SCOTLAND TOUR

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Dates:	May 31st - June 8th 2008
Cost:	£1750 per car

Description

One of our most popular tours which has evolved over the years but now has a 'tried and tested' format. This tour combines some of the most dramatic scenery to be found anywhere in the British Isles (the world?) with extra special features such as the boat trip to Staffa where you can visit Fingals Cave, the inspiration for Mendelssohn's Water Music, and the enchanting Puffin Colony. There are some long driving days as hotels are rarely close together in this remote part of the world, but to compensate there are free days where you can choose your own activity and park the car up for a rest!

Provisional Itinerary

Day 1 - Saturday

We leave our base south of Kendal for a long drive into the heart of Scotland . Avoiding the motorways as much as possible we will cross the infamous Shap Fell via the now little used A6, then by-pass Carlisle on the M6 before returning to the old A74 road to Glasgow. This is now a quiet ‘B' road superseded by the motorway. There will be a short detour into the market town of Moffat for lunch before rejoining the old main road north. Just south of Glasgow we have to take the motorway again to thread our way through the Glasgow-Edinburgh conurbation, heading towards Stirling. After Stirling we strike off west on the main A84 through the Trossachs and a stop for tea at the craft centre near Doune. The afternoon run continues on the main road but takes us into some spectacular scenery on our way to our first night's hotel near Oban.
(245 miles all on main roads and motorway)

Day 2 - Sunday

We head north, literally across the Falls of Lora (via the Connel Ferry Bridge!) and follow the beautiful coastline north, skirting Fort William. After lunch at Neptune's Staircase (the series of canal locks), follow the Caledonian Canal upto Loch Ness. We complete almost a full circle of the loch anti-clockwise with a stop for lunch in Inverness . We also pass the'official' Monsters Visitor Centre before cutting across country to our hotel for the night, north west of Inverness.
(160 miles on mixed roads)

Day 3 - Monday

More stunning scenery as we head north to the spectacular Corrieshalloch Gorge where you can cross the hair raising suspension bridge high above a waterfall. If you suffer from vertigo a stop for coffee at the Dundronnel Hotel on little Loch Broom might be welcome! We continue north and begin to follow the beautiful un-spoilt coastline, now heading west to charming remote villages at Gairloch, Torridon and Shieldaig where you might like to take lunch. As we turn south we start to see the Island of Skye for the first time before we reach the picturesque village and beach at Applecross. A refreshment stop/comfort break is recommended here before we tackle probably the most awesome stretch of road on the entire tour. The ‘Pass of the Cattle' starts innocently enough, climbing across the moors behind Applecross village. However the road gradually gets steeper, the countryside more remote and rugged and the mountains more imposing before we reach the summit where there is a panoramic view over the islands of Raasay and Skye below. The descent is even more dramatic with Alpine like hairpins and sheer rock faces as we drop down all the way to sea level again. The final run to Kyle of Lochalsh and the Skye Bridge is relatively ‘tame' after this – but none the less attractive! Our hotel for the next two nights is situated on its own pretty little harbour some seven miles south of the bridge.
(170 miles on mixed roads)

Day 4 - Tuesday

[+]
The rugged coastline
of Skye

After the excitement of yesterday you have a ‘free' day to recover or explore the island as you wish. We can suggest various places of interest and the best scenic routes if you still feel the need to drive.
(Mileage up to you!)

Day 5 - Wednesday

Another long drive as we head back towards Fort William via the stunning views of Loch Loyne and Loch Garry. We then head back west to the Ardnamurchan coast, along Loch Sunart and around the spectacular scenic Kingairloch coast road, to the tiny ferry port of Fishnish . Here we catch the ferry to the Isle of Mull. We then have a final run down the Island to Bunessan and our hotel or B+B's for the night. (Because there are no large hotels in this part of the island later bookings may have to be accommodated in bed and breakfast establishments).
(Mileage 160 miles)

Day 6 - Thursday

On our first morning on the island we will do a clockwise tour, visiting the white sands of Calgary Bay before stopping for lunch in the islands capital, Tobermory. There will be time to visit the ‘fairy tale' Glen Gorm Castle and the distillery if desired! We then head south via the village of Salen. If you still have time or energy you may like to stop off at the charming Mull Railway. This is a miniature steam railway which takes you to the house and gardens at Torosay. Alternatively the impressive Duart Castle is just a little further down the road, as is the eagle sanctuary, “Wings over Mull ”.
(Mileage approx 100 miles)

Day 7 - Friday

A free morning to relax or have a walk along the beach. In the afternoon there will be an optional boat trip to the island of Staffa and its enchanting Puffin colony. The boat will return us to the atmospheric island of Iona (Holy Island) where there will be time to visit the Abbey or simply have a leisurely walk in the peaceful surroundings. There will be a communal dinner on Iona tonight before our 'private' boat returns us to the mainland.
(Mileage less than 10 miles!)

Day 8 - Saturday

We say farewell to Mull and take the ferry back to the mainland at Oban. After a short run down the coast we make a small detour to Seil Island and Atlantic Bridge. Lunch can be taken near the bridge or at the ancient village of Easdale looking out into the Atlantic. The afternoon run takes us east via the tranquil Inverinan Forest and the shores of Loch Awe to our hotel on Loch Fyne.
(Mileage 140 miles on mixed roads)

Day 9 - Sunday

Those with a long journey home may prefer to take a more direct route from here, but we have some more spectacular scenery and one more Island to visit. We travel along the shores of the Kyles of Bute with panoramic views of the Island of Bute. Another short ferry crossing takes us onto the island and a drive down the picturesque coast brings us to our final destination of the tour, Mount Stuart, the home of former GP driver and Earl of Bute, Johnny Dumfries. There will be time to look around the house and extensive gardens before taking one last ferry to the Ayrshire coast. Once on the mainland it is an easy cross country run to Moffat and the motorway south. Accommodation can be arranged at Moffat for those wishing to break their journey here and set off home in the morning.
(Mileage 140 miles to Moffat)

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