Experience parts of Scotland that other tourists never visit.

Scotland's Hebrides Islands, off its west coast, are remote and unspoiled.  The rare Gaelic language is still heard in these places, and the empty beauty of the islands have a feeling of timelessness, belonging to no time and to all time.

Tour Dates (2005)

The tour starts on Monday -- May at 2pm, but we recommend you should arrive in Britain no later than the previous day, Sunday, May.

If you're starting your travels in the US, you'll probably take an overnight flight on Saturday (or sooner), to arrive into Britain on Sunday (or sooner).

The tour ends on Wednesday when we arrive into Edinburgh and Glasgow in the afternoon.  You can then either return directly home or add your own arrangements as it suits you.

If you're traveling immediately back to the US, you might need to spend a night either in your choice of Edinburgh or Glasgow or in the city you'll be flying out of, on the Wednesday night, and plan to fly home on Thursday.  You'll arrive back in the US at much the same time and on the same day as when you leave Britain.

Tour Inclusions

• Large luxury coach for best views while touring and complete with onboard restroom for best comfort

• Small group, to avoid the crowded impersonal feeling - maximum size 20 - lots of room and comfort for everyone on a large 36 seater coach

• Expert Scottish driver/guide plus also David Rowell as dedicated tour leader

• One night stay in the small mainland town of Campbelltown

• Two night stay in Bowmore on the Isle of Islay

• One night stay in Oban on the mainland

• Two night stay in Tobermory on the Isle of Mull

• One night stay in Portree on the Isle of Skye

• Two nights accommodation in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides

• Breakfasts every morning

• Feature dinners on the first and last nights

• Area touring every day

• Eleven different ferry rides through beautiful island vistas

• Tastings and Tours of two of the famous Islay whisky distilleries

• Day tour to the holy Isle of Iona and to Staffa, site of Fingal's Cave (made famous by Mendelssohn)

• Visits to Eilean Donan, Torosay and Dunvegan Castles

• Visits to several stone circles and other ancient mysterious structures

Itinerary
 

Day 1  (Saturday)  Leave the US
To arrive in Britain on Sunday, you probably need to take an overnight flight on Saturday	You should make your own arrangements to fly from the US to London, departing on Saturday 8 May - or earlier if you wish to spend extra time in Britain before the start of the main tour.

Day 2 (Sunday) Arrive in Britain
You can fly to London or to any other convenient city in Britain	Most people will choose to fly in to London, but you can also choose other destinations in Britain such as Manchester, or even Glasgow itself. Choose whatever British city to fly to which makes best sense for you in terms of convenience and cost.

Day 3 (Monday) :  Traveling to Scotland then coach and two ferries to Campbelltown

Our deluxe 36 seater coach has lots of space for everyone, great views from its high seating and huge picture windows, restroom, hot and cold refreshments, even a video system   We travel alongside the Kyles of Bute this afternoon

Make your way to Glasgow today, probably by train, and perhaps up the beautiful West Coast Main Line from London. The tour starts at Glasgow's Central Railway Station, where we're met at the station by our luxury coach and personal driver/guide at 2pm. We drive out of Glasgow to the west through an area full of the fascinating remains of Glasgow's shipbuilding era, and then take our first ferry ride of the tour - a 23 minute crossing across the Firth of Clyde from Gourock to Dunoon. On the other side of the Clyde we pass close to the Holy Loch submarine base and through the Kyles of Bute and then over Loch Fyne on our second ferry today. We then continue down the Kintyre Peninsula and to Campbelltown where we spend the night in a small inn close to its harbor.  Campbelltown is famous as one of the six major whisky producing regions in Scotland. This evening we'll have a welcome dinner and get to better know our traveling companions.

Day 4 (Tuesday) :  Ferry to the Isle of Islay

The Islay ferry nearing Port Askaig, with the Paps of Jura in the background.     The lovely small Lochside Hotel in Bowmore - one of the two hotels we'll be using for our two nights on Islay

Today we travel south to Southend, at which point we're only 19 miles from the Irish Coast and - weather permitting - may be able to enjoy a fine view of the Mull of Kintyre. Southend is reputed to be where St Columba, Scotland's original missionary who brought Christianity to the country, first set foot on the mainland in Scotland in 563. We then go up the west side of the Kintyre peninsula to Kennacraig, where we then take a ferry across the Sound of Jura, and over to the Isle of Islay, famous for its distinctive peaty smoky (some would even say seaweedy) whisky. The ferry ride lasts 2 hrs 5 minutes. We'll visit one of Islay's famous distilleries and spend two nights in Islay's main town of Bowmore.

Day 5 (Wednesday) :  Sightseeing around Islay

Islay's 8th century Kildalton Cross, the best preserved of these Celtic style crosses of anywhere in Scotland   Lagavulin - one of the seven distilleries on Islay, and some might suggest the finest whisky of anywhere

Once the headquarters of the Lord of the Isles, Islay is the most southerly of the Hebrides and is known for it's rich and colorful landscape, shaped by natural forces and human influence spanning thousands of years.  We'll spend some of today touring around Islay, including a visit to Finlaggan, the historical center of the Lords of the Isles. The farmland, woodland and peatland set below the sweeping hills support a wide variety of wildlife from many bird species, including the rare corncrake.  Chances are you'll see many different birds during our day of touring. Later in the day, we visit a different distillery, and then we spend a second night in Bowmore.

Day 6 (Thursday) :  Ferry back to mainland, overnight in Oban
Some of the many burial slabs at the Kilmartin Church.  In the distance, in the background, are some stone circles that we'll also visit.	We take a 2 hr 20 minute ferry journey from Port Ellen back to the mainland this morning, and then make our way north to the town of Oban. On the way we'll stop in the Kilmartin area where you can look at and wonder about some ancient stone circles, and then visit the churchyard containing the largest collection of 14th and 15th century carved burial slabs. We spend this evening in Oban.

Day 7 (Friday) :  Ferry to the Isle of Mull

Duart Castle dominates the Sound of Mull.  We pass by this imposing structure on our ferry ride. Pretty little Tobermory, a lovely quiet town to relax in and enjoy the view across the Sound of Mull.  Our hotel is on the hill to the right of the picture.

This morning we travel across from Oban to Craignure on the Isle of Mull.  This is a short 45 minute crossing.  Mull is a beautiful island with moorland, forest and mountains, and magnificent cliff scenery to the south. Upon arriving on Mull, we'll travel by narrow gauge train to Torosay Castle and then continue by coach to the picturesque fishing village of Tobermory where we'll spend two nights.

Day 8 (Saturday) :  Cruise to the Isles of Iona and Staffa

Iona Abbey, a site of pilgrimage for thousands of people every year.   Distinctive Staffa, with Fingal's cave on the right hand side.

This morning we travel to the southwest tip of Mull and then take a very short passenger ferry over to the sacred Isle of Iona. Iona is often referred to as 'The Cradle of Christianity in Scotland' as it was here that St Columba first landed after being banished from Ireland in 563AD. Once Settled on the island, Columba and his followers built a wooden monastery. This was later replaced with stone when the monastery was turned into a Benedictine Abbey around 1200. Today the abbey has been fully restored and is open to the public. We then proceed by launch to the distinctive island of Staffa, and Fingal's cave, made famous in the overture written by Mendelssohn after a visit.  The island is composed of columnar basalt and overlying 'slaggy' basalt.  We hope to spend some time ashore if time and currents allow before returning back to Fionnphort on Mull and traveling back to Tobermory by coach.

Day 9 (Sunday) :  Two ferries, a castle and the Isle of Skye

Eilean Donan Castle   The new Skye Bridge was controversial when first opened - many islanders didn't want Skye to become more accessible to mainlanders!

This morning we leave Tobermory and take a ferry across the Sound of Mull back to the mainland, and then travel in our coach up to Mallaig. At Mallaig we have time for lunch and then take a ferry over the Sound of Sleat and onto Skye.  We then travel to the famous new Skye Bridge and drive over it back onto the mainland, where we make a short sidetrip to the renowed Eilean Donan Castle, perhaps the most instantly recognizable of all Scotland's castles. After a visit to Eilean Donan, the clan home for the MacRae and MacKenzie clans, we return back to Skye and drive to the small town of Portree for the evening.

Day 10 (Monday) :  Ferry to the Outer Hebrides and the Isles of Harris and Lewis
The Cuillin Mountains on the Isle of Skye   Our hotel for two nights in the Outer Hebrides - the Royal Hotel, looking out onto the bay in Stornoway	We travel to another castle today - Dunvegan Castle on Skye, and then after sightseeing around the famous and impressive Cuillin mountains, take a ferry from Uig to Tarbert on the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides. We then travel by coach onto the Isle of Lewis and to our home for the next two nights in Stornoway.

Day 11 (Tuesday) :  Sightseeing around the Isle of Lewis

The Black House is a traditional long three room house - living and sleeping rooms for people, and a room for cattle.   Dun Carloway is an ancient broch or small fortress more than 2000 years old.   The Calanais or Callanish standing stones are in an area full of such ancient mysterious constructions.

We'll enjoy a fascinating day of touring around the Isle of Lewis today. We first visit the Black House in Arnol.  This is a traditional style thatched house.  It has a continually burning peat fire inside, but no chimney.  The peat smoke preserves the thatch.  People lived in this house until the 1960s.  Next to it is a 1920s style croft cottage which we can also visit. We travel on to visit a tweed woolen mill - together with the adjacent Isle of Harris, this area is famous for its Harris Tweed. Next we visit Dun Carloway, one of the best preserved broch towers in Scotland and dating to about the first century BC. Lastly we visit the Calanais Standing Stones, a cross shaped setting of stones dating back to about 3000 BC, and from which other stone circles can be seen in the area. We then return back to Stornoway and a farewell dinner at the hotel this evening.

Day 12 (Wednesday) :  Ferry back to mainland and return to Edinburgh or Glasgow

The MV Isle of Lewis travels between Stornoway and Ullapool.  It steams at 18 knots and holds 123 cars and 680 passengers.  On board facilities include an observation lounge, quiet area, lift for the disabled, shop, children's play area, food service including full meals and light snacks plus a bar. .

An early morning start today when we take the 7.15am ferry from Stornoway back to Ullapool on the mainland. Our coach then drives us down through the Highlands to Inverness and on to the lovely Victorian town of Pitlochry where we'll stop for lunch.  After lunch we continue on to Edinburgh, and finally to Glasgow.  We expect the coach to arrive in Edinburgh at about 4.15pm and into Glasgow at 5.30pm. You are free to leave the tour in either city (or anywhere else on the coach's route from Ullapool back down to Edinburgh and Glasgow). Options :  You can now choose to either immediately travel on from Edinburgh/Glasgow or to stay for some extra time in Scotland in either city.

Tour Cost

$2995 per person, share twin.

A single supplement of $795 is available.  We will also help to match together singles if you'd like to share with a compatible fellow single traveler.

These prices reflect a 3% discount for cash/check.

A $250 per person non-refundable deposit is required to confirm your places on this tour.

Tour does not include the costs of travel between the US and Britain.

A Note about the Hotels

The sometimes very small towns we are staying in do not have large five star hotels.  They have very small hotels, and in some cases our small group will be filling the entire hotel, or even, in Bowmore, will need to be split over the town's two hotels.

The hotels are not generic faceless and luxury hotels.  They are standard class hotels, but often full of unique individuality and character.  They are generally rated at three and sometimes only two stars (with the occasional four star stay also included).  But they are the best that are available in the places we have chosen, and while the rooms may be small, they are clean and reasonably comfortable, and all rooms do have their own private bathroom.

The hotels are full of character, and even the bad parts - such as they may be - add to the island experience.

We make these comments not to apologize for bad hotels, because none of them are bad, but simply to explain about where we'll be staying and what to expect.  I've stayed at nearly all of them myself and been happy in all cases.

What about the Air Fare?

You will save money and gain flexible convenience if you arrange your own air travel.  These days airlines seldom give discounts to groups, and sometimes even charge more, while also adding extra restrictions to the tickets!

You can choose whichever carrier has the best fare and the best schedules for you, and you can also choose a carrier that you wish to earn miles with.  You can even cash in miles and fly on frequent flier awards.

We'll be pleased to answer any questions you might have about arranging your air transportation, of course.

Where in Britain Should I Fly To?

Most people will choose to fly to London, because there are the most flights to London (either Gatwick or Heathrow airport is fine to choose).

It is a quick and very pleasant five hour train journey from London to Glasgow and from Edinburgh back to London, with no need to change trains on the way.

But if you prefer - perhaps because you can get a special low airfare, or maybe because you're trying to cash in frequent flier miles - you can of course fly to any other airport in Britain.  Indeed, just about all other airports are closer to Scotland than is London!  We'll help arrange trains so that you get to Glasgow by 2pm on the Monday to join the group.

How to get to Glasgow to join the tour

Depending on where you fly to in Britain, you'll probably choose to take a comfortable convenient train to Glasgow..

Where to leave the tour and how to return to your departure airport

You can choose whether you'd prefer to leave the tour in Edinburgh or Glasgow on Wednesday.  If you're traveling back to London, the train services are slightly faster from Edinburgh, and you'll save yourself the extra driving on to Glasgow.

But depending on what you want to do after the tour, you are free to leave the tour in either city (or anywhere else on the coach's journey south from Ullapool too of course).

The best way to return to the airport you'll be flying out of - or to travel to where you next want to sightsee - will either be by rental car or by train.  We can help you arrange this travel any way you wish.

How to Extend or Vary this Tour

There are many ways you can extend or vary this tour.

You can spend more time in Britain before the start of this tour, and/or, if you wish, you can travel up to either Edinburgh or Glasgow before the main group and spend time in and around these areas, too.

During the tour, all of the day touring is of course optional and you can substitute your own activities if you prefer.  And, indeed, if you wish, you can even rent a car and follow the group's itinerary in your own car, rather than in the coach with the rest of the group (although this would be quite expensive due to the cost of taking the car on the ferry crossings).

After the tour, you can spend more time in Scotland, or travel on anywhere else in Britain, probably either by train or rental car.

Truly, this tour gives you a great number of ways to add extra time and sightseeing.  And, if you have more questions, please don't hesitate to ask.  We're here to help ensure your experience is as good as possible.

Suggested Tour Extension before Main Tour

We suggest you arrive in Britain a day or two before Sunday -- May, so that you are well rested and over the worst of the jet lag for when the tour starts.

Tour Terms and Conditions

Our standard terms and conditions apply to this tour.

In addition, please note these extra terms :

1.   Full payment is due on or before to be advised.

2.   US citizens require a current passport that will not expire for at least six months after the date of their planned return back to the US in order to be admitted to Britain.  They do not require a British visa.  Citizens of other countries should check with the airline that will transport them to Britain to determine what passport and visa requirements may apply.

3.   UK residents will not qualify for the Britrail pass which is used to provide train travel between London and Scotland.  We will quote an adjusted price for such people.

4.   Tour price is based on a UK/US exchange rate in the wholesale range between 1.75 and 1.85.  If the exchange rate varies outside of this rate prior to final payment being received, the tour price will be adjusted (either up or down) to reflect the change in the cost of tour components.  If the price of the tour increases by more than 5%, participants will be offered a no cost, no penalty opportunity to cancel and receive a full refund of all monies paid.

5.   Triple share rates may be available.  Ask for a quote if this is required.

6.   There's plenty of room in the coach's luggage bays for as much luggage as you choose to bring.  But you'll find it easier on the train journeys, and in the hotel rooms, if you try and limit yourself to one main suitcase and one smaller item per person.

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Originally published 13 Dec 2005, last update 22 Apr 2008