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Durteste - Through the Highlands

Number of Travellers: 2

Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights

Overview

From the soaring summits of Glencoe to the needled rock pinnacles on the Isle of Skye, Scotland’s beautiful landscape is a wonderful and evocative place to explore. On a trip that showcases some of the brightest jewels in the country’s wild and rugged crown, experience the very best of this remote and ancient land. With a professional Wilderness guide, travel from the twinkling lights of Glasgow to the slate blue mountains of the Cairngorms National Park. By foot, by boat or by train, traverse the captivating and diverse landscape while immersing yourself in the history, culture and traditions of this enchanting region.

Highlights

Explore the diverse landscape with an expert and knowledgeable guide.
Join a local ghillie on a foraging workshop, gathering wild island food.
Immerse yourself in the history and folklore of the Isle of Skye as you hike along stunning, sea-stung cliffs.
Board the Jacobite Steam Train and enjoy one of the world's most beautiful railway journeys.

Day by Day

Day 1 - Welcome to Scotland

Meet your Wilderness Scotland guide this morning and begin your adventure by heading north from Glasgow to Glencoe. Travel through the Scottish Highlands to reach Glencoe, where the visitor centre provides insights into the region’s history. After a spot of lunch, you may wish to consider a hike in the Glencoe Valley before settling into your accommodation later this afternoon, tucked amongst the pines at the tip of Loch Leven.

Overnight: Glencoe | Glencoe House
Meals Included: Lunch

Day 2 - Hiking in Glencoe

Enjoy breakfast before meeting your guide and heading out to explore Glencoe. The spectacular Glencoe, carved out centuries ago by glaciers and volcanic eruptions, offers some wild and scenic hiking. One great option is to hike along a narrow rowan-hung gorge until you reach the Lost Valley. This enclosed meadow – high, green, and hidden by precipitous tors, is said to be where the Macdonald clan used to conceal their rustled cattle. Surrounded by jagged peaks that shift in and out of mountain mist, visit the Glencoe Center to learn about the landscape’s haunting history.

Overnight: Glencoe | Glencoe House
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 3 - Jacobite Steam Train Experience

After a relaxed breakfast, head out to hop aboard the Jacobite Steam Train. Warm drink in hand, sit back and relax as it chugs through some of the most stunning scenery of the Highlands. Cross the Glenfinnan viaduct (a location made famous in the Harry Potter films) which overlooks Loch Shiel and the Jacobite monument. Arriving back in Fort William this afternoon, your guide will meet you off the train and transfer you back into the brooding melancholy of Glencoe. Carved out centuries ago by glaciers and volcanic eruptions, the famous Glen seems to push against reality into the folds of a fairytale.

Overnight: Glencoe | Glencoe House
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 4 - Over the Sea to Skye

After a leisurely breakfast, head west to the Isle of Skye. Wind by mountain glens ribboned with narrow waterfalls and through woodlands of old trees that break the tarmac into a jigsaw of leafy shadows. Once on the Misty Isle, meet a local ghillie for an afternoon of wild foraging, connecting with the landscape as you learn how to forage sensitively and ethically. Enjoy cooking your bounty over an open flame while listening to local tales of the island. Settle into your accommodation this evening, falling asleep to the sound of the sea.

Overnight: Isle of Skye | Kinloch Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 5 - Wild Loch Coruisk & The Black Cuillin Mountains

Feeling rested, head south with your guide, arriving in Elgol – a tiny hamlet scattered along the western cliffs of the Strathaird peninsula. From a small jetty, board the charming Bella Jane and sail over Loch Scavaig into the very heart of the Black Cuillin. As the lovely first mate provides some fascinating history about the surrounding islands, look for sleepy seals lounging on the warm rocks. Upon reaching the shore, leave the boat to explore Loch Coruisk, also known as the Cauldron of the Waters, a deep dark loch that stretches like a shadow below the impressive volcanic peaks. Choose to walk around the loch or climb the rugged mountain of Sgurr na Stri – which is considered by many to offer one of the wildest and most spectacular views in Scotland.

Overnight: Isle of Skye | Kinloch Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 6 - Travel to the Cairngorms

Set out after a delightful breakfast and head for the Cairngorms National Park, arriving later this afternoon. Along the way, you may wish to stop and visit one of the most recognized images of the Scottish Highlands, with its striking position and turbulent history – Eilean Donan Castle. Approaching the fringes of the national park, you may wish to stop to visit the Highland Folk Museum, a fantastic open-air exhibit that reveals how Highland folk lived many years ago. Continuing on, arrive at your special converted farmhouse accommodation, your home for the final few nights.

Overnight: Cairngorms | Killiehuntly Farmhouse
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7 - Hiking in the Cairngorms

Today, enjoy a hike in the beautiful Cairngorms National Park. At over 4500 sq km it is the largest National Park in the UK and with miles of winding rivers, make it Scotland’s most prolific whisky-making region. With your guide, choose a hike that suits you – perhaps head out onto the alpine plateau of the Cairngorms Mountain range and bag a sought-after Munro. Or choose to explore the Caledonian pine forest which is the oldest forest in Scotland and the last of the woodland that once covered the whole of the UK. Roam heather-covered glens and alongside jewel-like lochs for the perfect immersion into the ancient landscape. This evening, enjoy a drink in a Highland pub while listening to some traditional folk music.