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 Excursion 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). Afternoon: sail through beautiful Loch Oich and tree-lined Laggan Avenue to Laggan (country walk, 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). Evening lecture: Scotland’s Unique Wildlife. 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 otters and sea-eagles) for 13th century Duart Castle (ancestral home of Clan Maclean) and Torosay Castle (Victorian mansion and ornamental gardens). Evening lecture: Celtic Christianity. Moor overnight at Craignure.

DAY 7 Whole-day excursion by coach and ferry to Iona: 12th century abbey, burial ground of early Scottish kings, cloisters, site of St Columba’s writing cell, mediaeval carved stones and crosses (rare corncrakes, eagles) then cruise up Sound of Mull to Tobermory (fishing port with brightly painted houses). Evening lecture: Island Wildlife. Moor overnight at Tobermory.

DAY 8 RSPB white-tailed eagle viewing site then cruise to Hebridean Isle of Rum (Atlantic seals, minke whales, common and bottlenose dolphins, porpoises, seabirds) for visit to Kinloch Castle. Moor overnight at Rum.

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

DAY 10 Morning: 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 approximately 1100.