Big Highland Tour

What You'll Do

Scotland is a country with so much to offer. Raw colours, rugged scenery, friendly people and more lochs than you can shake a stick at. This walking tour shows you the best from lower ground and higher munros, unleashes incredible views and aims to deliver the real Scotland. What are you waiting for?

This holiday is available:

September 5th to 18th

You will be seeing a lot of Scotland on this adventure holiday, but mostly on foot with no real big drives or days traveling on the road! Except for the last few days, the journey taken is mostly south to north, following the west coast route all the way and the scenery throughout is spectacular!

Accommodation
Accommodation is varied throughout the tour. In most areas we use large guest houses or small hotels with excellent facilities. In Torridon and Skye we may sometimes use smaller bed and breakfast houses. In these more remote areas please note that single rooms are very hard to obtain and that as such, en-suite facilities for singles may not always be available – particularly during July and August. We will advise you when you book. All our accommodation is hand-picked, situated within some spectacular settings and a warm welcome from your hosts is assured throughout the tour.

Meals
Evening meals are included throughout the tour for the whole group and are either taken at the guest house/hotel or in a local inn or restaurant. Our guest houses offer a set menu, all with excellent home cooked food, restaurants will provide a wider choice of courses. Vegetarians will always be catered for and other specific dietary requirements can normally be catered for if we know in advance. At all the places we visit we make a special effort to ensure that your evening meals are a highlight of the trip, with excellent food on offer and a relaxed and welcoming ambiance. Packed lunches are not included.

Grading of Walks
The walking throughout this tour we class as “Moderate” – suitable for people of good fitness who enjoy walking or the outdoors but who need not necessarily have any previous hiking experience. Walks each day are mostly between 5-7 hours, with a couple of longer days (e.g. Ben Nevis is 8-9 hours) and are varied throughout the tour, with some lower level walks with little ascent and several more challenging days involving mountain ascents of around 3000ft (Ben Nevis 4,400ft!) – please see our full itinerary above. The first four days of the tour are generally found to be the most challenging. Distances covered each day vary between 6-14 miles (9-21km). Terrain is mostly pathed, however on some days you should be prepared for rough or boggy ground. If concerned about your suitability for the level of walks please just contact us for further details – your enjoyment of the trip is important to us.

Experience
Highlights

Loch Lomond and Ben Lomand

Ben Nevis and Skye

Coire Mhic Fhearchair

Ben Macdui

Experience Itinerary

Ben A'an and The Trossachs

We depart Edinburgh at 9:00am for our epic Scottish journey, heading west towards the Trossachs for a relatively easy first days walking up Ben A’an. This is a low ‘mini mountain’ in the heart of the Trossach hills – often referred to as “Scotland in miniature” due to the numerous lochs surrounding the area and range of small mountains. Tremendous views await us overlooking Loch Katrine from the summit of Ben A’an. A short journey after our walking spot will deliver us to our accommodation at Loch Lomond.
Walking: 3m/5km, 1100ft/340m, good path, steep in places, 3-4 hrs

Ascent of Ben Lomond

Ben Lomond is a relatively high mountain and should take us most of the day, however, views from this summit are spectacular and extend across Loch Lomond to the many mountains further north. This mountain also happens to be our most southerly “Munro” (mountain over 3000ft) and is a worthy challenge for the start of our week! Accommodation Loch Lomond.
Walking: 7m/11km, 3100ft/940m, good paths, steep in places, 6-7 hrs

Lost Valley of Glencoe

Today we transfer to our accommodation in Glen Coe, taking our time heading north to appreciate the changing scenery as we drive deeper into the Highlands. In the afternoon, we venture out on two feet for a shorter walk into the “Hidden Glen” of Glencoe. This is a stunning location, surrounded by high peaks and ridges and formerly used by thieving clans as a hideout for stolen cattle! Accommodation Glencoe.
Walking: 2.5m/4km, 1150ft/340m, rough path, 3-4 hrs

Ben Nevis

Today delivers the opportunity for an ascent of Ben Nevis, Scotland, and the UK’s highest mountain. Our ascent of ‘The Ben’ is straightforward and on good paths but is always physically challenging. Views from the top when not blanketed by mist, are all-encompassing and well worth the effort. Accommodation Glencoe.
Walking: 11m/17km, 4430ft/1345m, good path, 8-10 hrs

Transfer to Skye

With time for a little shopping in Fort William and a look around the town, mid-morning will see us on our way to Skye – or Eilan a’ Cheo as it was named by the Gaelic poets. Amidst much controversy, a bridge across to the island was constructed in 1995, however, we will still take the seaward route – via boat from Mallaig and ‘over the sea to Skye’ – surely the best way to arrive on the island! We arrive on the southernmost part of the island at Armadale, stopping by the Clan Donald Visitor Centre and if time allows, a short walk before heading on to our accommodation in Skye.

Boreraig and Suisnish

This is a fine coastal walk in the south west of Skye to the deserted villages of Boreraig and Suisnish – former crofting communities destroyed during the “Highland Clearances” of the mid 1800’s. Now just scattered ruins, these places give testimony to a bleak period of Scottish history and are wild, lonely places to visit. Views throughout the walk are wonderful and varied – Loch Eishort to the south, the Isle of Rhum not far away and adjacent mountains Bla Bheinn and Clach Glas to the West. Accommodation Skye.
Walking: 10m/16km, 1150ft/350m, good paths, 6-7 hrs

Coire Lagan

Today’s walk gives you the chance to enter the heart of the Cuillin mountains. Coire Laggan is one of the many bowl-shaped hollows (corries) leading up into the higher peaks and is deserved in its reputation as the most spectacular of them all. Along the way, we stop to admire the Eas Mor waterfall, considered to be the finest waterfall on Skye. The way to the Corrie is initially on good paths but gives way to rougher walking in its upper stages Accommodation Skye.
Walking: 6m/10km, 1950ft/590m, paths, rocky in places, 5-6 hrs

The Quirang and Meall na Suiramach

The Quirang is an incredible maze of rock pinnacles and cliffs towards the northern end of the Trotternish peninsula in the north of the Island. Wandering amongst the cliffs, we will take as much time as we need to explore this fascinating area before returning via the spectacular viewpoint and cliff-top walk of Meall na Suiramach Accommodation Skye.
Walking: 5m/8km, 1100ft/340m, paths, steep in places, 5-6 hrs

Transfer to Torridon Area

With an early morning start, we return to the mainland and head further north into the rugged mountains of Torridon and the north-west highlands. En route we will also stop at Eilan Donan Castle – one of the most picturesque and filmed castles in Scotland. Here you will have plenty time to take a tour of the castle. The onward drive is through beautiful and remote scenery. Once established at our accommodation further north, you may have time for a late afternoon stroll before dinner. Accommodation Torridon area

Coire Mhic Fhearchair

Today’s hike in the Torridon area is into the majestic Coire Mhic Fhearchair – one of the finest and most impressive corries in Scotland. The corrie lies at the northern end of Ben Eighe – one of the three Torridon “giants” – and has a large amphitheatre, surrounded on three sides by the imposing cliffs of the mountain. The walk into the Corrie is extremely pleasant, with wide open views across the Torridon landscape. Accommodation Torridon area.
Walking: 9m/14km, 1800ft/540m, rocky path, 6-7 hrs

Camas Mhor and Rubha Reidh cliff top walk

Today we walk a circular route including Rubha Reidh Lighthouse and the isolated and spectacular Camas Mhor bay to the north west of Gairloch – giving us dramatic seascapes and views back to Skye and northwards to the mountains of Assynt. We then travel east to our final area, Speyside. Accommodation Newtonmore/Aviemore area.
Walking: 6m/10km, 660ft/200m, minor roads, rough ground, and cliff-top paths, 5-6 hrs

Culloden Battlefield, Clava Cairns

We take our time during today’s drive and explore some of Scotland’s history, with visits to Culloden battlefield, the Clava Cairns and of course the obligatory stop at famous Loch Ness…keep your eyes peeled!

Cairngorm Mountain Wander

Today we introduce you to the delights of the Cairngorms with a thoroughly enjoyable walk of hugely varied character into the foothills of the Cairngorm mountains. We head up through the beautiful Caledonian Forest above Loch Morlich and then into the Larig Ghru – a famous pass cutting right through the heart of the Cairngorms. Taking in a small summit along the way, we may then traverse the “Chalmain Gap” – a strange rocky incision where we have some boulders to negotiate before a gradual descent back down to Loch Morlich. Accommodation Newtonmore/Cairngorms area.

If the weather and visibility is good, we may attempt an alternative higher-level hike today up onto the Cairngorm plateau itself – a high level mountain plateau cut by deep, spectacular corries. The plateau lies at an elevation of around 1000m, however for this walk we would start from around 600m – a good way to start the day!
Walking: 10m/16km 1540ft/470m, good paths, 6-7 hrs

Transfer to Edinburgh

After breakfast we depart for Edinburgh, with an optional visit to a whisky distillery en-route (at own cost). We arrive back in Edinburgh early afternoon, giving you some time to spend in the city if you wish.

Overnight accommodation in Edinburgh is not included in the tour. If you wish to catch a flight or train from Edinburgh mid to late Saturday afternoon, please let us know so this can be accommodated.

Location Information

Depart from Edinburgh: 9am Sunday
Return to Edinburgh: 2-3pm Saturday

It is your responsibility to make it to the joining point by 9:00am on the morning of day one. Details will be provided to you closer to departure.

FAQs

Yes, you can book a single room although it has become increasingly tough to secure single space. Please inquire at the time of booking.

Yes you can but the minimum is four people. You can select any preferred dates and we can check for you.

£1925