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Exploring Scotland in Midsummer

Destination: Edinburgh, Central Highlands, and Mull

Midsummer is an amazing time in Scotland: days are very long and wildlife is abundant. On this trip we divide our time between three very different area of Scotland: Edinburgh, Scotland's most charming city; the Central Highlands, specifically the Cairngorms and Loch Ness; and the Atlantic West Coast. We spend the last three days in the charming seaside town of Plockton, visiting the Knoydart Peninsula and the Isle of Skye, spending the final day kayaking along the coast, and listening to traditional Scottish music at least one night. Taken all together our trip will give you a taste of the human and natural history, the exquisite beauty, and the diversity of Scotland. Maximum group size: 13;

Highlights

Seeing the sights that Edinburgh is famous for and having time to explore on your own
Hiking the Cairngorms and Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Parks
Listening to live Scottish music
Hiking on the Isle of Skye and Scotland's West Atlantic Coast
Learning about Scottish history and savoring the excellent Scottish cuisine, especially fresh seafood

Departures and Prices

Inclusions

2 local guides and an AGC guide for more than 8
Nine nights double occupancy accommodation
Minivan transportation within Scotland
All activities on the itinerary
All meals from dinner on June 9 through breakfast on June 18 except for one lunch
Tipping of local day guides

Not included: transportation to Edinburgh, beverages at dinner, guide gratuities, anything not on the itinerary, items of a personal nature

Details

The trip requires some aerobic conditioning, such as walking vigorously up hills, jogging, cross country skiing or stair stepping for 30 - 45 minutes at least 3 - 4 times a week. Additional endurance exercise may be suggested. There are typically 4 to 6 hours of daily activity.

This trip has lots of activity, interspersed with time for sightseeing, and our days can be enjoyed by any active and fit woman in good health who has a good level of physical conditioning, loves being outdoors, and wants to see Scotland. This trip is rated 3, which requires aerobic conditioning such as walking vigorously up hills, jogging, cross country skiing or stair stepping for 30 - 45 minutes 3 - 4 days a week. Rating: 1 2 [3]4 5.

This is primarily a hiking trip, designed to introduce you to the varied Scottish landscape. We have chosen moderate hikes on established paths. We will also be learning about Scottish history and culture.

We spend our nights in non-chain locally owned hotels, inns, and B&Bs. We'll spend the first night at the Parliament House Hotel in Edinburgh, two nights at Crieff Murray Park Hotel Hotel, two nights at The Lovat Hotel and three nights at the Haven Guesthousein Plockton. We will spend the last night in Edinburgh in a hotel that is an easy distance to the airport (Novotel or similar). All of the rooms have ensuite bathrooms.

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Below is the proposed itinerary for the trip. As is true on any adventure travel trip, plans for any specific day may be modified due to weather considerations, unforeseen circumstances, new opportunities, and group interests.

DAY 1

We'll meet in the lobby of our hotel in central Edinburgh at 9AM. Edinburgh is undoubtedly the most popular city in Scotland and you'll quickly understand why. The mix of old and new, the intriguing political history and compelling literary history, the scenic beauty, the current arts scene - all of these combine to make Edinburgh one of the most enjoyable cities you may ever visit. We'll start with a guided tour of the city to help you get oriented: we'll begin with a short climb up Clayton Hill for a spectacular view of the city and the surrounding area. Next, we'll stroll the Royal Mile stopping to admire St Giles Cathedral, Gladstone's Land, the John Knox House, and Dunbar's Garden before crossing over into New Town for a quick taste of what that section of Edinburgh has to offer. You'll then have some free time in the afternoon to have lunch and pursue what interests you. Our guide will have lots of suggestions ranging from museums to taking on the challenge of hiking up Arthur's Seat, the high hill in Holyrood Park at the edge of downtown. Although only 700 ft high, it has surprisingly wild feeling. We'll have an early dinner tonight so that those of you feeling jet lagged can finally get to bed. Overnight Parliament Hotel, Edinburgh D

DAY 2

What a difference a good night's sleep can make! After a hearty Scottish breakfast, you'll be all set for another day of adventure! Edinburgh is a charming city but the Scottish Highlands are calling. We'll leave Edinburgh via 18th century elegant New Town, stopping to admire the amazing 100 year old Forth Bridge and the old harbor town, site of Robert Louis Stevenson's novel "Kidnapped". From there we continue to Stirling and Stirling Castle, Scotland's most significant historic castle and an excellent introduction to Scottish history and geography. After lunch and touring the castle we continue to Loch Katrine, the famous backstage to Walter Scott's ballad "Lady of the Lake" and the first major tourist pull in the Romantic period of the early 19th century. It's located in Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, Scotland's second national park, and the area where the Highlands geologically starts. Beautiful scenery and a lovely one to two hour stroll along the banks is the perfect way to ease into the Highlands. Overnight Crieff Murray Park Hotel. Drive: 3.5 hours, hike: 1- 2 hours B, L, D

DAY 3

This morning we'll travel from Crieff to Kenmore Hills where another fabulous hike awaits. Once arriving at the trailhead, we'll follow a hill path across the moorland through Scot pines and other native trees to a massive cairn near the summit of the hill. The view is pretty spectacular! Loch Tay can be seen, backed by towering summits of the Ben Lawer range as well as the Carn Mairg mountains above Kenmore and the cone of Schiehallion - well worth the walk! After the hike, we'll make our way down to the valley and the Iron Age Crannog - an authentic reproduction of the site of an original crannog. We'll see how the ancient Scots lived and marvel at the ingenious architecture of the crannog. We'll return to the Crieff where perhaps a walk 'up the hill' for the early evening view before dinner may in order. Overnight Crieff Murray Park Hotel. Drive time: 2-3 hours round trip via pretty Killin and Dochart Waterfalls. Hiking time: 2 - 3 hours, 3.3 miles, 720 feet elevation gain. B, L, D. Overnight Crieff Murray Park Hotel

DAY 4

Cairngorms National Park was Scotland's second national park and famous among hikers. Our hike today is a classic, a good path through the regenerating woodland of the National Nature reserve up to a small lake, nestled beneath spectacular cliffs in a spectacular amphitheater called Coire Ardair. Coires, the Scottish name for cirques, are created by ancient glaciation. We'll picnic along the way and then relax at the lake, admiring the magnificent cliffs of Creag Meagaidh before returning to our starting point. After our hike, we'll drive to Fort Augustus with a stop at the Dalwhinnie Whisky distillery tasting room if time allows (really, even if you don't like Scotch, this is Scotland!). We will be staying at the Lovat Hotel in Fort Augustus for the next 2 nights. Overnight: Lovat Hotel. Drive time: 3 hours. Hiking time: 4 hours, 7.5 miles, 1400 feet elevation gain. B, L, D

DAY 5

After enjoying another Scottish breakfast we'll travel by van for a short 30 minute ride to our hike for the day. We'll be hiking a portion of the Meall Fuar-mhonaidh trail - a name that by now will just roll off the tongue! Meall Fuar-mhonaidh may not be well known by name, but it is the most prominent summit around Loch Ness and provides a straightforward hillwalk with good views all along the trail. The number of hours we hike will depend on several factors including weather and interest but the views will be unending regardless of our mileage. Before returning to our vans we'll make a stop at a lovely cafe for a spot of tea to celebrate our hike and then return to the Lovat Hotel. Drive time: 70 mins each way. Hiking time: 4 - 5 hours, 6 miles, 1700 feet elevation gain. B, L, D

DAY 6

We start the day with a spectacular drive over the steep Ratagan Pass, which offers superb views of Knoydart, the neighboring peninsula famous for its wild landscapes. In the gentle hillside of Glen Elg we stop to visit a broch, mysterious ruinous towers left to us by the Pictish people who inhabited Scotland 2000 years ago. Driving a bit further, we arrive in the tiny and romantic village of Corran. Corran must be one of the remotest spots in Britain accessible by car; it is a very beautiful and peaceful spot on the shores of the incongruously named Loch Hourn (the Loch of Hell). Here our path takes us along a beautiful pebble beach, through heather and oak forests, always with magnificent views over to Skye and the lonely valleys of Knoydart and its big mountain, Labhar Bhein. Otters are a common sight on this hike and we'll hope to see them as they play just offshore. This is an out and back hike and we will do as much as both time and energy allow, enjoying scenery, birds, otters and the occasional challenge! Following our hike, we will drive for 30 minutes to the picturesque fishing village Plockton where we'll spend the next 3 nights. There's live Scottish folk music tonight next door at the Plockton Inn (where we'll have dinner) for anyone who's interested. Overnight: The Haven Guest House in Plockton. Driving time: 3 hours. Hiking: 2 - 4 hours, up to 5 miles and 700 feet elevation gain B, L, D

DAY 7

Today we'll head to the Isle of Skye! The beautiful isle of Skye affords us great scenery as well as an opportunity to learn more of Scotland's history. Our hike gives witness to one of the saddest periods in Scottish history: the Highland Clearances, a period of time when landowners forcibly evicted entire villages of tenant farmers and their families who had lived on the land for generations to make way for raising sheep. Today's atmospheric and wild hike takes us to one of these deserted and now ruined villages, located in a stunningly beautiful location with fabulous views of the islands Rum and Eig. The ruins left behind bear witness to a thriving community with some fine examples of dry stone walling. Sitting on the rock plateau at Boreraig, this is a fantastic place to take in the sounds of nature while contemplating the trauma of the people who were forced to move. Overnight: The Haven Guest House in Plockton. Driving time: 3 hours. Hiking: 5 Hours with breaks, 7.5 miles, 700 feet elevation gain. B, L, D

DAY 8

A change of pace is in store for us today as we give our legs a rest and spend the day kayaking. We'll learn or review the basics of sea kayaking and then develop our skills as we go on a guided coastal journey, discovering spectacular scenery and landscapes - no experience is necessary. At the end of the day, Plockton is also a great place to see seals and we'll go on a one hour seal tour. If you prefer not to kayak, this is also a charming place to spend time and you might choose just to have a relaxed day. The Plockton Inn offers live music again tonight. Overnight: The Haven Guest House in Plockton. Driving time: 0 Hiking time: 0 - just kayaking! B, L, D

DAY 9

Unfortunately we'll be returning to Edinburgh today, heading back by way of Glen Coe where we can stop for a short stroll. We'll journey south along the shores of Loch Lomond, trying hard not to sing the famous Scottish ballad "The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond". We then continue on to our final hotel near the Edinburgh airport, where we'll enjoy a final farewell dinner and share our memories of everything we've packed into such a short time. Driving time: 7 hours including stops B, L, D

DAY 10

Home? Or on to other adventures...You are free to leave anytime this morning. Reception will assist in arranging transportation to the airport or to the train station if continuing your adventure! B

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*These are the unfiltered reviews of women who have been on this trip in answer to the question "Did this trip meet your expectations?". We take reviews very seriously and often tweak itineraries based on feedback. Please feel free to contact us about any questions you have.

I wanted less sights and more hikes, less riding in vans and more hikes. The first little hike was a waste. Another was cancelled due to bad weather - well, there should have been a back up hike, not a trip to a castle. I've seen enough castles round the world.