Ferguson - Exploring the Cairngorms, Glencoe and Edinburgh

Kathy Ferguson & Mark Zurack

Thursday 6th June – Wednesday 12th June 2024

Number of Travellers: 2
Duration: 7 Days / 6 Nights

Itinerary at a Glance

Day 1 | Thursday 6th June | Visit Culloden Battlefield and Clava Cairns | Overnight: Auldearn

Day 2 | Friday 7th June | Hiking in the Cairngorms | Overnight: Auldearn

Day 3 | Saturday 8th June | West to Glencoe | Overnight: Glencoe

Day 4 | Sunday 9th June | Hiking in Glencoe | Overnight: Glencoe

Day 5 | Monday 10th June | Transfer to Edinburgh | Overnight: Edinburgh

Day 6 | Tuesday 11th June | Greyfriars Bobby and Self Guided Exploration | Overnight: Edinburgh

Day 7 | Wednesday 12th June | Depart Edinburgh

Highlights

  • Discover the majesty of the deep glens, clear rivers and wild lochs on expertly guided walks
  • Immerse yourself in the enchanting atmosphere of Glencoe
  • Delve into Scotland's rich history with visits to the historic Culloden Battlefield and ancient Clava Cairns
  • Explore Scotland's vibrant capital city

Day by Day

Day 1 - Thursday 6th June - Visit Culloden Battlefield and Clava Cairns

Your guide, Don, will meet you at Inverness Airport this morning following the arrival of your flight. Head out to visit Culloden Battlefield and its richly researched and engaging visitor centre. Learn about one of the most harrowing battles in Scottish history and walk across the rough moor where the Jacobites and the Government fought in 1746. Take the opportunity to visit Clava Cairns – a well-preserved Bronze Age cemetery complex of passage graves, ring cairns, kerb cairns and standing stones. After lunch, enjoy a beautiful short coastal walk, identifying flora and fauna along the way. Arrive at your Georgian mansion accommodation and settle in for a relaxing evening.

Overnight: Auldearn | Boath House
Room Type: Drawing Studio
Meals Included: Lunch

Day 2 - Friday 7th June - 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 Don, 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.

Overnight: Auldearn | Boath House
Room Type: Drawing Studio
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 3 - Saturday 8th June - West to Glencoe

Depart Boath House after breakfast, and make your way west towards the stunning scenery of Glencoe. These dramatic mountains and ridges have featured as the backdrop in many films and once you are looking up at these summits it is easy to see why! Enjoy a short hike before you settle down with a celebratory beverage in a traditional climbers pub and listen to local legends and fascinating tales of the dark past of Glencoe told by a local storyteller.

Overnight: Glencoe | Glencoe House
Room Type: Suite 2
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 4 - Sunday 9th June - 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
Room Type: Suite 2
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 5 - Monday 10th June - Transfer to Edinburgh

After leaving the beautiful surroundings of Glencoe House, you’ll journey towards the Scottish Capital of Edinburgh. You may wish to stop en route for a short hike, perhaps in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, or maybe make a stop at the grave of the famous outlaw Rob Roy MacGregor. Finish up in Edinburgh this afternoon where Don will depart you once you’re settled into your luxurious central city accommodation. Take some time this afternoon to explore the beautiful cobblestone streets of the city. Full of history, the capital is very accessible by foot. Wander up the Royal Mile, stopping to visit the architecturally stunning St Giles Cathedral, and enjoy panoramic views from Edinburgh Castle. Pick up a coffee and a pastry from one of the wee artisan shops, dipping into local galleries, cheesemongers and bookshops.

Overnight: Edinburgh | The Balmoral Hotel
Room Type: Deluxe Old Town View
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 6 - Tuesday 11th June - Greyfriars Bobby and Self Guided Exploration

After a relaxed breakfast, spend the morning visiting some of the city’s lovely shops and pottering through Princes Street Gardens. Visit the statue of Greyfriars Bobby, a well-loved Skye terrier who spent 14 years guarding the grave of his owner until he died on 14 January 1872. Why not celebrate your final night in Scotland with a dram of your favourite Scottish whisky.

Overnight: Edinburgh | The Balmoral Hotel
Room Type: Deluxe Old Town View
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 7 - Wednesday 12th June - Depart Edinburgh

After breakfast, head to the airport and depart for home.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Trip Details

Inclusions Read More
  • All accommodation from Day 1 to Day 7
  • Most meals as indicated above
  • Services of an experienced and knowledgeable qualified guide from Day 1 to Day 5
  • Ground transportation from Day 1 to Day 5
  • All guided hikes and activities mentioned in the itinerary
  • Entry to Culloden Battlefield
  • Glencoe storyteller
  • Entry to Glencoe Visitor Centre
  • Personalised trip design and delivery
  • Snacks throughout the trip
  • 24 hour in-country support from the Wilderness Team
Exclusions Read More
  • Flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Meals not mentioned in the inclusions
  • Activities and entrance fees not mentioned in the inclusions
  • Gratuities for the main driver guide
Notes Read More

FURTHER INFORMATION

If you require any assistance or support prior to or during your trip then please contact our office on the details below:

Wilderness Scotland Dalfaber Drive Aviemore PH22 1ST

E‐Mail: [email protected] Tel: +44(0)1479 420020.

The Wilderness Scotland out-of-office hours number is +44 (0)7766 794640.

Please only call this number for things that cannot wait until the office is open again.

Important Additional Information Read More
Terms & Conditions Read More

Please see our booking terms here.

Get in Touch

Tel: 0044 1479 420 020/ Toll free 866 740 3890

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Accommodation

Boath House

Boath House | Auldearn | Nairn |
IV12 5TE | Phone: +44 (0)1667 454 896
Web: boath-house.com

Glencoe House

Glencoe | West Highlands |
PH49 4HT | Scotland
Phone: +44 (0)1855 811 179
Web: glencoe-house.com

The Balmoral Hotel

1 Princes Street | Edinburgh |
EH2 2EQ | Scotland
Phone: +44 (0)131 556 2414
Web: roccofortehotels.com/hotels-and-resorts/the-balmoral-hotel

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Glencoe

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Meet Your Guide

Don Pritchard

Contact Number: +44 (0) 7871163913

Originally from Scone in Perthshire, I got hooked on the outdoor world from a very early age, spending the weekends roaming the woods and hills around our village, making dens and guddling trout in the burns.

My sense of adventure took me off to the Royal Navy and a considerable time was spent as an aircraft engineer on the Search and Rescue Squadron based at Prestwick. While there I continued to climb, walk and mountaineer in Scotland, often organising and guiding hillwalking and backpacking trips. I completed the Munros (Scottish mountains over 3000ft), a couple of years ago, and I am now ticking my way through them again along with the Corbetts.

I love Scotland’s mountains and particularly enjoy multi-day backpacking treks across the mountains and glens. Any day on the hill is a good day and there is always something to see and enjoy. After retiring from the Navy, I retrained as a horticulturist at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and I grow and produce tea commercially in Scotland.

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Virtuoso

Ferguson – Exploring the Cairngorms, Glencoe and Edinburgh

Thursday 6th June – Wednesday 12th June 2024