HIGHLANDS & ISLANDS OF SCOTLAND

From Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh

ITINERARY

DAY 1 Transfer by coach 1500 from Inverness railway station to Muirtown Locks and embark Lord of the Glens. Reception and introductory talk: Neolithic Scotland. Moor overnight at Inverness.

DAY 2 By coach to 14th century Cawdor Castle, Culloden Moor (Bonnie Prince Charlie battlefield), Clava Cairns (Bronze Age burial chambers), Inverness. Afternoon: sail along Caledonian Canal into Loch Dochfour and Loch Ness with visit to Urquhart Castle (superb views). Evening lecture: Jacobites. Moor overnight at Fort Augustus at southern tip of Loch Ness.

DAY 3 Morning: historic Fort Augustus (Caledonian Canal Heritage Centre, Benedictine abbey). Afternoon: sail through beautiful Loch Oich and tree-lined Laggan Avenue to Laggan (country walk, unique floating pub, Kytra Locks). Moor overnight near Laggan Locks.

DAY 4 Sail into Loch Lochy as far as Gairlochy with walk along canal towpath. Afternoon: re-embark at Banavie (in shadow of Ben Nevis) followed by excursion to beautiful Glencoe (site of MacDonald massacre). Moor overnight at Banavie.

DAY 5 Sail through Neptune's Staircase (series of inter-connected locks) to Corpach (local geology and mineralogy museum) and through Loch Linnhe. Afternoon in Oban: local whisky distillery, McCaig's Tower (Colosseum-like folly). Moor overnight at Oban.

DAY 6 Sail across Loch Linnhe to Craignure on Isle of Mull (famous for sea-eagles) for visit to 13th century Duart Castle (ancestral home of Clan Maclean) then cruise up Sound of Mull to Tobermory (fishing port with brightly painted houses). Afternoon free. Evening lecture: Celtic Christianity. Moor at Tobermory for two nights.

DAY 7 Whole-day excursion by coach and ferry to Isle of Iona: 12th century abbey, burial ground of early Scottish kings, cloisters, site of St Columba's writing cell, mediaeval carved stones and crosses, museum followed by Torosay Castle (Victorian mansion and ornamental gardens).

DAY 8 Morning free in Tobermory. Afternoon: sail to Hebridean Isle of Eigg (Atlantic seals, minke whales, common and bottlenose dolphins, porpoises, seabirds). Evening lecture: History of Skye and Lords of Isles. Moor overnight at Eigg.

DAY 9 Sail into Sound of Sleat and to Isle of Skye for Armadale (castle ruins, Clan Donald Centre set in 40 acres of picturesque woodland) then sail to remote community of Inverie (including the Old Forge, Britain's remotest pub). Evening lecture: Highland Clearances. Moor overnight at Inverie.

DAY 10 Morning: walk around Inverie then sail into Sound of Sleat to villages of Kylerhea and Kyle of Lochalsh. Afternoon: scenic drive to Inverewe Garden (famed for its exotic plants). Evening: captain's farewell reception and dinner. Moor overnight at Kyle of Lochalsh.

DAY 11 Disembark and transfer to Inverness railway station, arriving 1600.