HIGHLANDS & ISLANDS OF SCOTLAND – 11 Days

From Kyle of Lochalsh to Inverness

ITINERARY

DAY 1 Transfer by coach 1400 from Inverness airport (1430 from Inverness railway station) for Kyle of Lochalsh and embark Lord of the Glens. Captain’s welcome reception. Moor overnight at Kyle of Lochalsh.

DAY 2 Morning: scenic drive to Inverewe Garden (famed for its exotic plants). Afternoon: sail into Sound of Sleat to Inverie (including Old Forge, Britain’s remotest pub). Evening lecture: Highland Clearances. Moor overnight at Inverie.

DAY 3 Sail across Sound of Sleat and on to Skye for Armadale (castle ruins, Clan Donald Centre set in 40 acres of picturesque woodland) then cruise to Hebridean Isle of Rum (Atlantic seals, minke whales, common and bottlenose dolphins, porpoises, seabirds) with visit to Kinloch Castle. Evening lecture: Island Wildlife. Moor overnight at Rum.

DAY 4 Sail around Andnamuchau Point and cruise down Sound of Mull to Tobermory (fishing port with brightly painted houses) for optional visit to RSPB white-tailed eagle viewing site. Evening lecture: Celtic Christianity. Moor overnight at Tobermory.

DAY 5 Sail to Craignure on Isle of Mull (famous for otters and sea-eagles) for 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). Moor overnight at Craignure.

DAY 6 Duart Castle (13th century ancestral home of Clan Maclean) and Torosay Castle (Victorian mansion and ornamental gardens). Sail across Loch Linnhe to Loch Creran. Overnight at Barcaldine.

DAY 7 Sail to Corpach (local geology and mineralogy museum) then through Neptune’s Staircase (series of inter-connected locks) to Banavie in shadow of Ben Nevis. Evening lecture: Jacobites. Overnight at Banavie.

DAY 8 Excursion to beautiful Glencoe (site of MacDonald massacre). Afternoon: sail into Loch Lochy as far as Gairlochy with walk along canal towpath. Then cruise to Laggan. Evening lecture: Scotland’s Unique Wildlife. Moor overnight near Laggan Locks.

DAY 9 Laggan (country walk, Kytra Locks). Then sail through tree-lined Laggan Avenue and beautiful Loch Oich to historic Fort Augustus (Caledonian Canal Heritage Centre). Evening lecture: Neolithic Scotland. Moor overnight at Fort Augustus at southern tip of Loch Ness

DAY 10 Sail into Loch Ness past Urquhart Castle (superb views). Continue through Loch Dochfour to Inverness. Excursion to 14th century Cawdor Castle, Culloden Moor (Bonnie Prince Charlie battlefield), Clava Cairns (Bronze Age burial chambers). Evening: captain’s farewell reception and dinner. Moor overnight at Inverness.

DAY 11 Disembark and transfer to Inverness railway station, arriving approximately 1000 and Inverness airport, 1030.