Wilderness Travel – Private Journeys: Scotland 2024

Day 1 - Arrive in Glasgow

A private transfer driver will meet you at Glasgow airport and transfer you to your welcoming hotel. Take some time to relax and settle in, enjoying an oasis of calm as the city’s characterful streets buzz and bustle beyond the window.

Note: If clients prefer to fly to Edinburgh Airport (EDI), it is just 1 hour’s transfer from Glasgow city centre so that works as well.

Overnight: Glasgow | 5* Kimpton Blythswood Square or 4* Abode
Meals Included: None

Day 2 - Discovering Glasgow: The Friendly City

After breakfast, you will enjoy a private tour of Glasgow and its many sights with an expert local guide. Start the day in the city’s east end, where you will take a walk through the Necropolis, a Victorian Cemetery. Then you will walk through the city centre exploring the varied architecture, before moving on the wonderful Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum. You will end the day with a walk up trendy Byres Road in the West End, finishing at Glasgow’s Botanic Gardens.

Overnight: Glasgow | 5* Kimpton Blythswood Square or 4* Abode
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3 - Into the Highlands

Your main driver guide will meet you this morning at your hotel and you will make your way north, pausing at the village of Luss on the shores of Loch Lomond. Continuing north, you will stop at the striking Inveraray Castle. Your final stop will be at Dunadd, a grassy hill which reveals itself to be an Iron Age Fort and, in fact, the birthplace of Scotland. If you are a keen hiker, there are many full day hikes which could be taken on this day as you pass by some wonderful mountains such as ‘The Cobbler’ – which is not as tricky as it looks!

Overnight: Benderloch | 5* Isle of Eriska or 4* Loch Melfort
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 4 - The Inner Hebrides

From your hotel, you will have easy access to a number of Inner Hebridean islands. You can choose an island and then take the ferry across and explore on foot. You can hike around the Isle of Kerrera or explore rarely-visited Luing. Or, charter a fast RIB for the day and circumnavigate Mull, with stops at Iona, Staffa and a final stop in the colourful port of Tobermory for an early evening meal.

The cost for the RIB is an optional upgrade and not included in the trip.

Overnight: Benderloch | 5* Isle of Eriska or 4* Loch Melfort
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 5 - North to Lochaber & Hiking Glencoe

After breakfast, you will head north, passing island-bound Castle Stalker as you make your way to Glencoe. This rugged and beautiful valley offers superb hiking. Choose from a low level route to a loch or an energetic hike to a high summit, led by your private guide. If time permits, visit the Glencoe Exhibition, which tells the tale of the terrible massacre which took place in the ‘Glen of Weeping’ in 1692.

Overnight: Near Fort William | 5* Inverlochy Castle Hotel or 4* Kingshouse Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 6 - Hiking in Lochaber

You can take advantage of your location in one of the prime hiking spots in Scotland. Your guide will select a suitable objective for the day – perhaps a stunning hike in Glen Nevis, or a hike to Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Scotland. There are many wonderful hikes around Glencoe and Kinlochleven as well – you are truly spoiled for choice!

Overnight: Near Fort William | 5* Inverlochy Castle Hotel or 4* Kingshouse Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 7 - Sea Kayaking, then Over The Sea To Skye

A short drive west along the beautiful “Road To The Isles” takes you past the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct, all the way to Arisaig Bay near Mallaig. The beauty of this coastline is best revealed by sea kayak as you glide through hundreds of sandy islands, home to a wonderfully curious seal population. From Mallaig, you take the ferry over the sea to Skye and transfer north to Portree, the main village on the island.

Overnight: Isle of Skye | Cuillin Hills Hotel
Room Type: 5* option is an upgraded room
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 8 - The Magic of Skye

Enjoy a memorable morning hike at The Quiraing – you can hike here all day if you like, as the unique landscape and rock formations are endlessly fascinating. Afterwards, there is lots to see and probably not enough time! Flora MacDonald’s grave is nearby and Dunvegan Castle, home of the MacLeod’s, is a short drive away. For those who enjoy a tipple, a visit to Talisker Whisky Distillery could be the perfect end to the day.

Overnight: Isle of Skye | Cuillin Hills Hotel
Room Type: 5* option is an upgraded room
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 9 - East to Loch Ness & Inverness

You will leave Skye by crossing the bridge into the stunning Kintail region. Keen hikers will enjoy spending a day here exploring the mountains. Otherwise, you can stop at picturesque Eilean Donan Castle on your way to Loch Ness, where you can enjoy a short hike above the village of Drumnadrochit.  In the afternoon you can choose to visit the ruins of Urquhart Castle to explore the most besieged castle in Scotland and learn more about the part it played in the battle of the clans that raged along the glen many years ago or enjoy an afternoon cruise on Loch Ness before heading to the capital of the Highlands.

You can also choose to upgrade to a private boat trip – see Optional Upgrades

Overnight: Inverness | 5* Ness Walk or 4* Kingsmills Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 10 - Travel to Glasgow & Depart

The transfer south to Glasgow Airport takes a little over 3 hours. Depending on flight times, there are plenty of places of interest where you can stop along the way. Drop off at the airport and depart.

Meals Included: Breakfast