The Western Isles

Tuesday 11th to Wednesday 19th June, Tuesday 6th to Wednesday 14th August
and Tuesday 17th to Wednesday 25th September 2013

Scotland is just on your doorstep and it is so beautiful! This wonderful tour explores the north-west of Scotland, avoiding busy roads by travelling on fast trains in comfortable First Class seats for the journeys to and from the north. Highlights of the tour include visiting areas where other tours do not normally go, such as the Isles of Harris and Lewis and the beautiful region beyond Ullapool, plus a trip on The Jacobite steam train.
A coach handling our luggage will accompany us throughout Scotland. We take advantage of the contemporary First Class Lounge at London’s King’s Cross Station which provides a peaceful space to relax prior to our journey.

Tuesday
Highland Chieftain to Scotland
We wave goodbye to London’s King’s Cross Station aboard the Highland Chieftain train and en route a light lunch will be served at your seat. We stop at York where more passengers may join the train, including those who have travelled by service train from Peterborough. The train continues its journey along the East Coast Main Line via Newcastle and Edinburgh and on to Stirling. From there, a coach takes us to The Inn at Inverbeg for dinner and overnight accommodation. The Inn is located in beautiful countryside on the banks of Loch Lomond and enjoys stunning views of both the Loch and Ben Lomond. It also prides itself on its excellent customer service. (L D)

Wednesday
Lake Cruise on Loch Lomond
After a leisurely breakfast, and perhaps a stroll by the Loch, our road coach takes us the short distance to Tarbet where we have a private cruise on Loch Lomond, with a light lunch provided. We rejoin our coach to travel the short distance to Arrochar and Tarbet Station to catch a train to Fort William. The route passes through spectacular scenery, crossing the remote Rannoch Moor, to Fort William. The town is located in an enviable position on Loch Linnhe with the majestic Ben Nevis, at 4,406 feet Britain’s highest mountain, as its backdrop. Our train is due to arrive at 16:09 and we check in to our hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B L D)

Thursday
The Jacobite and over the Sea to Skye
Described as one of the great railway journeys of the world, The Jacobite steam train takes us for 42 miles through some of the most magnificent scenery that Scotland has to offer. Apart from the mountain and sea views, it crosses the world famous twenty-one arch Glenfinnan Viaduct. The final destination is Mallaig, where we have around two hours to explore the village and fishing port and find lunch. We board the ferry for the Isle of Skye. At Armadale we rejoin our road coach which, as always, has followed us with our luggage, to travel to our hotel in Portree. (B D)

Friday
Skye and Harris Islands
Our coach takes us across Skye to Uig, pausing a few times for us to take in the scenery. Our ferry departs at around 14:00 for the one and half hour crossing to Tarbert on the Isle of Harris. We travel onwards through the bleak landscape of Harris and Lewis to the island’s capital, Stornoway, where we stay at a hotel for two nights. (B D)

Saturday
The Isle of Lewis
Today we have a guided coach tour of the Isle of Lewis, including the Butt of Lewis with its lighthouse, and the Calanais Stone Circle. These spectacular prehistoric standing stones form dramatic avenues with a circle of large monoliths at the centre. They were almost totally covered with peat until the mid-19th Century. We stop for lunch on our journey. (B L D)

Sunday
Lochinver
This morning we have time to relax in Stornoway. We join the ferry for Ullapool to return to the mainland before travelling on to Lochinver, a pleasant village with a beautiful harbour and a magnificent mountain backdrop. We stay here for two nights at the luxurious Inverlodge Hotel, set on a hillside overlooking the bay. All rooms have splendid views and deer often appear on the lawns outside. (B D)

Monday
North West Scottish Highlands
Our road coach takes us to discover the remote, impressive landscape of the North West Highlands, which offer deserted sandy beaches and spectacular mountain scenery. The tour passes through Scourie and Laxford Bridge before arriving at Durness, where there will be time for lunch. (B D)

Tuesday
Dunrobin Castle and Inverness
We depart by road coach along mountain roads to Lairg and Dunrobin Castle. The Castle is located on high terraces from where there are views across its wonderful gardens to the sea beyond. A highlight of the visit will be the falconry display. We have lunch in the Castle before transferring to Golspie Station where we board a train to Inverness. Upon arrival we check in to our hotel. (B L D)

Wednesday
The Highland Chieftain back to London
We enjoy an early breakfast at our hotel before transferring to the railway station to join the Highland Chieftain for our return journey. We can relax in our First Class seats as we leave Inverness and pass through the Highlands, a wonderful experience, en route to Perth, Edinburgh, Newcastle, York and London King’s Cross. A light lunch will be served on the journey south. (B L)

*Passengers from Peterborough change trains at York on both outward and return journeys.

Train Timings

Approximate timings shown

Price

Price per person: London £1480 – Peterborough £1450 – York £1430
Single supplement: £290

Price includes

• First class rail travel from London to Stirling and Inverness to London with at-seat dining
• 8 nights half board accommodation in 3 star hotels
• 5 Lunches
• All train travel and coach transfers mentioned in the itinerary
• First class rail travel on The Jacobite from Fort William to Mallaig
• Standard class rail travel between Arrochar and Fort William and Golspie and Inverness
(First Class not provided on these trains)
• The services of a tour manager

Meals included each day are shown as: B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D = Dinner