Walkabout Scotland
Highland Railways and Hills

Highland Railways and Hills


Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 (Sunday): Leaving Edinburgh Waverley on a mid morning train, you will travel to Aviemore and check into the hotel before an afternoon walk through the Rothiemurcus forest. If the group is feeling exceptionally fit, we may stop en route at Pitlochry for an ascent of Ben Vrackie before onward travel to Aviemore.
Rothiemurcus: 8km/5m, flat, good trail.

Strathsspey_Steamtrain
Day 2 (Monday): A journey on the Strathspey steam railway – whose station is opposite our hotel! – takes us to Broomhill. A spectacular walk follows, through the ancient Rothiemurcus Forest and into the Cairngorm Mountains. The walk ends at Glenmore on the shores of Loch Morlich, from where a bus takes us back to the hotel.
14km/8m, 100m/300ft ascent.

Day 3 (Tuesday): A Scotrail train from Aviemore takes us to Inverness, where we transfer onto train for Kyle of Lochalsh. The Kyle line is one of the most spectacular rail journeys in the world, and is known as the “Skye train”. At Kyle, we transfer to a bus for the short hop to Broadford on the Isle of Skye, where a quality bed and breakfast forms our base for the next few days. Time permitting, we will have an afternoon coastal walk from Broadford.

Suishnish
Day 4 (Wednesday): A full day of walking on Skye. We’ll go up into the hills if the weather is kind, and if not an equally spectacular coastal walk is planned.
10km/6m, 100m/300ft ascent, mainly good tracks.



Day 5: (Thursday): A bus takes us from Broadford to the ferry terminal at Armadale, on the Southern end of Skye. From here we cross the Sound of Sleat by ferry, and arrive back on the mainland at Mallaig. We then travel by small charter boat over to Inverrie, on the Knoydart peninsular. You have the option of stopping at the Old Forge, Britain's most isolated pub or doing a short walk. The boat trip should hopefully give us chance to spot some of Scotland's larger sea mammals.

8km/5m, 100m/300ft ascent, good tracks

Day 6 (Friday): A late departure from Fort William means keener walkers can join us for a morning excursion up beautiful Glen Nevis. However, we need to be back at the station for 11.30 when we rejoin the West Highland line for a service to Corrrour – Britain’s most remote station. From here we make an ascent of Ben Na Lap, which provides astonishing views without being too steep a climb! Returning on the evening train to Fort William.
10km/6m, 450m/1500ft ascent, rough path.

Day 7: (Saturday): Return to Edinburgh - Our last day, and we take the morning train from Fort William southwards towards Glasgow, skirting the banks of Loch Lomond. Arrival in Edinburgh should be around 12.30, giving additional time to explore the Scottish capital before setting out for home if you wish.
Boreraig
Skye_bridge

Accommodation and Meals
Your accommodation for the week is in personally selected small hotels and guest houses in Aviemore, Skye and Fort William. We only use places we have personally visited and approved and you will be warmly received by your host.
Evening meals for the whole group on this trip are normally taken at a local inn or restaurant. On all our tours we make a special effort to ensure that your evening meals are a highlight of the trip and seafood is a particular speciality on the Skye part of this trip. Specific dietary requirements can normally be catered for if we know in advance. Packed lunches are not included.
Grading of Walks
The walking throughout this tour we class as “easy to moderate” – suitable for people of reasonable fitness who enjoy walking or the outdoors but who needn’t necessarily have any previous hiking experience. Walks each day are between 5-7 hours, with mostly lower level walks with little ascent on good trails. There are easier alternatives to the ascent of Ben na Lap which the guide will advise depending on weather conditions and fitness levels of the group. You will be on pathed terrain throughout the week, but this will vary to being quite rugged or sometimes boggy. If you have any doubts about your suitability for the trip please just ask!




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WS Adventures Ltd. t/a Walkabout Scotland

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Ph: 0131 261 6470

tours@walkaboutscotland.com