Wilderness Walking. View Trip Dates Book Now. The Isle of Skye. Trip Grade: Green 3

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1 Wilderness Walking The Isle of Skye View Trip Dates Book Now Trip Grade: Green 3

2 The Isle of Skye The Isle of Skye is a destination full of romance, legend and history. Its spectacular and varied landscapes also offer some of the best hiking in Scotland. On this trip, you will explore Skye on a series of hikes from gentle bays to wave-ravaged peninsulas, elegant glens and tortured rock formations. Skye delights and surprises at every turn. Eilean a' Cheò - the island of mist - is a place which draws hikers back time and time again for its special blend of wild landscapes, beautiful light and rich culture. Highlights Explore the spectacular Isle of Skye through a number of beautiful hikes, taking in the rich scenery and fascinating history of the island. Take a boat trip into the heart of the Cuillin mountains for one of the best hikes in Scotland. Enjoy exceptional Highland hospitality at our carefully selected hotels, set in beautiful waterside locations. 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 Inverness to the Isle of Skye Day 2 Hiking the Trotternish Peninsula Day 3 Waternish Point Day 4 Exploring Raasay Day 5 Wild Loch Coruisk and the Cuillin Mountains Day 6 The Clearance Villages Day 7 Glenelg and Return to Inverness Arrival Info Your Guide will meet you at the centre of Inverness Railway Station by the fixed seating area 10.30am on Day 1 of your trip Departure Info You will be returned to Inverness 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 Inverness to the Isle of Skye Leaving Inverness, we make our way west via Loch Ness and the spectacular mountains of Kintail before arriving on Skye. Here we can enjoy a short hike around Portree Bay and have time to explore this quirky little town before heading to our accommodation to settle in and enjoy our welcome dinner. (L, D) Walk details: 4km/ 2 miles approx. 2 hrs Day 2 Hiking the Trotternish Peninsula After enjoying breakfast, we drive up a steep road which takes us to The Quiraing. We enjoy a fantastic hike here through the stark and unusual rock formations and landscapes, all the time admiring sweeping views across the Sound of Raasay to Torridon and Wester Ross. Afterwards, we can explore the very north of the Trotternish Peninsula, or perhaps visit Kilt Rock and the charming village of Staffin on this relaxing day. (B, L) Walk details: 8km/ 5 miles approx. 4 hrs Day 3 Waternish Point We transfer west - circling the bay that lies in front of our hotel. Our hike today will take us to a quiet corner of the island that deserves more attention! Starting from a ruined church, we will hike out to a remote headland. On the way we pass the ancient ruins of one of the best preserved brochs on Skye. From the headland we enjoy wonderful sea views before returning along the same route. (B, L) Walk details: 13km/ 8 miles approx. 5 hrs

5 Day 4 Exploring Raasay Today we will be transferring to our second hotel in the south of Skye, but first we have another island to explore! From Sconser we board the small ferry to the Isle of Raasay where we will walk today. Raasay is an often overlooked gem, and much quieter than Skye. There are a couple of excellent hikes that we can choose from, starting from the ferry and hiking up to 10km. Raasay has a fascinating history all of its own to enjoy before we head back to Skye. (B, L) Walk details: 10km/ 6 miles approx. 5hrs Day 5 Wild Loch Coruisk and the Cuillin Mountains The wild and jagged peaks of the Black Cuillin are a real highlight of a visit to Skye. While the summits are accessible only through challenging scrambles, their beauty is easy to appreciate from more forgiving glens. We take a boat trip to the remote southern edge of the Cuillin. After being dropped off in this lonely and wild spot, we circumnavigate Loch Coruisk, perhaps Scotland s most dramatic loch, with sharp summits rising straight from the shoreline. A memorable and spectacular hike. (B, L) Walk details: 7km/ 4 miles approx. 4hrs

6 Day 6 The Clearance Villages While the landscapes of the Highlands have always been wild, many remote glens and bays had small populations until fairly recent times. The Highland Clearances a dark blotch on Scotland s history hastened the demise of many small communities. On this coastal circuit, we ll pass through the sites of two villages which were abandoned during the Clearances. The peaceful landscape of today contrasts with the harsh emotions felt at the time of the evictions. This walk is slightly longer than others on this trip, but worth that bit of extra effort! (B, L, D) Walk details: 13km/ 8 miles approx. 6hrs Day 7 Glenelg and Return to Inverness Leaving our accommodation, we depart Skye via the unique community-owned turntable ferry. Arriving in Glenelg, a remote village on the mainland, we hike down to the coast to see the site of the house where the famous author Gavin Maxwell lived when he wrote Ring of Bright Water. We visit the well-preserved Brochs Iron Age dwellings in Glenelg before making our way east via the spectacular Mam Ratagan Pass back to Inverness. (B, L) Walk details: 3km/ 2 miles approx. 2 hrs

7 Trip Grading Green 3 Green graded walking holidays are suitable for for active travellers who are reasonably fit and enjoy moderate hikes. We walk at a comfortable pace and you can expect to be out for 5-6 hours a day. The terrain will be mostly good paths and hill trails but these can still be muddy and rough in places. Some hikes may involve an ascent up to a max of approx 1,500 feet / 450m. Distances will be typically 8-10km but there may be the odd slightly longer day. 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 This itinerary is based in two different locations throughout the course of the week. We spend 3 nights in north Skye and then the next 3 in the south of the island. The first is an owner-managed 3-star hotel which benefits from fantastic views across Uig Bay. Our accommodation in Southern Skye is a 3-star, 2 rosette privately owned hotel with spectacular views over the Sound of Sleat to the Knoydart Peninsula. Each accommodation offers double and twin rooms, most with en-suite facilities. Throughout the journey, varied local produce will be served up in hearty and imaginative meals. Seafood is a speciality with beef, lamb and venison also popular and of course, any special dietary requirements can be catered for. 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 495 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 This trip includes the following: 6 nights accommodation in carefully selected guest houses and hotels Most meals during the trip (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 Inverness All private boat and ferry transfers

10 Our holidays reviewed in your words If you want to see the real Isle of Skye, this is the trip! Also happy to join another holiday with Wilderness Scotland. You guys know what you are doing! Good job and congratulations! Alida Cheung 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 Inverness.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