The Western Isles
Three Tours - May to July 2008
Some of us forget how beautiful Scotland really is! This tour explores the north west of Scotland but avoids busy roads by making the journeys to and from the north by fast trains, made more enjoyable by travelling first class. Highlights of the tour include visiting areas that other tours do not normally go, such as the Isles of Harris and Lewis, the beautiful region beyond Ullapool and travel on the Jacobite steam train. We are accompanied throughout Scotland by a coach that will handle our luggage. Last but not least is the quality of the hotels we stay at, with many providing food and accommodation that can only be classed as luxurious.
Monday
To Scotland in Style
At 11:00 we wave goodbye to London Kings Cross. We pick up passengers from Peterborough and a three-course lunch is silver served at our seats. Further passengers are collected at York with their lunch served on departure. The train continues its journey along the East Coast main line via Newcastle and Edinburgh and on to Glasgow. From here, a coach takes us to The Inverbeg Inn for dinner and overnight accommodation. It sits in beautiful countryside on the banks of Loch Lomond and enjoys stunning views of both the loch and Ben Lomond. It prides itself on its customer service. (L D)
Tuesday
Lake Cruise on Loch Lomond
We enjoy a leisurely breakfast, and perhaps a stroll by the Loch, before our coach takes us the short distance to Tarbet where we have a private cruise, with lunch, on Loch Lomond. We rejoin our coach for the short distance to Arrochar station to catch our train to Fort William, passing over the remote Rannoch Moor and arriving at 16:30.
We stay at The Moorings Hotel, situated on the Caledonian Canal. Fort William enjoys an enviable position on Loch Linnhe with the majestic Ben Nevis, at 4,406 feet Britain’s highest mountain, as its backdrop. (B L D)
Wednesday
The Jacobite and over the Sea to Skye
Described as one of the great railway journeys of the world the Jacobite steam train takes us for 42 miles through some of the most magnificent scenery that Scotland has to offer. Apart from the mountain and sea views it crosses the world famous twenty one arch Glenfinnan Viaduct.
The final destination is Mallaig where we have a couple of hours to explore this fishing port, find lunch and board the ferry for the Isle of Skye.
At Armadale we rejoin our coach which, as always, has followed us with our luggage and travel the short distance to the luxurious Duisdale Country House Hotel. (B D)
Thursday
Skye and Harris Islands
Our coach takes us across Skye to Uig, pausing a few times to take in the scenery and with a short visit to Portree, the island’s capital. Our ferry departs at around 14:00 for the one and half hour crossing to Tarbert on the Isle of Harris. A restaurant is available for refreshments.
We travel onwards through the bleak landscape of Harris and Lewis to the island’s capital, Stornoway, where we stay at The Caladh Inn for two nights. (B D)
Friday
The Isle of Lewis
We will tour the entire Isle of Lewis including the Butt of Lewis with its lighthouse, and the Callandish stones. These spectacular prehistoric standing stones are in the form of avenues and also feature a circle of large monoliths at the centre. They were almost totally covered in peat until the mid-19th century. We stop for lunch on our journey.
(B L D)
Saturday
Lochinver
This morning we have time to explore Stornoway before enjoying an early lunch at our hotel (or a packed lunch for later). We join the ferry for Ullapool, back on the mainland. We have an hour in Ullapool before travelling on to Lochinver, a pleasant village with a beautiful harbour and a magnificent mountain backdrop. We stay here for two nights at the luxurious Inverlodge Hotel, set on a hillside overlooking the bay. Deer often appear outside. All rooms have splendid ocean views. (B L D)
Sunday
North West Scottish Highlands
A coach takes us to discover the remote, yet impressive landscape of the northwest Highlands, offering deserted sandy beaches and spectacular mountain scenery. The tour passes through Scourie and Laxford Bridge as we travel to Durness where there will be time for lunch. (B D)
Monday
Dunrobin Castle and Inverness
We depart by coach along mountain roads to Lairg and Dunrobin Castle which, from its high terrace, looks out across wonderful gardens to the sea beyond. A highlight of the visit will be the falconry display. We have lunch in the Castle before transferring to Golspie station where we board the train to Inverness. Arriving, there will be time for a look around and we will stay in a four star hotel in Inverness for the night. (B L D)
Tuesday
The Highland Chieftain back to London
We board the Highland Chieftain around 08:00 and have a Scottish breakfast at our first class seat, as we pass through the Highlands, a wonderful experience. Our train continues through Perth, Edinburgh and Newcastle back to York and London arriving in Kings Cross just before 16.00. A three-course lunch will also be served on our journey south. (B L)
To Scotland in Style
At 11:00 we wave goodbye to London Kings Cross. We pick up passengers from Peterborough and a three-course lunch is silver served at our seats. Further passengers are collected at York with their lunch served on departure. The train continues its journey along the East Coast main line via Newcastle and Edinburgh and on to Glasgow. From here, a coach takes us to The Inverbeg Inn for dinner and overnight accommodation. It sits in beautiful countryside on the banks of Loch Lomond and enjoys stunning views of both the loch and Ben Lomond. It prides itself on its customer service. (L D)
Tuesday
Lake Cruise on Loch Lomond
We enjoy a leisurely breakfast, and perhaps a stroll by the Loch, before our coach takes us the short distance to Tarbet where we have a private cruise, with lunch, on Loch Lomond. We rejoin our coach for the short distance to Arrochar station to catch our train to Fort William, passing over the remote Rannoch Moor and arriving at 16:30.
We stay at The Moorings Hotel, situated on the Caledonian Canal. Fort William enjoys an enviable position on Loch Linnhe with the majestic Ben Nevis, at 4,406 feet Britain’s highest mountain, as its backdrop. (B L D)
Wednesday
The Jacobite and over the Sea to Skye
Described as one of the great railway journeys of the world the Jacobite steam train takes us for 42 miles through some of the most magnificent scenery that Scotland has to offer. Apart from the mountain and sea views it crosses the world famous twenty one arch Glenfinnan Viaduct.
The final destination is Mallaig where we have a couple of hours to explore this fishing port, find lunch and board the ferry for the Isle of Skye.
At Armadale we rejoin our coach which, as always, has followed us with our luggage and travel the short distance to the luxurious Duisdale Country House Hotel. (B D)
Thursday
Skye and Harris Islands
Our coach takes us across Skye to Uig, pausing a few times to take in the scenery and with a short visit to Portree, the island’s capital. Our ferry departs at around 14:00 for the one and half hour crossing to Tarbert on the Isle of Harris. A restaurant is available for refreshments.
We travel onwards through the bleak landscape of Harris and Lewis to the island’s capital, Stornoway, where we stay at The Caladh Inn for two nights. (B D)
Friday
The Isle of Lewis
We will tour the entire Isle of Lewis including the Butt of Lewis with its lighthouse, and the Callandish stones. These spectacular prehistoric standing stones are in the form of avenues and also feature a circle of large monoliths at the centre. They were almost totally covered in peat until the mid-19th century. We stop for lunch on our journey.
(B L D)
Saturday
Lochinver
This morning we have time to explore Stornoway before enjoying an early lunch at our hotel (or a packed lunch for later). We join the ferry for Ullapool, back on the mainland. We have an hour in Ullapool before travelling on to Lochinver, a pleasant village with a beautiful harbour and a magnificent mountain backdrop. We stay here for two nights at the luxurious Inverlodge Hotel, set on a hillside overlooking the bay. Deer often appear outside. All rooms have splendid ocean views. (B L D)
Sunday
North West Scottish Highlands
A coach takes us to discover the remote, yet impressive landscape of the northwest Highlands, offering deserted sandy beaches and spectacular mountain scenery. The tour passes through Scourie and Laxford Bridge as we travel to Durness where there will be time for lunch. (B D)
Monday
Dunrobin Castle and Inverness
We depart by coach along mountain roads to Lairg and Dunrobin Castle which, from its high terrace, looks out across wonderful gardens to the sea beyond. A highlight of the visit will be the falconry display. We have lunch in the Castle before transferring to Golspie station where we board the train to Inverness. Arriving, there will be time for a look around and we will stay in a four star hotel in Inverness for the night. (B L D)
Tuesday
The Highland Chieftain back to London
We board the Highland Chieftain around 08:00 and have a Scottish breakfast at our first class seat, as we pass through the Highlands, a wonderful experience. Our train continues through Perth, Edinburgh and Newcastle back to York and London arriving in Kings Cross just before 16.00. A three-course lunch will also be served on our journey south. (B L)
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12th May 2008 to 20th May 2008
2nd June 2008 to 10th June 2008
7th July 2008 to 15th July 2008
2nd June 2008 to 10th June 2008
7th July 2008 to 15th July 2008
Price
| Price per person | £1075 |
| Single supplement | £185 |
Price includes:
- 8 nights’ half board accommodation
- 8 Dinners
- 6 lunches
- All train travel and coach transfers mentioned in the itinerary
- First class rail travel from London to Glasgow
- First class rail travel from Fort William to Mallaig
- First class rail travel from Inverness to London
- The services of a tour manager
Please note, First Class is NOT available on the other trains within our programme.
Meals included each day are shown as:
B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D= Dinner
Meals included each day are shown as:
B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D= Dinner