fbpx
Close
Articles by Year

<<     >>

Articles by Category
866 740 3890
Flag

Activities

Locations

Selected Trips

    | Gylen Castle, Kerrera

    Wilderness Walking

    Argyll & the Isles

    160 reviews


    Deposit From: £641£641
    Region: Inner Hebrides including Skye
    Duration: 7 Days / 6 Nights
    Confirmed: When 3 Travellers Book

    All you need to know about your trip, this essential document is a must for all adventures.

      From: £2,395 View Prices & Dates

      Trip Overview

      Created by: Rachael Gavan


      Argyll and the Isles is a glorious coastal region of western Scotland. Known for its glittering sea lochs, wild islands, hills and glens, it is perfect for exploring on foot.

      While the scenery is outstanding, the ancient heritage, abundant wildlife, and many whisky distilleries are equally appealing. This fascinating itinerary takes you on a journey through the Argyll Peninsula and several of its islands, including gorgeous but often hard-to-reach Jura. On this spectacular hiking trip, you will discover jaw-dropping prehistoric sites, nature reserves rich in Scottish flora and fauna, and a plethora of whisky distilleries, each purporting its own unique flavours.

      Explore the magic of Argyll on a backdrop of green hills, wild islands, and the rolling Atlantic. Enjoy an island escape to the Isle of Islay – a wild and beautiful island on the very western fringe of Scotland known for its many whisky distilleries, prolific birdlife, and stunning coastal landscapes.

      Marker Icon

      Day by Day
      Itinerary

      Day 1 – The Green Isle of Kerrera Read Less

      Day 1

      The Green Isle of Kerrera

      You will meet in Oban late morning, coinciding with the arrival of the train from Glasgow. After introductions, the group heads straight to the first island, Kerrera. Just south of Oban, a small boat takes you across the strait to this small island, home to about 100 islanders. A superb hike takes a circular route covering the southern half of the island. Along the way, you’ll pass the ruined outpost of Gylen Castle. Once a stronghold for clan MacDougall, today it is a romantic ruin breathtakingly perched on a ledge. The wonderful views will whet the appetite for the week ahead. After hopping back across the water to the mainland, you’ll settle into your seafront hotel and enjoy a welcome dinner.

      Meals Included: Lunch and Dinner
      Walk Details: 10 km / 6 miles | 300 m / 984 ft | Approx: 5 hrs

      Day 2 – Kilmartin Glen & Argyll's Beavers Read Less

      Day 2

      Kilmartin Glen & Argyll's Beavers

      Picturesque Kilmartin Glen is one of the richest sites in Europe for prehistoric ruins. Walk through history this morning as you follow a circular route through some of the most interesting ancient sites, taking in towering Celtic crosses, lichen-carpeted medieval grave slabs, Bronze Age chambered cairns, and lonely standing stones. In the afternoon, visit Knapdale, where beavers were reintroduced to Scotland after a 400-year absence. Embark on a fascinating journey along the river accompanied by knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff to locate evidence of the beaver’s presence. From gnawed trees to footprints in the sand, you’ll trace the historic and modern presence of these elusive animals. If there’s time, the group will wander along the nearby Crinan Canal before returning to the hotel.

      Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
      Walk Details: 8 km / 5 miles | 50 m / 164 ft | Approx: 4 hrs

      Day 3 – The Wild Island of Jura Read Less

      Day 3

      The Wild Island of Jura

      With a privately chartered boat at your disposal, this day is sure to be a highlight of the trip. The group will venture to the less-visited Isle of Jura for some wild hiking. With the flexibility to make the most of the visit, there is the option to land in West Loch Tarbert and hike coast to coast, being collected by the boat on the eastern shores. Another option might be to hike point to point along the east coast, passing the cottage where American author George Orwell stayed when he wrote his dystopian classic, 1984. Along the way, you’ll take in the fantastic views stretching back to Argyll. No matter the hike, the boat will detour to the Corryvreckan Whirlpool, where you’ll quickly appreciate the power of Scotland’s largest tidal whirlpool – from a safe distance, of course.


      Walk Details: 12 km / 7 miles | 350 m / 1,148 ft | Approx: 5 hrs

      Day 4 – Boat Tour to Islay Read Less

      Day 4

      Boat Tour to Islay

      Another island, today you’ll set sail across the water to Islay, the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides archipelago. With sandy beaches, tiny inlets, and plenty of seabird habitats, the group will enjoy a hike that explores the shoreline of the sea Loch Gruinart and remote Killinallan Point. Along the way, keep a lookout for birds such as cuckoos, corncrakes, and hen harriers as you walk along the beautiful beaches of Islay, marvelling at the views north to the islands of Colonsay and Mull.

      Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
      Walk Details: 10 km / 6 miles | 50 m / 164 ft | Approx: 5 hrs

      Day 5 – Coastal Islay & Distillery Read Less

      Day 5

      Coastal Islay & Distillery

      The beaches of Islay and the Inner Hebrides are simply stunning. With your guide, follow the footprints in the sand on a gorgeous coastal walk, gazing out at the views of Nave Island and further afield to Colonsay. With your feet suitably sandy, warm up with a wee dram from one of Islay’s famous whisky distillers. Take a tour to one of the only single-farm single malt distilleries on Islay, producing whisky from barley to bottle. Once you’ve sampled a smokey dram, the group may head out for another short hike along one of Islay’s breathtaking shorelines.

      Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
      Walk Details: 7 km / 4 miles | 23 m / 75 ft | Approx: 2 hrs

      Day 6 – Mull of Oa and the American Monument Read Less

      Day 6

      Mull of Oa and the American Monument

      Join your guide on a walk to explore the Oa Peninsula in the far south of Islay. Follow the path up to the American Monument, which commemorates the loss of two troops of ships in 1918. Follow a dramatic cliff-top trail past an Iron Age fort to reach the summit of Beinn Mhor. Although just 200 m high, this is a superb viewpoint – on a clear day, you might even see the coast of Northern Ireland. Afterwards, continue onwards to an unusual lighthouse where you can listen to the singing sands as we walk along a secluded beach. Dig into a well-deserved final dinner together as we celebrate a wonderful trip.

      Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
      Walk Details: 8 km / 5 miles | 30 m / 98 ft | Approx: 4 hrs

      Day 7 – Return to Oban Read Less

      Day 7

      Return to Oban

      After breakfast, join the group to take the morning ferry back onto the Argyll mainland, keeping a lookout for wildlife and admiring the views as you sail. Once back in Kennacraig, it’s a 90-minute transfer back to Oban, arriving by 2pm. Trains south to Glasgow depart at approx 2.30pm.

      Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

      X
      Wilderness Walking
      Argyll & the Isles

      To download a PDF copy of our Trip Itinerary, containing full details about this holiday, please complete the form below:

      Fields marked with * are mandatory

      The phone number field is not required but if you would like us to give you a call to help find the trip for you, then enter your telephone number including the country code.

      Trip Dates & Prices

      All payments taken in local currency GBP

      Trip Dates for 2024AvailabilityStatusPriceBook
      19th Oct - 25th Oct 20242 place(s) leftGuaranteed £2,395Book Now
      Trip Dates for 2025AvailabilityStatusPriceBook
      12th Apr - 18th Apr 20258 place(s) leftAvailable £2,495Book Now
      26th Apr - 2nd May 20258 place(s) leftAvailable £2,495Book Now
      17th May - 23rd May 20255 place(s) leftGuaranteed £2,495Book Now
      7th Jun - 13th Jun 20258 place(s) leftAvailable £2,495Book Now
      28th Jun - 4th Jul 20258 place(s) leftAvailable £2,495Book Now
      26th Jul - 1st Aug 20258 place(s) leftAvailable £2,495Book Now
      9th Aug - 15th Aug 20258 place(s) leftAvailable £2,495Book Now
      23rd Aug - 29th Aug 20257 place(s) leftAvailable £2,495Book Now
      13th Sep - 19th Sep 20258 place(s) leftAvailable £2,495Book Now

      Make This Trip Private

      Fancy this trip just for your group? Get together with family and friends spend quality time exploring wild places. A private trip allows you to benefit from all the features of the group departure, including hand-picked accommodation and expert local guides but with the advantage of the flexibility to tailor the days to your group. Make the trip more or less challenging depending on your experience or choose to add in some optional extras like castle or distillery visits depending on your interests. The price of a private trip will depend on the number of travellers in your group. Let us know your preferred departure date and we'll take care of the rest.

      Enquire Now
      X
      Wilderness Walking
      Argyll & the Isles

      For private departure enquiries, please complete the form below:

      Trip Details

      Accommodation Read More

      You will spend your nights in welcoming and friendly hotels. Accommodation is in twin or double rooms with en-suite bathroom facilities. Please note that we can offer a maximum of two single rooms on this itinerary.

      Both accommodations offer wonderful hospitality, and a warm welcome is assured. You can relax and enjoy the tranquil coastal locations, indulging in wonderful meals and perhaps tasting a local whisky or two.

      Single Rooms

      There is no supplement charged to solo travellers, however, you will be required to share a room with another person of the same sex. If you request a double room for single occupancy, a supplement of £620 is charged.

      Due to the nature of the accommodations we use, single supplements are limited and are allocated on a first come first served basis.

      Meals Read More

      Breakfast and lunch are provided each day along with dinner on your first and last night. Included dinners are two courses as standard.

      Food is of paramount importance and our meals are prepared from the best local produce. Naturally, vegetarians and other dietary requirements are willingly catered for – simply let us know at the time of booking.

      On this trip, we generally eat dinner as a group however if you would like to make alternative arrangements you are free to do so. Your guide will have an evening off during this trip where they do not eat with the group. They will recommend options for dinner that evening and will help you make any necessary reservations.

      Inclusions Read More
      • 6 nights accommodation in comfortable small hotels.
      • Most meals during the trip, as indicated.
      • The services of an experienced and knowledgeable guide/driver throughout.
      • All transport throughout the trip, starting and finishing in Oban, including ferries and boats.
      • A private boat charter, as indicated on the itinerary.
      • Tour and tasting of a whisky distillery.
      Grading Read More

      Green Graded 1-3

      Green graded walking holidays are suitable for active travellers who are reasonably fit and enjoy moderate hikes. We walk at a comfortable pace, and you can expect to be out for 5-6 hours a day. The terrain will consist mostly of good paths and hill trails, but these can still be muddy and rough in some places. Some hikes may involve an ascent up to a max of approx 1,500 feet/450m. Distances will be typically 8-10 km but there may be the odd slightly longer day. Daily hike details are available in the itinerary.

      Travel - Arrival and Departure Read More

      You will be met by your Wilderness Scotland Guide in the centre of Oban Railway Station at 11:30am on Day 1 of your trip. We aim to return to Oban by 2:00pm on the last day.

      If you would like to use your own vehicle on the trip, please contact our team to discuss this.

      Speak to an Expert

      Rachael Gavan

      Our friendly office team hail from across the world but share a passion for the outdoor and wild spaces of Scotland. We are committed to providing you with the best customer service and are more than happy to chat through options and provide help and advice. Get in touch to find your perfect adventure.

      Ask Rachael a Question

      Difficulty Grades Explained

      Green Graded 1-3

      Green graded walking holidays are suitable for active travellers who are reasonably fit and enjoy moderate hikes. We walk at a comfortable pace, and you can expect to be out for 5-6 hours a day. The terrain will consist mostly of good paths and hill trails, but these can still be muddy and rough in some places. Some hikes may involve an ascent up to a max of approx 1,500 feet/450m. Distances will be typically 8-10 km but there may be the odd slightly longer day. Daily hike details are available in the itinerary.

      Find Out More

      Trip Reviews

      Rated 4.95 out of 5 based on 160 review(s) of Wilderness Walking – Argyll & the Isles

       

      Every client receives a feedback survey when they return from their guided, self guided or tailor made holiday with us. Once completed the review is published on our website just as soon as our database updates. The little touches and details are important to us and where issues are raised we make positive changes to our trips to improve your experience.

      That’s why we read each of our client’s reviews and although we don’t respond to all of them, if it’s glowing feedback then we get the satisfaction of helping to make your holidays truly memorable.

      JL

      Julianna Lindsay

      Reviewed on 25/09/2024

      Age: 50 - 60
      Country: Canada
      Trip Date: 07/09/2024
      Trips Taken: 1

      The Bottom Line

      The Bottom Line

      A wonderful experience and we will look forward to another trip with Wilderness Scotland in the future. Many thanks for a memorable visit to Scotland.

      SB

      Shirley Brown

      Reviewed on 24/09/2024

      Age: 50 - 60
      Trip Date: 07/09/2024
      Trips Taken: 1

      The Bottom Line

      The Bottom Line

      My first trip and most impressed. i hope to do more trips in the future.

      CT

      Caroline Taylor

      Reviewed on 23/09/2024

      Age: 80 - 90
      Country: United Kingdom
      Trip Date: 07/09/2024
      Trips Taken: 15

      The Bottom Line

      The Bottom Line

      They never fail - hence my annual walk with you. I'm hoping to be fit enough for one more!

      mail

      Want more Wilderness in your life?

      Be the first to hear about new trips, locations and activities with our monthly newsletter