, the most iconic sight in Glencoe. Afterwards, we ll stop in at a well-known mountaineer s pub to toast the end of the trip before returning to our hotel for dinner. (B, L, D) Walk details: 11km/ 7 miles 650m/ 2130 ft of ascent approx. 5 hours Day 7 Rob Roy's Grave & Creag an Tuirc We leave Glencoe and transfer south to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Here, we ll stop at the tiny churchyard in Balquhidder and visit the grave of Rob Roy MacGregor. There will be time for a short hike to Creag an Tuirc - a great viewpoint and the perfect place to reflect on a special week. The summit is marked with a large cairn and offers incredible views down the length of Loch Voil. A short transfer takes us back to Perth, arriving late afternoon. (B, L) Walk details: 3km/ 2 miles 150m/ 490 ft of ascent approx. 1.5 hours

7 Trip Grading Blue 4 Blue graded walking holidays are suitable for fit and experienced hikers. We walk at a good pace and you can expect to be out for 6-8 hours a day. You will not always be on a path and the terrain underfoot can often be rough and boggy, including boulder fields and mountain tops, you will need to be confident hiking on uneven ground. Some of the daily walks will involve a mountain ascent of over 3000ft / 900m high. Daily distances will be typically up to 16km but may be longer occasionally. Daily hike details are available in the itinerary. The weather in Scotland can be unpredictable and at times can make activities more challenging. Please do bear this in mind when thinking about what trip to join. If our guides feel that you are not able to complete a scheduled hike they may ask you not to join in that day. If you have any questions about the grading, then please do give our Adventure Consultants a call to chat through your experience and suitability for this trip. It is your responsibility to ensure you are appropriately fit and capable of doing the described hikes in the expected times. Please refer to the grading section on our website for more details. If you are unsure we encourage you to speak to us first.

8 Accommodation and Meals On this trip we use two luxury Highland hotels - spending 3 nights in Highland Perthshire and then 3 nights in Glencoe. In Perthshire, we stay in a 10-bedroom hotel with a renowned restaurant. The hotel is a historic and charming building, which has been lovingly refurbished to create a stylish yet traditional country house feel. In Glencoe, we stay in a magnificent country house. Each of its 9 suites offer very spacious rooms with expansive views of the mountains or sea. With a fabulous location in Glencoe and warm hospitality, it s one of our favourite places to stay in Scotland. On this trip we generally eat dinner as a group however if you would like to make alternative arrangements you are free to do so. Your guide will have an evening off during this trip where they do not eat with the group. They will recommend options for dinner that evening and will help you make any necessary reservations. Single Rooms There is no supplement charged to solo travellers, however you will be required to share a room with another person of the same sex. If you request a double room for single occupancy, a supplement of 1,125 is charged. Due to the nature of the accommodations we use, single supplements are limited and are allocated on a first come first served basis.

9 Inclusions All Inclusive This trip includes the following: 6 nights accommodation in luxury small hotels All meals during the trip, from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on Day 7 (Meals included indicated as B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner) The services of an experienced and knowledgeable guide / driver throughout All transport throughout the trip starting and finishing in Perth Privately chartered RIB / zodiac excursion Guided whisky tasting session at the hotel Storyteller at Glencoe Our All Inclusive trips include all accommodation, meals, guiding and travel during the trip. We do not include drinks or any gratuities you may choose to leave.

10 Our holidays reviewed in your words The trip exceeded my expectations on every level. This was my first time traveling with Wilderness Scotland and I was a bit wary. Everything about our trip was first class. It was the most enjoyable vacation I have had in several years. Robert Reicher All Trip Reviews Here

11 Your Guide During this trip you will be accompanied and led by one of our professional guides. Our guides are among the most highly experienced and qualified in the country. Defined by their passion for Scotland s wild places, they have an intimate knowledge of the natural and social history of this land which they will be delighted to share with you. For more info and to meet the team please see our Guide Pages. Sustainable Travel Wilderness Scotland is committed to the principles of ecotourism. We work very hard to ensure our engagements with local communities, wild lands and wildlife are positive. We are a proud partner of the Leave No Trace Centre for Outdoor Ethics, which enhances our commitment to responsible activity in Scotland s wild lands, as enshrined in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC). We are also proud to be a John Muir Trust Peak Partner. Thanks in part to the generosity of our clients though our Conservation Contribution scheme the John Muir Trust can rely on our investment to go towards conservation projects that have a deep connection to Wilderness Scotland and the areas we adventure in. You can learn more about the work we re doing with the John Muir Trust and the other ways we care for the wild places we love here.

12 Equipment List Check out our guide on what to wear when adventuring in Scotland. wildernessscotland.com/blog/hiking-in-scotland-what-to-wear Eat Stay See Looking for accommodation for before or after your adventure with us? Check out our list of where to stay and what to do Eat Stay See Perth.pdf General Info Scotland From food and drink to the Loch Ness Monster, our General Info for Scotland guide has got you covered for all your need to know facts. General-Info-Scotland.pdf

13 Travel Insurance It is your responsibility to take out appropriate travel insurance to cover you during your trip. This should include cover for cancellation prior to the trip, the activities undertaken (i.e hiking), curtailment, and adequate medical insurance for sickness/ injury and medical repatriation. We also strongly recommend you have cover for your other travel arrangements such as flights, and your personal possessions. We suggest you do your own research to find the best insurance cover for you however the follow companies offer suitable policies. Campbell Irvine Direct campbellirvinedirect.com Journeyman Insurance Services journeyman-services.com/travelinsurance If you cancel your holiday charges will apply. Please see section 2 of our terms and conditions for a breakdown: wildernessscotland.com/make-a-booking/booking-conditions Travel With Confidence You can book with us in complete confidence that all trip payments made to us are fully protected. Wilderness Scotland Ltd is a licensed and bonded tour operator. Your financial security is guaranteed through our membership and bonding with ABTA.

14 FAQs Looking for more information? Check out our frequently asked questions page. wildernessscotland.com/faq Questions to Ask? Ready to Book? If you want to get in touch please send us an or give us a call. We accept bookings online, by , or over the phone. A deposit of 25% is required at the time of booking to secure the trip with the balance payable 8 weeks (56 days) before departure. If booking less than 56 days before the trip start date, full payment of the trip price is required immediately. We accept payment by credit or debit card, or bank transfer. info@wildernessscotland.com Tel (UK and Europe): +44(0) Tel (US and Canada): View Trip Dates Book Now