7-night Scottish Highlands Gentle Guided Walking Holiday Tour Style: Gentle Walks Destinations: Scottish Highlands & Scotland Trip code: LLBEW-7 1, 2 & 3 HOLIDAY OVERVIEW Glen Coe is arguably one of the most celebrated glens in the world with its volcanic origins, and its dramatic landscapes offering breathtaking scenery – magnificent peaks, ridges and stunning seascapes. This easier variation of our best-selling Guided Walking holidays is the perfect way to enjoy a gentle exploration of the Scottish Highlands. Easy walks of 3-4 miles with up to 400 feet of ascent are available, although if you’d like to do something a bit more demanding walks up some of the lower hills are also included in the programme. Our medium option walks are 6 to 8 miles with up to 1000 feet of ascent whilst harder options are 8 to 10 miles with up to 2,600 feet of ascent. WHAT'S INCLUDED • High quality en-suite accommodation in our Country House • Full board from dinner upon arrival to breakfast on departure day • 5 days guided walking • Use of our comprehensive Discovery Point www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 1 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 HOLIDAYS HIGHLIGHTS • Discover the dramatic scenery of the Scottish Highlands • Explore the atmospheric glens and coastal paths seeking out the best viewpoints. • Hear about the turbulent history of the highlands • Join our friendly and knowledgeable guides who will bring this stunning landscape to life TRIP SUITABILITY This trip is graded Activity Level 1, 2 and 3. This easier variation of our best-selling Guided Walking holidays is the perfect way to enjoy a gentle exploration of the Scottish Highlands. The choice of three guided walks includes a gentle walk of 3 or 4 miles. ITINERARY Day 1: Arrival Day You're welcome to check in from 4pm onwards. Enjoy a complimentary Afternoon Tea on arrival. Day 2: Ardgour & Strontian Take the Corran Ferry across Loch Linnhe to the Ardgour Peninsula. Today's easiest option offers a pleasant woodland walk in the grounds of Ardgour House passing a a group of small lochs formed by glaciers 10,000 years ago whilst the medium follows the river from the village of Strontian towards the long-abandoned Bellsgrove lead mines, then returns through the Ariundle Nature Reserve. The hardest option heads to the hills above Strontian ascending on an ancient ‘coffin route’ to Bealach nan Cairn, then following the ridge eastwards to Meall Iain. The descent is through the old workings of the Whitesmith Mine back to the Strontian valley. Day 3: Dunstaffnage Castle & The Islands Today's easier option begins with a visit to Dunstaffnage Castle, dating from 1220 and inextricably linked with the struggles to control the western approaches. A coastal walk across Ganavan Hill, with views out to Lismore, Mull and Kerrera, finishes in Oban – the acclaimed ‘Gateway to the Isles’. The medium option involves a short ferry ride to the Hebridean island of Kerrera - a true walkers paradise as cars are banned (except for the local population of 45!). The hardest walk also heads to the 'isles' with a walk on the ever popular Lismore visiting the picturesque old fishing village of Port Ramsay, a Pictish Broch and the ruins of Castle Coeffin. Day 4: Free Day Discover more about Alltshellach and the local area for ideas on how to fill your free day. Day 5: Lismore & Kentallen Peninsula Take the ferry to Lismore for the easier walk, and have a gentle exploration of this tranquil island. Far reaching sea views and a visit the picturesque old fishing village of Port Ramsay. A coastal walk around the Kentallen Peninsula is today's medium option, a wonderful contrast to the inland mountains. The route takes in Cuil Bay and Kentallen Bay before finishing in Kentallen village. The harder option is a route steeped in history. From the ancient settlement of Duror a walk through Glens Duror and Fhiodh reaches the heart of the mountains. www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 2 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 Day 6: Glen Coe Discover Glen Coe's turbulant history and connections to the Clan MacDonald on today's easier walk. We'll follow woodland paths to the scenic "Hospital Lochan" then descend to the Clachaig Inn in Glen Coe. The medium option follows the West Highland Way over the Devil's Staircase - a former military route built in the aftermath of the 1745 Jacobite rising- from Glen Coe to Kinlochleven. The harder option also follows a section of the West Highland Way, crossing Rannoch Moor, a vast expanse of moorland dotted with lochans and surrounded by mountains to finish at the Kings House, said to be one of Scotland's oldest licensed inns. Day 7: Loch Lochy & Below Ben Nevis The easier option follows part the route of the national trail - the Great Glen Way - along the shore of Loch Lochy. The route crosses the Achnacarry Estate, the family seat of the Cameron Clan. The medium walk follows the ‘North Face path’ through forestry to reach a viewpoint with magnificent views across to the North-east face of Ben Nevis before continuing past the Glen Nevis Distillery and Inverlochy Castle into Fort William. The harder option ascends to the climbers’ hut below the mighty north face of Ben Nevis then contours below the massive Castle Ridge buttress to descend via the Pony Track to Glen Nevis. Day 8: Departure Day Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before making your way home. ACCOMMODATION Alltshellach Situated in a stunning location on the shores of Loch Leven, Alltshellach is a stately Scottish house set amid a rugged landscape. The house is a picture of Highland solidity, with spectacular views of craggy mountains and grassy slopes beyond the loch. This pocket of domesticity lets you admire nature at your leisure though, sipping tea or G&T as you watch clouds scud across the sky. In fact, this one-time home of the Bishop of Argyll & the Isles has been recast as a hiker’s hotel, with an air of old-world splendour, excellent accommodation, a generous indoor pool, three lounges and a supremely cosy Highland Bar that’s well-stocked with local beer and whisky, all of which is (almost) enough to distract you from the vast vistas over the waters. But it’s the great outdoors you’re here for and the house is ideally situated for accessing the Mamores, the mountains of Glen Coe and tackling Ben Nevis as well as bagging munros and spotting local wildlife. Matchless Country House Accommodation Accommodation Info Need To Know Important Covid-19 Steps We Have Taken For Guest Safety: Please Read Following the relaxation in government guidance on 19 July, we are continuing to take extra steps to keep our guests leaders, and staff safe in our HF country houses. We ask all our guests to respect the measures put in place. The English, Scottish and Welsh governments are not in sync, so measures in our country houses will vary between the nations. With the relaxation of social distancing in England, from 19 July we will be allowing larger groups to dine and relax in the bar together. However, we will still give guests space e.g. we will seat 6 people www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 3 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 at a table where pre-pandemic we may have seated 8. We will ensure our public rooms are well ventilated by opening doors and windows wherever possible. If you have any concerns about distancing, please speak to the House Manager. The government recommendation for England is to wear face coverings in crowded areas. You must wear a face covering by law in public areas in hotels in Scotland. This is mandatory in public spaces; however, face coverings will not be required whilst eating and drinking in the restaurant and bar areas or whilst you are outside our houses. In Wales face coverings will remain a legal requirement indoors, with the exception of hospitality premises. As a temporary measure, we will not be servicing rooms during a stay. Extra tea, coffee, milk, and toiletries will be made available on request for all guests. It is recommended that guests bring their own toiletries for the duration of their stay. We will though be increasing the frequency of cleaning in our public areas providing particular attention to frequently touched items including door handles and handrails. Menus for the week will be available in your room on arrival. A self-service breakfast will be served from 7.45am – 9am. Picnic lunches will now be pre-ordered the night before from an order form in the room. Evening meals will be table service. A dinner order form will be available in each room for completion. Dinner is served at either 7.15pm or 7.30pm. Please check at the house for details. The bar will be open. We will be offering a table service but guests can also come to the bar to order (depending on local restrictions). Join our team after dinner on Wednesday evenings for the HF Big Pub Quiz. There will be one other evening of entertainment at the start of the week, which will vary depending on the country house that you are staying at. Our Walk Leaders will also be on hand in the bar or lounge for individual or small group walks talks briefings, which allow guests to talk through the following day’s walk options and ask any questions. All of our swimming pools are open, except for Glen Coe, which will not re-open this year.