THE HIGHLANDS, ISLE OF SKYE & EDINBURGH

Discover the romantic highlands of Scotland, mystical Isle of Skye and majesty of Edinburgh on

this walking and discovery self drive tour of Scotland. Deep brooding lochs, jagged peaks,

imposing castles and fresh caught seafood are just a few of the delights you can look forward to.

Arriving in either Edinburgh or Glasgow your trip begins with a night in Glasgow, the cultural heart of

Scotland. You then head north into the rugged beauty of the Scottish Highlands, enjoying a walk through

murderous Glencoe before you reach your luxury loch side guest house in Dornie. Eilean Donan Castle,

Plockton and the Falls of Glomach are highlights of the next couple of days.

The Skye Bridge delivers you onto the magical Isle of Skye, the jewel of the Scottish Isles. Dramatic

landscapes drenched in history combined with castles and colourful harbour side villages make Skye a

very special place and a walkers paradise.

After two nights on Skye you catch the ferry back to Mallaig on the mainland and then follow the Road to

the Isles past Glenfinnan Monument to Fort William, which lies at the base of Ben Nevis. Two nights in

Fort William gives you plenty of time to enjoy the walking that this region is so famous for before you travel

to Edinburgh for your final night.

Your trip includes 8 nights hand picked accommodation in 3 and 4 star family run B&B’s guest houses and

small hotels, a detailed information pack with walking routes, detailed maps and local information, the ferry

from Armadale to Mallaig and emergency support.

Walking around Loch Coruisk in the heart of the Black Cuillins.

The majestic Falls of Glomach in the remote North West Highlands

The colourful harbour side villages of Plockton and Portree

The brooding Quiraing and Storr on the Trotternish Peninsula

Exploring romantic Eilean Donan Castle

Wandering the cobbled streets of Edinburgh

WHY MACS ADVENTURE?

Macs Adventure is a small, energetic company dedicated to delivering adventure excellence. We are

passionate about delivering outstanding walking holidays where every last detail is taken care of. Each

holiday we offer is unique, tailor made to meet your requirements. From your first contact with Macs

Adventure you will deal with a local specialist who knows the region intimately.

Self guided walking holidays are a wonderful relaxed way to discover the magic Scotland and the Isle of

Skye. Free to travel at your own pace and wander off the beaten track you will discover the beauty of the

landscape, the warmth of the people and the long history of this spectacular land. We will supply you with

comprehensive route notes, a clear map and a pre-departure information pack to guide you every step of

the way so there is no need for a guide. require So, from the moment you decide to visit Scotland and the

Isle of Skye you can relax and look forward to an unforgettable self-guided walking holiday.

THE HIGHLANDS, ISLE OF SKYE &EDINBURGH

WALKING & DISCOVERY IN SCOTLAND

SUMMARY

WHAT’S INCLUDED?

Accommodation: 8 Nights hand-picked 3/4*

B&B’s, small hotels, country inns and guest-

houses.

Meals: 8 Breakfasts included. Lunch and din-

ner not included but always available at ac-

commodation or nearby.

Travel: Ferry from Armadale to Mallaig

Information Pack: Detailed information pack

and route notes as well as emergency support.

IS IT FOR ME?

Great walking, castles, lochs, whisky,

Edinburgh and so much more. This is

the trip for you if you want to discover

the best of Scotland and enjoy some

fabulous walking on the way.

Tour: The Highlands, Isle of Skye & Edin-

burgh

Code: WSSHSE

Type: Self-Guided Walking & Discovery

Price: See Website

Single Supplement: See Website

Dates: April to October

Walking Days: 6

Duration: 9 Days & 8 Nights

Start: Glasgow

Finish: Edinburgh

Grade: Easy to Moderate

HIGHLIGHTS

Code: WSSHSEWalking Days: 6Duration: 9 Days & 8 Nights

DAY 1

Arrive Edinburgh/Glasgow

Arrive at either Edinburgh or Glasgow airport

where you will collect your hire car and drive to

your hotel in Glasgow.

Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland, has a

vibrant cultural life, wonderful Victorian buildings

and several great museums such as the

Kelvingrove and Transport Museums.

Overnight: Glasgow 3* Hotel

DAY 2

Travel to Dornie

Leaving Glasgow you are soon immersed in the

mountains and lochs of the Western Highlands

and will pass Loch Lomond, Glencoe and Ben

Nevis on your drive to Dornie (5h). En route you

can enjoy a walk in dramatic Glencoe.

Walk: 4km, 335m, 2 - 3 hours

Overnight: Balmacara Mains Guest House****,

Dornie

Ideally located on the shores of Loch Alsh you

can wake up to the sounds of the sea. Offering

luxurious rooms, a lounge with open fire and a

superb breakfast Balmacara Mains is a great

base just 10 minutes from Dornie and Plockton.

DAY 3

Falls of Glomach Walk

Although not the highest in Britain the Falls of

Glomach are certainly the most dramatic

plunging 113m in a single leap. A good path

leads you through remote highland glens to the

dramatic falls before you return by the same

route.

You must also make time to visit the romantic

Eilean Donan Castle, probably Scotland’s most

famous.

Walk: 17.5 km, 790m ascent/descent, 5 - 6

hours.

Overnight: Balmacara Mains Guest House****,

Dornie

DAY 4

Walking in the Heart of Skye

Leaving the mainland via the Skye Bridge you

reach the magical Misty Isle of Skye. An island of

mists, myths and legends with the most

extraordinary landscape.

You have a choice of two walks today. The

ruined coastal villages of Suisnish and Boreraig

are a reminder of the Clearances, when highland

crofters were forcibly evicted. This delightful walk

along a remote coast is a reminder of the islands

troubled history.

Alternatively you can take a boat (not included)

from Elgol to Loch Coruisk, right in the heart of

the jagged black Cuillins. Loch Coruisk is surely

the most dramatic of all Scotand’s freshwater

lochs, surrounded on all sides by the jagged dark

peaks of the Cuillins. On the return boat journey

you should sea birds, eagles, seals and perhaps

even otters or whales.

Ruined villages walk: 16.5km, 350m ascent/

descent, 5 - 7 hours

Loch Coruisk walk: 7 km, 122m ascent/

descent, 3 - 4 hours

Overnight: Ben Tianavaig B&B, Portree (or

alternative B&B, guesthouse or small hotel)

The coloured houses of Portree reflect in the still

waters of the natural harbour which are the

reason Portree is the largest town on Skye.

Perhaps enjoy a harbourside meal of fresh

caught langoustines and locally grown salmon

before enjoying a traditional folk music ceilidh in

one of the local pubs.

DAY 5

Trotternish & the Quiraing

Stretching north from Portree the Trotternish

Peninsula is an atmospheric land of dark

brooding cliffs, bizarre rock formations,

impossibly green pastures and views that go on

forever.

Again you can choose one of two walks. Either

walk from Portree along the coast (keep your

eyes peeled for the resident sea eagles) to the

Storr. This needle of rock is one of the most

dramatic formations on the Trotternish ridge and

affords wonderful views over the island filled sea.

Return to Portree by bus.

Alternatively drive a little further north to the

Quiraing with its wonderfully named features

such as the prison, needle and table. A circular

walk explores the best of this wonderful area and

again rewards with the most wonderful views.

Why not take the long way home via Talisker

Distillery or Dunvegan Castle, the seat of the

Macleods of Skye.

Storr walk: 13km, 510m ascent/descent, 5 hours

Quiraing walk: 10km, 340m ascent/descent, 4 -

5 hours

Overnight: Ben Tianavaig B&B, Portree (or

alternative B&B, guesthouse or small hotel)

Day Route KM

1

23456789

Arrive Edinburgh/GlasgowTravel to DornieFalls of Glomach walkSkye walkingSkye walkingRoad to the IslesGlen Nevis (Ben Nevis)EdinburghDeparture

0

4187/1610/131113/160

DETAILED ITINERARY

THE HIGHLANDS, ISLE OF SKYE &EDINBURGH

WALKING & DISCOVERY IN SCOTLAND

DAY 6

The Road to the Isles

Leaving Portree you head south to yet another,

and completely different part of the Isle of Skye,

the green Sleat Peninsula. In Armadale you can

enjoy a walk through the beautiful gardens of the

ruined Armadale Castle and visit the Clan Donald

museum before you catch the ferry (included, 1

hour) to Mallaig on the mainland.

From the busy fishing port of Mallaig you follow

the Road to the Isles south along the white sandy

beaches of the Sound of Arisaig and then east

towards Fort William.

Your walk today is to the deserted village of

Peanmeanach, which sits on a sandy beach on

an isolated peninsula. You can see where

Bonnie Prince Charlie landed during the Jacobite

rebellion and enjoy panoramic views of the blue

waters of the Sound of Arisaig.

Continuing on to Fort William you can visit the

Glenfinnan Monument at the head of Loch Sheil,

which was built to mark the spot where Bonnie

Prince Charlie raised his standard at the start of

the 1745 Jacobite rebellion.

Walk: 11km, 386m, 3 - 4 hours

Overnight: Guisachan House or Myrtyle Bank

Guest House, Fort William

Fort William, is strategically located at the head

of Loch Linnhe and at the base of Ben Nevis,

Britain’s highest mountain.

DAY 7

Glen Nevis (or Ben Nevis)

Today you will enjoy one of Scotland’s finest

walks. Just outside Fort William the steep sided

valley walls narrow to a steep gorge which cuts a

narrow path to an isolated valley under the

towering Ben Nevis. At the head of this green

and tranquil glen the white curtains of Steall Falls

plunge relentlessly down. This really is one of

Scotland’s most precious places.

Alternatively you may want to walk to the summit

of Ben Nevis, which at 1344m is Scotland’s

highest mountain. It is not a challenge to be

underestimated but on a good day the views are

endless.

Glen Nevis Walk: 13km, 200m ascent/descent,

4-5 hours

Ben Nevis Walk: 16km, 1344 ascent/descent, 7

– 9 hours

Overnight: Guisachan House or Myrtyle Bank

Guest House, Fort William

DAY 8

Edinburgh

Your route takes you south past the mountains,

lochs and rivers of the highlands to the beautiful

UNESCO World Heritage City of Edinburgh.

One of the world’s most romantic cities you can

look forward to exploring the Royal Mile,

Edinburgh Castle and perhaps even the city’s

catacombs on a ghost tour.

Overnight: Auld Reekie Guest House, Violet

Bank Guest House, Rowan Guest House or

similar

DAY 9

Departure

Accommodation

This tour includes 8 nights in family run B&B’s,

guesthouses and small hotels of 3 or 4 standard.

We hand pick each one of our hotels so that you

enjoy every minute of your stay. All offer a warm

welcome to walkers, traditional hospitality and

delicious local food.

Solo Walkers & Single Rooms

This trip is available to solo walkers. Single

rooms are available, subject to availability and a

supplement applies.

Accommodation Location

We will always try and accommodate you at the

accommodation detailed in the itinerary, but

because of limited availability we may have to

accommodate you at an alternative location of

the same or better standard.

Additional Nights

We can book you additional nights before, during

or after your tour and would especially

recommend adding extra nights in Portree and

Edinburgh.

Meals

Breakfast is included each morning. Lunch and

dinner are not included so you are free to choose

from the available options. Most of your

accommodations will more than happy to provide

a packed lunch on request and this can be

booked on arrival. Alternatively you can pick up a

picnic from a local shop. Dinner is available at

your accommodation or nearby pubs and

restaurants.

Grade & Terrain

This route is graded easy to moderate. Daily

walks are between 3 and 7 hours and you have

a choice of easier and harder walks on most

days so you can do as much or as little as you

please.

Most of the walks follow good footpaths or tracks

but occasionally the paths in more remote areas

can be very boggy and indistinct. You should

have sturdy waterproof footwear.

Navigation

We supply detailed route notes, maps and a

comprehensive information pack so you should

have no problem following the walking routes

although you should be happy reading maps and

using a compass.

HOLIDAY INFORMATION

THE HIGHLANDS, ISLE OF SKYE &EDINBURGH

WALKING & DISCOVERY IN SCOTLAND

Rental Car

You will need a car for this trip and we would be

happy to book a rental car for you if you require

this.

Equipment

Your information pack has a detailed equipment

list which includes standard walking gear such as

good walking boots or shoes, warm and

waterproof clothes and a day pack.

Dogs

This trip is suitable for dogs but the

accommodation might vary and there is a small

additional charge.

Getting to/from Edinburgh/Glasgow

Edinburgh, Glasgow and Glasgow Prestwick are

the most convenient airports and are served by

airlines from throughout Europe.

Travel Insurance

It is a condition of booking with us that you have

suitable travel insurance to cover you for

cancellation, curtailment, illness or injury.

Availability

This walking holiday is best enjoyed between

early April and the end of October. You can start

on any date that suits your travel plans and you

will find up to date availability on our website.

Both the Isle of Skye and Edinburgh are very

popular so it is best to book as far in advance as

possible.

Price

Up to date prices are available on our website

Included

8 Nights hand picked accommodation in 3/4*B&B’s, guesthouses and small hotels.

A detailed information pack, route notes andmaps for all the walks as well as a map ofScotland.

Ferry from Armadale to Mallaig for you andyour car.

Emergency telephone support from our officein the event of a problem.

Excluded

Travel to/from Glasgow/Edinburgh

Lunches, dinners, snacks and drinks.

Travel Insurance.

Personal Equipment.

Optional boat trip to Loch Coruisk.

Entrance and admission fees.

When you are ready you can book securely

online at www.macsadventure.com or by

telephone on +44 (0) 141 530 8886

Please don’t hesitate to contact us by phone on

+44 (0) 0141 530 8886 or email:

info@macsadventure.com if you have any

queries and one of our expert customer service

team will be happy to help.

Financial SecurityIn accordance with "The Package Travel,

Package Holidays and Package Tours

Regulations1992" all passengers booking with

Macs Adventure Ltd are fully protected for the

initial deposit and subsequently the balance of all

monies paid to us, including repatriation if

required (this insurance will not cover repatriation

to the country of origin for the passengers

outside of the EU), arising from cancellation or

curtailment of your travel arrangements due to

the insolvency of Macs Adventure Ltd

ABTA Member Statement

Macs Adventure Holidays

is a Member of ABTA.

ABTA Members help

holidaymakers to get the most from their travel

and assist when things don’t go according to

plan. We are obliged to maintain a high standard

of service to you by ABTA’s Code of Conduct.

For more information on ABTA, the Code of

Conduct and the arbitration scheme available to

you if you have a complaint, contact ABTA, 30

Park Street, London SE1 9EQ, tel 020 3117

0581 www.abta.comPRICE & AVAILABILITY

TRAVEL INFORMATION

THE HIGHLANDS, ISLE OF SKYE &EDINBURGH

WALKING & DISCOVERY IN SCOTLAND

HOW TO BOOK

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