- Hike in two of the Highland’s most beautiful regions, experiencing contrasting landscapes
- Enjoy an exciting day speeding between rarely-visited islands on a privately-chartered zodiac
- Relax as you stay in two of the very best hotels in the Scottish Highlands
- 6 nights accommodation luxury small hotels
- All meals during the trip, from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on Day 7 (Meals included indicated as B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
- The services of an experienced and knowledgeable guide / driver throughout
- All transport throughout the trip starting and finishing in Perth
- Privately chartered RIB / zodiac excursion
- Guided whisky tasting session at the hotel
- Storyteller at Glencoe
Blue Graded Walking Holidays
Our Blue grade walking trips involve climbing some of Scotland’s best mountains and ridges. The walks are conducted at a good pace and you may be out hiking for 8 or 9 hours a day. The terrain underfoot can be anything from stalker’s paths to rough or boggy ground, boulder fields and mountain tops.
The daily walks will occasionally involve a mountain ascent of over 3000ft / 900m high. To help you decide if you are fit enough for this trip, ask yourself:
Can you comfortably hike for 10+ miles (16+km), climbing mountains and covering a variety of challenging underfoot conditions? How often do you do this?
Accommodation
This itinerary is based across two luxury hotels, allowing us to explore two different locations throughout the course of the week. We spend 3 nights in Highland Perthshire and then 3 nights in Glencoe. In Perthshire, we stay in a 10-bedroom 4-star hotel with a renowned restuarant. The hotel is a historic and charming building, which has been lovingly refurbished to create a stylish yet traditional country house feel. In Glencoe, we stay in a magnificent 5-star country house. Each of its 9 suites offer very spacious rooms with views of the mountains or sea. With a fabulous location in Glencoe and warm hospitality, it’s one of our favourite places to stay in Scotland.
Food is of paramount importance when enjoying the wilds of Scotland and throughout the journey varied local produce will be served up in hearty and imaginative meals. Seafood is a speciality with beef, lamb and venison also popular and of course, any special dietary requirements can be catered for.
Single Room Supplement
There is no single person supplement charged to solo travellers however, you will be required to share a room with another person of the same sex. If you require a single room please request this at the time of booking and we will check availability for you. A single room supplement of £700 is charged if a single room is available – please see booking form terms and conditions.
If you are happy to share but we are unable to partner you with another traveller, so that you end up in a single room, we will ask you to pay a reduced Single Supplement of £350.
You will be met by your Wilderness Scotland Guide at the entrance of Perth Railway Station at 10.30am on Day 1 of your trip. Perth is easily accessible by train, being about 1 hour by train from Edinburgh or Glasgow.
We aim to have you back at Perth by 4pm on the last day. For full details on how to get to Perth, please see our website: Recommended Travel.
Customer Kudos
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.
by Karen Stevenson 20/07/2017
Pre-Trip Service
Generally the support was excellent. Better help with ground transportation would be welcome, especially re train connections, etc.
Trip Comments
The actual walking part was terrific. There was a bit too much down time, but this probably reflects the variety of fitness and interest among the guests. Loved the whiskey tasting and the story teller in the evening.
Accommodation and Food
Daily snacks could be improved -- those Stoats are so dry and dull. Perhaps nits and dried fruit instead? The Fortingall Hotel was very nice, but some of our group had quite an inferior room. It was a bit tedious eating dinner in the same restaurant for three nights in a row. I will be int he minority here, but I did not especially like the Glencoe House. It has a forced grandeur to it and much more room than anyone needed. I'd rather have stayed in a manor house where there was a real family to host you. Also, the overall trip cost could be decreased substantially by forgoing the over-the-top accommodations at Glencoe.
Your Guide
Laura McCauley is fantastic! She is so knowledgeable, friendly, funny, resourceful, enthusiastic. Everything you could want in a guide!
The Bottom Line
This was a great trip and we were especially fortunate to have sunny weather to see Scotland at its beautiful best. (The boat trip was a highlight I neglected to mention above.) Ideally the guests would have been better matched in terms of fitness. I know you try hard to make sure guests understand the level of difficulty and rely on people's self-assessments. But I was disappointed that we cut a number of outdoor activities short because some guests found the climbing and/or weather conditions too difficult. Overall, a wonderful experience. We love Scotland and we'll be back!
by William McClave 18/07/2017
Pre-Trip Service
Trip Comments
Accommodation and Food
Your Guide
If there was rating higher than excellent, I would give Laura McAuley "excellent plus." She has the unique set of talents it takes to be an outstanding guide: exceptional skills, intelligence, knowledge, personality, thoughtfulness, sensitivity and a genuine love for what she's doing. Not to mention that she did a great job driving that big van. Laura really put it all together for us.
The Bottom Line
Excellent itinerary, great weather (thanks!) and an exceptional guide. All in all a terrific experience.
by David George 17/07/2017
Pre-Trip Service
Excellent snd efficient service
Trip Comments
Laura our trip leader was excellent and her love of the outdoors and the enthusiasm she exhibits everyday in her interactions with people around her was exemplified everyday. She is excellent in executing her responsibilities as a trip leader and providing first class guest service.
Accommodation and Food
An experience never to be forgotten especially the lodging facilities which were nothing like anything I ever expected nor have ever experienced before - we were everyday living the travel brochure life -- and always exceeded expectations which cannot be said of many past experiences.
Your Guide
Simply overwhelmed with her first class concierge type services - excellent effort and execution.
The Bottom Line
Wilderness Scotland would be my first choice if returning to Scotland.
by Laurie Zelon 17/07/2017
Pre-Trip Service
Trip Comments
Laura was a great guide, and a wonderful companion. She did everything she could to make sure the experience was what we had hoped for.
Accommodation and Food
Glendale House was just a level above anything we expected. Thank you for the unexpected and most wonderful treat.
Your Guide
With a group of differing strengths and expectations, Laura made the balance perfectly and gave us all a great trip.
The Bottom Line
Fantastic!
by Jerry Hiebert 03/07/2017
Pre-Trip Service
Rachel was a continuous source of great information. Not only about the trip logistics, but with ideas for hotels and things to see before and after.
Trip Comments
Ken is a rock star! Perfect temperament with a diverse group. Full on information about geographical and botanical issues. The pacing of activities was excellent. We had time to enjoy a leisurely breakfast, 5-6 hours of strenuous hiking and then time to grab a pint prior to dinner. Accommodations and food were beyond our expectations.
Accommodation and Food
Your Guide
Already mentioned that Ken's approach and attention to participants was outstanding. We had one participant that was not comfortable with some of the physical challenges, yet Ken was able to keep everyone satisfied.
The Bottom Line
Already planning a return trip to Scotland! That should say it all.
by Dennis Visser 28/06/2017
Pre-Trip Service
My emails were answered promptly and provided me with all the answers.
Trip Comments
Accommodation and Food
I would give at least 7 out of 5 in this category, maybe more for the accommodation.
Your Guide
The guide really took the effort to know us all and adjusted to what we and the group desired. We could not of had a better guide.
The Bottom Line
Your expectations will be exceeded. If you are lucky the group you travel with will be a great as the group I was with.
by Richard Buxton 26/06/2017
Pre-Trip Service
Trip Comments
Excellent long walks, hotels and Ken, the guide.
Accommodation and Food
Your Guide
Excellent in every respect
The Bottom Line
Excellent in every respect
by Cathryn Bird 26/06/2017
Pre-Trip Service
Trip Comments
Accommodation and Food
Maybe one too many basic sandwiches though.
Your Guide
We couldn't have asked for a better guide than Ken!
The Bottom Line
I wouldn't use anyone but Wilderness SCOTLAND for an active holiday in Scotland because they know their country best. We loved the smaller group size compared with a U.S. company we have used to do walking trips in other parts of Europe. The daily pace was great too.
by Susie Hamm 12/09/2016
Pre-Trip Service
Very personal, loved the choice of hotels and the boat trip with the hike on the island was a good change
Trip Comments
Accommodation and Food
Your Guide
Really enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere Tim provided
The Bottom Line
Loved it
by Michelle Hollaway 11/09/2016
Pre-Trip Service
Racheal was very kind in answering most small and simple questions that I may have had before departure.
Trip Comments
Tim went above and beyond to make sure that each day was cracking! Our accommodations were fabulous. I thoroughly enjoyed both hotels. Each were exquisite in their own ways, and I would book them again! Each day of our hiking, our guide was patient with the multiple personalities that existed and made sure to accommodate each individually as needed. On days when most wanted the afternoon to rest, he took the rest of us for alternate hiking. I will definitely use your company again!
Accommodation and Food
The food was plentiful. The Fortingall Hotel was fantastic, and I highly recommend their Cullen Skink!
Your Guide
A cracking Joe he was! Tim is an individual full of life and it shows in his enthusiasm about the outdoors. He has a great expertise in the ability to assess individuals and their needs and then to accommodate those needs.
The Bottom Line
This is a fantastic trip to enjoy in the beauty and ruggedness of Scotland and then relax in luxury at some fantastic hotels.
Prices and Departures
63 people viewed this trip in the last week
Book with confidence - we guaranteee our trips to run as soon as 2 people book.
2018 Trip Dates
Trip Details
If you’re looking to combine wilderness with a touch of luxury and superb hiking, this is the trip for you.
We’ll hike in the wonderful regions of Highland Perthshire and also Glencoe, which offer contrasting landscapes of great beauty. Our hikes will take in valleys, wild moorlands and a few summits too, allowing us to immerse ourselves in the wilderness.
When not out hiking, we will be enjoying stays at two of the best hotels in the Highlands. After a few days at a 4-star Highland hotel in Perthshire, we enjoy a 5-star finish in Glencoe at a wonderful mansion house. As we stay in deluxe hotels on this trip, we’ll ensure that there is enough down time to enjoy the hotels, making this a truly relaxing wilderness break.
Trip Itinerary
Day 1 – Into Highland Perthshire
Meeting in Perth, a short transfer takes us to a historic library for the trip welcome. After lunch, we head to Killin at the west end of Loch Tay for the first hike of the trip – a short but steep ascent of a peak which offers outstanding views across Loch Tay. Back in the glen, it’s a short transfer to our comfortable Highland hotel. (L, D)
Walk details: 5km, 450m ascent, approx 2 hrs
Day 2 – Hiking Glen Lyon
Glen Lyon is often cited as being one of the most beautiful glens in Scotland. It is flanked by steep sided hills which offer wonderful walking on their grassy summits. Our guide will choose a suitable hike on the day – which could be an easy walk along the valley floor, or perhaps a hike to one of the easier summits, such as Cam Chreag or Stuchd an Lochain. That evening, we enjoy a whisky-tasting session at the hotel before dinner. (B, L, D)
Walk details: up to 10km, 750m ascent, approx 6 hrs
Day 3 – The Fairy Hill of Caledonia
On our final day in Perthshire, we’ll aim to climb the iconic hill of Schiehallion – which translates as the Fairy Hill of Caledonia. An excellent trail snakes up the whaleback mountain to its lofty summit at 1,083m, which rewards us with expansive views across the Highlands. Back at the hotel, enjoy a pint of Schiehallion ale or perhaps a local whisky to celebrate! (B, L, D)
Walk details: 10km, 750m ascent, approx 6 hrs
Day 4 – A Maritime Adventure
After breakfast, we transfer west to the coast where we jump on board a privately chartered RIB (zodiac) for a memorable journey to Glencoe on the sea. We won’t take a direct route – instead, we’ll visit some islands along the way, such as Lismore or Mull, stepping ashore to explore rarely-visited beaches and coves. We then speed up Loch Linnhe, keeping an eye out for wildlife such as porpoises or dolphins, before arriving in Loch Leven and transferring a short distance to our fantastic hotel, which boasts a commanding location on the hillside. (B, L, D)
Walk details: 4km, minimal ascent, approx 2 hrs
Day 5 – Wilderness and a Waterfall
We’ll start our hike in the small town of Kinlochleven where will climb out of the village, and follow a good trail through the forest, you’ll soon be able to hear the thunder of falling water. The Grey Mare’s Tail waterfall is hugely impressive falling at times almost 50 feet. We’ll continue on our hike as the path comes out of the woods and eventually reaches a remote loch, surrounded by mountains and wild moorlands. On the return, we’ll enjoy stunning views down the length of Loch Leven to the Pap of Glencoe. In the evening, a storyteller shares tales of the Glencoe’s dark history before dinner. (B, L, D)
Walk details: 13km, 350m ascent, approx 5 hrs
Day 6 – Hiking Glencoe
There are countless superb hikes in Glencoe. The rugged mountains offer superb, though challenging, hiking. However, some of the best views in Glencoe are from a lower, easier, yet rarely climbed peak – and that will be our target today. Following a faint trail, we hike up the flanks of the open hillside. The views open up quickly as we gain height. Reaching the summit, the views are simply sensational, as we gaze directly across the valley at the north face of Buachaille Etive Mor, the most iconic sight in Glencoe. Afterwards, we’ll stop in at a well-known mountaineer’s pub to toast the end of the trip before returning to our hotel for dinner. (B, L, D)
Walk details: 11km, 650m ascent, approx 5 hrs
Day 7 – Rob Roy’s Grave and Creag an Tuirc
We leave Glencoe and transfer south to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Here, we’ll stop at the tiny churchyard in Balquhidder and visit the grave of Rob Roy MacGregor. There will be time for a short hike to Creag an Tuirc – a great viewpoint and the perfect place to reflect on a special week. The summit is marked with a large cairn and offers incredible views down the length of Loch Voil. A short transfer takes us back to Perth, arriving late afternoon. (B, L)
Walk details: 3km, 150m ascent, approx 1.5 hrs
Call Your Adventure Consultant Now
Speak to the Team
Call us. Get straight through to a local expert in the Highlands of Scotland.
PhonePrices and Departures
63 people viewed this trip in the last week
Book with confidence - we guaranteee our trips to run as soon as 2 people book.
