Trip created by Rachael Gavan
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Region: Inner Hebrides including Skye
Trip Type: Wilderness Walking
Comfort: Classic
Confirmed: When 2 Traveller(s) Book
Deposit From £250.00
£443.75
Difficulty:
All you need to know about your trip, this essential document is a must for all adventures.
Download ItineraryArgyll 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 whisky distilleries are equally appealing. This fascinating itinerary takes you on a journey through the Argyll peninsula and several of its islands, including hard-to-reach Jura. Our hikes link prehistoric sites, nature reserves and whisky distilleries, all set against the backdrop of green hills and the rolling Atlantic. The second half of the trip is three nights on the Isle of Islay – a wild and beautiful island on the very western fringe of Scotland – known for its eight whisky distilleries, prolific birdlife and stunning coastal landscapes.
We meet in Oban late morning, coinciding with the arrival of the train from Glasgow. After introductions, we head straight to our first island – Kerrera. Just south of Oban, we take a small boat across the strait to this small island, which has about 100 residents. We enjoy a superb hike which takes a circular route covering the southern half of the island. On the way, we pass the ruined outpost of Gylen Castle, once a stronghold for clan MacDougall. The views are wonderful and will whet the appetite for the week ahead! After hopping back across to the mainland, we transfer 30 minutes south to our hotel. Set in a fantastic coastal location, all rooms benefit from sea views. We enjoy a welcome dinner at the hotel. (L, D)
Walk details: 10km/ 6 miles | 300m/ 980 ft of ascent | approx. 4-5 hours
Picturesque Kilmartin Glen is one of the richest sites in Europe for prehistoric remains. Our morning walk takes us on a circular route through some of the most interesting sites, passing Celtic crosses, medieval grave slabs, Bronze Age chambered cairns and standing stones. In the afternoon we visit Knapdale – where beavers were reintroduced to Scotland in 2009 after a 400 year absence. We take a fascinating tour with the knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff and perhaps take a short wander along the nearby Crinan Canal before returning to our hotel. (B, L)
Walk details: Up to 8km/ 5 miles | 50m/ 160 ft of ascent | approx. 3-4 hours
With a privately chartered boat at our disposal, this day is sure to be a highlight of the trip. We’ll venture, with a flexible approach, to the less visited Isle of Jura to enjoy some wild hiking. We may land in West Loch Tarbert and hike coast to coast, being collected by our boat on the eastern shores. Or we may hike point to point along the east coast, passing the cottage where George Orwell stayed when he wrote ‘1984,’ and enjoying fantastic views back to Argyll. Whatever hike we undertake, our boat will detour to the Corryvreckan Whirlpool, so we can appreciate the power of Scotland’s largest tidal whirlpool – from a safe distance! (B, L)
Walk details: 11km/ 7 miles | 350m/ 1150 ft of ascent | approx. 4-5 hours
Today we’ll take the ferry to Islay, the southernmost island in of the Inner Hebrides archipelago. On arrival, we’ll enjoy a hike which explores the shoreline of Loch Gruinart and Killinallan Point keeping a look out for birds such as cuckoos, corncrakes and hen harriers, and visiting beautiful beaches with views north to the islands of Colonsay and Mull (B, L)
Walk details: 10km/ 6 miles | 50m/ 160 ft of ascent | approx. 4-5 hours
Enjoy a change of pace with a woodland exploration this morning. On the way, we stop into a working woolen mill producing beautiful woven products which have featured in many Hollywood films. We will have some time to admire some other local crafts, including a tiny brewery which is the only beer producer on this whisky-centric island. Depending on time we may head out for another short hike along Islay’s beautiful Machair dunes. (B, L)
Walk details: 7km/ 4.25 miles | 23m/ 75 ft of ascent | approx. 2 hours
Our walk today explores the Oa Peninsula in the far south of Islay. We hike up to the American Monument, which commemorates the loss of two troops ships in 1918. We then follow a dramatic cliff-top trail past an Iron Age fort to reach the summit of Beinn Mhor. Although just 200m high, this is a superb viewpoint – on a clear day, the coast of Northern Ireland can be seen! After the hike we recover by visiting one of Islay’s whisky distilleries before returning to our farewell dinner at our hotel. (B, L, D)
Walk details: 9km/ 6 miles | 250m/ 820 ft of ascent | approx. 4-5 hours
After breakfast, we take the morning ferry back onto the Argyll mainland, keeping a lookout for wildlife and admiring the views as we sail. Once back in Kennacraig, it’s a 90-minute transfer back to Oban. We should arrive by 2pm. Trains south to Glasgow depart at approx 2.30pm. (B, L)
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ACCOMMODATION
We spend our 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 £335 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.
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.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
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.
All ferries and boat trip fees are included within this itinerary.
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1 Booking(s) in the last 72 hours
| Trip Dates for 2020 | Availability | Status | Price | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd May - 8th May 2020 | 3 place(s) left | CONFIRMED | £1,775 | Book Now |
| 6th Jun - 12th Jun 2020 | 4 place(s) left | CONFIRMED | £1,775 | Book Now |
| 20th Jun - 26th Jun 2020 | 8 place(s) left | UNCONFIRMED | £1,775 | Book Now |
| 4th Jul - 10th Jul 2020 | 7 place(s) left | UNCONFIRMED | £1,775 | Book Now |
| 18th Jul - 24th Jul 2020 | 4 place(s) left | CONFIRMED | £1,775 | Book Now |
| 1st Aug - 7th Aug 2020 | 2 place(s) left | CONFIRMED | £1,775 | Book Now |
| 22nd Aug - 28th Aug 2020 | 8 place(s) left | UNCONFIRMED | £1,775 | Book Now |
| 5th Sep - 11th Sep 2020 | Trip Full | FULLY BOOKED | £1,775 |
Sometimes it's nice to get family and friends together and travel privately for some quality time. This means you benefit from all the features of the group departure, including hand-picked accommodation and expert local guides and we'll take care of it all. Then you can make your choice of departures dates and we'll get back to you to finalise the details.
Rachael is a true gem and we regularly receive feedback thanking her for designing inspiring itineraries and for being such a pleasure to chat to. In many cases the people Rachael designs tailor made trips for, actually become friends and she’s had more than one invite to far off lands as a result. Rachael believes in only the highest levels of customer experience and service and the Argyll and the Isles trip she created uncovers some surprising hidden parts of this less explored corner of Scotland.
- Rachael Gavan
Ask Rachael a QuestionGreen Graded Walking Holidays
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 be mostly good paths and hill trails but these can still be muddy and rough in places. Some hikes may involve an ascent up to a max of approx 1,500 feet / 450m. Distances will be typically 8-10km but there may be the odd slightly longer day. Daily hike details are available in the itinerary.
Rated 4.91 out of 5 based on 94 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.
Gill Davis
Reviewed on 15/10/2019
Age: 60 - 70
Country: Australia
Trip Date: 07/09/2019
Trips Taken: 2
The Bottom Line
Highly recommend and in the words of our tour guide "haste ye back" and I will be.
Cathy Abramson
Reviewed on 28/09/2019
Age: 60 - 70
Country: USA
Trip Date: 07/09/2019
Trips Taken: 1
The Bottom Line
Excellent trip! Beautiful scenery, great guide, good pacing of activities and a fun group of hikers. I would definitely recommend it his trip.
Ronald Schechter
Reviewed on 23/09/2019
Age: 70 - 80
Country: United States
Trip Date: 07/09/2019
Trips Taken: 1
The Bottom Line
Overall, our experience with Wilderness Scotland was terrific. A well put-together trip, a great guide, and nice accommodations. The trip was accurately described in terms of "degree of difficulty." Also, a terrific value compared to other options that we looked into.
