Scotland - Island Hopping in Scotland Walking Tour 2019 Individual Self-Guided 8 days / 7 nights This hiking vacation takes you through the Isles of Arran, and Islay. One of Scotland s greatest scenic assets are its famous Western Isles. Often very remote, often a haven for wildlife and bird life, often very little explored by the tourist due to the lack of accommodation, limits the numbers of people who can visit. Our tour starts off on the Isle of Arran just off the west coast of Scotland and easily reached from Glasgow s airports by train. Arran is known as Scotland in Miniature; this is so because the scenery has all that the whole of Scotland is famous for, dramatic coastlines of the west coast of Scotland, mountains and glens and rolling pastures to the south, mountains (as high as 950 m). After three days on Arran we have a day transferring by island hopping over to the Isle of Islay. Islay is a whisky lover s paradise. The clean waters and air have made it a classic location for many famous malts. Such names as Oban, Isle of Jura, Bunnahahain, Bruichladdich, Laphroaic, Ardbeg, Bowmore to name but a few. Our last day is a fabulous day walking on Islay.
Itinerary Day to Day Day 1: Arrival Brodick Isle of Arran Arrival into Glasgow at Glasgow Prestwick airport where you can take the train to Ardrossan. Here you take the ferry to Arran. Ferries cross several times a day to Arran and the trip lasts around 1 hour. Day 2: Goat fell circular walk Brodick - Sannox 16 km + 840 m - 840 m (option of a low level walk from Brodick - Sannox 11.8 km +150 m) Today your walk takes you past Brodick Castle and up the valley to the top of Goat Fell, Arran s highest peak at 874 m. Then you descend down the neighbouring glen to Sannox. Take a coffee in a local hotel before your short bus ride back to Brodick. Day 3: Sannox to Lochranza 13km + 260 m A short transfer by public bus to Sannox. Today s walk takes you along the rugged coastline from Sannox to Lochranza, mostly right on the seas edge. Lochranza is a remote hamlet of a few houses and a tiny ferry port where you catch the ferry to the mainland. Lochranza is very often the setting for a fabulous photo shot which is very typical Scottish. Lochranza also has its own whisky distillery. On today s walk you can look for seals, porpoises and whales off shore. Transfer back by bus to Brodick. Day 4: Lamlash/Whiting Bay to Brodick 10 km + 150 m Whiting Bay 18.4 km + 150 m Start with a short transfer to Lamlash or Whiting Bay which is south of Brodick. If you start in Whiting bay you first set off around Kingscross point where there is an ancient cairn. You then follow the coastline around to Lamlash. If there is a high tide there is an inland route option. Once in Lamlash take the optional ferry to Holy Island, the home of a Buddhist Monks Monastery/Retreat. The walk follows the coastline north back to Brodick through rolling coastlines. Day 5: transfer to Islay Port Askaig/Ballygrant Today you take the public bus with your luggage to Lochranza, across on the ferry to the Kintyre peninsula. Then a short bus transfer of 8 km to the other side of the peninsula before taking the ferry to Port Askaig on Islay. Once in Port Askaig, if you are booked into accommodation in Ballygrant then you shall take the public bus the short 5 km journey to your accommodation.
Day 6 and 7: Islay circular walks Now on Islay, you will notice the influence of Gaelic many landmarks of the Gaelic nature and some words become almost impossible to pronounce. You have today a choice between three walks. There is none or limited public bus services on Sundays Option 1: 21 km + 100 m One option today takes you north to Bunnahabhain and past the distillery before heading inland in a circular fashion to Ballygrant. From Ballygrant we take an east route back toward Port Askaig via the little Loch Ballygrant. Option 2: 7 km Our second option is a shorter walk. First a short transfer by public bus to Bridgend where the walk starts. The walk explores Bridgend woods near to Islay House. A pretty flat walk around a pretty lake before following a narrow footpath from the woods. On route you will have a chance to visit a working woolen mill (if open). Return to Ballygrant/Port Askaig by public bus. Option 3: 13 km + 150 m Our third option is on the other side of Islay but if you have any interest in Scottish whisky then it is well worth the journey across the island for the walk. Today first a journey by public bus to Port Ellen. Here your 3 distilleries walk starts along a tarmac path, you shall pass the distilleries, Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg. You return back on the same path but as Port Ellen comes back into view you can turn off slightly uphill and do a small detour walk to visit there separate standing stones monuments. Return back to Ballygrant/Port Askaig by public bus Option 4: 14 km + 30 m The forth option starts and finishes in Bowmore, the Islands main town and takes in Laggan Point. First today you take the public bus to Bowmore. Bowmore has a whisky distillery which is well worth a visit. After the visit take the walk mainly along tracks and some pathless grassy sections to Laggan point. Many chances to view bird life and sea life on this walk. Some chances for a detour to a nice sandy beach. Day 8: Departure Your Scotland island hopping holiday is now finished, a taxi will pick you up at 8:15 am to take you to Port Ellen for the 9:45 am ferry to Kennacraig where you can take a coach back to Glasgow. The earliest you can reach Glasgow is around 3:00 p.m.
Route Technical Characteristics: Route Profile: Moderate. Easy day walks are interspersed with more strenuous sections. Walks are generally four to five hours walking per day (excluding breaks) in hilly to mountainous areas using well-kept but sometimes stony paths. Distance: 65 km Travel Season: Departures daily between April 1 and October 30, 2019 (except on Sundays)
Price per Person: in UK Pounds Basic price double occupancy 629.00 Single Occupancy On request Accommodation upgrade to 5* on Islay Double Occupancy (not available for single rooms) 100.00 Extra Nights Glasgow On request Accommodation: Standard 3 star Hotels/Guest houses or upgrade to 5 star accommodation on Islay. Included: 7 nights bed and breakfast Information Pack Taxi on Day 8 to Port Ellen Docks Photographic route book and Maps GPS files on request Not Included: Cost before and after tour Public transport Ferry costs (around 40) Bus cost ((around 20) Hotel upgrade on Islay Travel insurance Assisting people in realizing their touring dreams worldwide is our passion. www.okcycletours.com THIS IS A PARTNER TOUR FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT OK Cycle & Adventure Tours Inc. 666 Kirkwood Ave - Suite B102 Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1Z 5X9 Toll Free 1-888-621-6818 Local 613-702-5350 TICO Ontario Registration No: 50022848