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

Scotland is an absolute dream to explore on foot and this itinerary immerses you in its impressive Highland landscapes, intriguing history and culture. Visit the treasure-filled rooms of Blair Castle and the walled garden of Castle Menzies. See Soldier's Leap, a famous spot from the 1689 Battle of Killicrankie and the 18th century Ossian's Folly at The Hermitage. Why not taste (and purchase!) some of the award-winning chocolate at the Highland Chocolatier in Grandtully and sample the famous whisky at Dewar's distillery? The towns and villages of Blair Atholl, Pitlochry, Aberfeldy and Dunkeld where you will stay are full of character. The handpicked superior accommodations all offer a warm Scottish welcome. The relaxing walks in the rolling hills of Perthshire through towering forests, alongside rushing rivers and through peaceful glens are also sublime.

What To Expect

Travel restrictions and resources, to and from any destination

This tour immerses you an area of the Scottish Highlands which has towering forests, glens, rushing rivers and tumbling waterfalls. Relaxing walks bring you to historic castles, small intriguing museums, and famous distilleries. Free time has been built into the itinerary in order for you to have the luxury of experiencing this magical area of Scotland in-depth.

Tour Style:

Self Guided | Go at your own pace on an independent tour.

Activity:

Multi Center Walking | You will spend multiple nights in one or more of the locations on this walking tour

This trip is suitable for:

First Timers

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:

Historical Journeys

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.

Included

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

Excluded

Travel to Blair Atholl and from Dunkeld
Travel insurance (required)
Lunches, dinners, drinks & snacks
Personal equipment
Entrances to museums, sites, etc

Extras

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.

What happens if I cannot or don't want to walk?

Do I have to worry about midges?

How far in advance do I need to book?

What about booking museum visits, etc in advance?

Do I need to book dinner in advance?

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival in Blair Atholl and overnight Day 2 Blair Castle & Estates Walk and Exploration 4 miles / 7 km

Take a walk in and around the beautiful gardens and grounds of Blair Castle, ensconced in the forested valleys of Perthshire. Ancestral home of the clan Murray, this 13th century castle is also home to Europe's only remaining private army, now used solely for ceremonial purposes. The castle itself has an imposing white façade and dominates the area. After taking in some thirty treasure-filled rooms, take a tour around the wonderful grounds and gardens and enjoy Diana’s Grove and the restored Hercules Garden. Suggestions for the afternoon are a visit to the Atholl Country Life Museum which is crammed with artifacts relating to rural Perthshire life. Or why not visit the Wasted Degrees Brewing Company and try some of their locally brewed beer?

Overnight Blair Atholl

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Ptarmigan House | Guest House

The house sits in its own large grounds overlooking the fields, golf course and the hills beyond. All rooms have en-suite facilities and are tastefully decorated to suit the style of the house. They also have flat screen TV/DVD, Ipod/radio dock, Tea/Coffee tray and hairdryer. Ironing facilities are available on request and free wi-fi internet access is available.

Dalgreine Guesthouse

A warm and traditional welcome awaits you at Dalgreine Guesthouse. Every room is elegantly decorated and has tea and coffee making facilities. In addition to enjoying the elegantly furnished bedrooms, you can aslo relax in the outdoor seating area in the secluded garden at the front of the house.

Please note there are not many options for eating in Blair Atholl so we suggest prebooking evening meal

Old Manse of Blair | Hotel

Located in the glorious countryside of the Scottish Highlands in the Cairngorms National Park. All the character of a 200 year old Highland Estate complete with luxurious yet understated interiors make each of the twenty six rooms a unique stay.

Please note there are not many options for eating in Blair Atholl so we suggest prebooking evening meal

Day 3 Walk to Pitlochry via Killicrankie 9 miles / 14 km Day 4 Explore Pitlochry. Optional Ben Vrackie Lochan Walk 5.5 miles / 9 km Day 5 Walk to Aberfeldy along the Rob Roy Way 9.5 miles / 15 km

Join the Rob Roy Way for a varied walk along forestry tracks, across a short section of moorland, down along the Tullypowrie Burn, and along the River Tay into the lovely Perthshire village of Aberfeldy. If you'd like to celebrate the halfway point, pause in Grandtully and enjoy a hot cocoa at the award-winning Highland Chocolatier.

If you do not wish to walk from Pitlochry to Aberfeldy, you can catch a local bus (with one change). The journey takes around 45 mins.

Overnight Aberfeldy

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Balnearn House | Hotel

Balnearn is a Victorian style property set within approximately three quarters of an acre of grounds. They have 10 comfortable and well-presented rooms, 7 of which have shower rooms and 3 with bathrooms. All their rooms have flat screen televisions, tea and coffee making facilities and hairdryers. If you wish to keep in contact they provide free Wi-Fi access for your convenience. Each room has a high standard en-suite or private facilities with high pressure showers and the majority have heated towel rails and we provide Scottish Fine Soap toiletries.

Ailean Chraggan Hotel | 3 Star | Hotel

The Ailean Chraggan Hotel and Restaurant is all about Scottish hospitality in the heart of Highland Perthshire. Each of the five spacious en-suite rooms has been tastefully refurbished to make your stay as relaxing and comfortable as possible. Their restaurant has a reputation for consistently high quality traditional food, they use the freshest fish and shellfish, seasonal game and local produce.

Fernbank House | Guest House

Fernbank House is an impressive Victorian House once owned by the Earl of Breadalbane. It was built in the late 19th century and is now owned by Annette and Rory Macdonald and their family. They offer a warm welcome to their home that offers a high standard of service and comfort.

Day 6 Aberfeldy Day of Discovery and Castle Menzies walk 6 miles / 9 km

Today incorporates an easy walk with exploration of the local area. The walk takes you through the area known locally as The Birks. Originally called the Dens of Moness, the birks (from the Scots for birch trees) overlook the Falls of Moness. They were renamed when Scotland’s national bard, Robert Burns, penned the poem "The Birks o’Aberfeldie" in 1787. After walking back into the village then, if you wish, you can head out on a riverside trail to visit Castle Menzies, a 16th century Scottish Estate with a walled garden and tearoom. You can also explore the lovely village of Aberfeldy, including a must-visit to the Dewar's world famous whisky distillery.

Overnight Aberfeldy

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Balnearn House | Hotel

Ailean Chraggan Hotel | 3 Star | Hotel

Fernbank House | Guest House