Walking in the Scottish Highlands
8 Days & 7 Nights- Relaxing and impressive Highland walks, castles, history and whisky
- Exploration of Blair Castle and the Hermitage with its towering Douglas Firs
- Killicrankie, site of the first Jacobite rebellion victory
- Superior accommodations in captivating towns and villages
- Whisky tastings galore at Dewar's and Blair Atholl distilleries
Tour Type:
Slower Adventures | Where walking and cycling meet easy-going exploring, our Slower Adventures are the perfect combination. Most days are filled with picturesque journeys with some free time to dive into the destination and experience the people, local food and culture as you go.
Activity:
Multi Centre Walking | With a mix of loop and point-to-point walks stay 2 or 3 nights in one place which offers the chance to slow down and really explore a destination.
This trip is suitable for:
Solo Travellers
As a guide, we would suggest that the minimum age of traveler this tour would be suitable for is: 12 Years
Ideal if you have an interest in:
- Foodie
- Whisky
- Accessible by Rail
Activity Level & Terrain
The walks on this tour are rated between easy and easy to moderate and the distances range between 7km and 15km. They are relaxing walks and take you to historic sites, including castles and Jacobean battle sites. Some of the walks have actually been created in order for you to explore and discover the local sights as you walk and bring you to the characterful towns and villages that you will stay in. Some of the walks are flexible too as you can opt to do them if you wwant to. It is very worth doing these amazing walks, but, if you wish, you can take local transportation to get between places and avoid the longer walking days.
Navigation
All the walks on this itinerary are available in the Macs Adventure Smartphone App. You will find the walks on the app and simply download the walk to your smartphone and follow the little blue dot! Some walks have GPS tracks only and others have walking directions. But if you follow the little blue dot you will not get lost. A reminder though not to take the Ben Vrackie Lochan walk in bad weather.
Accommodations
On this tour you will stay in hand-picked 3* and 4* B&B's, guesthouses and hotels. All of the accommodations are superior and some are traditional buildings that have been converted, for example, a Victorian House converted into a hotel, a former house owned by a doctor which has been converted into a boutique B&B and a 5* restaurant that also has rooms. Mostly they are blend of old and new where possible. They are extremely comfortable and welcoming.
Alternate Accommodation
We will always try and confirm you at the accommodations listed. However, if those listed are unavailable, alternative accommodation of the same or better standard than those described will be provided.
Single Rooms & Solo Walkers
If you require single rooms we would be happy to accommodate you although there is a single room supplement payable. We also welcome solo walkers on this tour, again a supplement is payable.
Breakfast
The majority of accommodations provide a cooked breakfast, so a traditional Scottish breakfast, with eggs, bacons etc. However some may also provide a buffet breakfast, so please be prepared for either. There should be plenty of choices to make sure that you have enough energy for the day ahead.
- Overnights in hand-picked 3 and 4* B&B's, guesthouses, and hotels
- Daily Breakfasts
- Luggage Transfers
- Taxi transfer Aberfeldy to Trochry (on day 7)
- Information Pack via your Macs Adventure "My Account"
- Access to maps and GPX tracks on the Macs Adventure smartphone app
- 24/7 Emergency telephone support from our UK & US office
- Travel to Blair Atholl and from Dunkeld
- Travel insurance (required)
- Lunches, dinners, drinks & snacks
- Personal equipment
- Entrances to museums, sites, etc
- Additional nights before, during and after the tour
When To Go
The best time of year to visit Scotland is from early-April to mid-October when the weather is best, most attractions are open and the days are long. The weather is very unpredictable all year, so it is imperative to be prepared for wind, rain, cold, warmth and sunshine! Conditions (and forecasts) can vary substantially from one day to the next, so do anticipate a variety of weathers, and embrace them as the Scots do (with a good waterproof and windproof jacket on).
Getting to the Start
Blair Atholl is 80 miles north of Edinburgh on the main transport route through the Highlands. The village also has excellent public transport connections and is served by Scotrail trains and Citylink bus services from Edinburgh. The journey by train takes approximately 3H by bus and approximately 2H by train. By car the journey from Edinburgh takes 1H30 and Blair Atholl is well signed from the A9.
Getting from the End
Dunkeld, your departure point is on a trainline and you can take a train from here to Edinburgh. The journey takes around 1H45 to 2H. Buses are also available but the journey takes longer and you will need to change at least once.
General Information
Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat, and sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.
Travel Insurance
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.