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Walking in the Scottish Highlands Short Break

5 Days & 4 Nights
  • Relaxing walks alongside rivers, through serene glens and past waterfalls
  • Superior hand-picked accommodations in characterful towns and villages
  • Explore the fairy-tale Blair Castle and its nine-acre walled gardens
  • Killicrankie, site of the first Jacobite rebellion victory
  • Whisky tastings galore at Dewar's and Blair Atholl distilleries
This 5-day short break in the Scottish Highlands immerses you in its impressive landscapes and you can enjoy relaxing walks combined with intriguing history and culture. Visit the treasure-filled rooms of Blair Castle and see Soldier's Leap, a famous spot from the 1689 Battle of Killicrankie. Why not try a whisky tasting at the Blair Atholl Distillery and give Scotland's infamous haggis at one of the many great traditional restaurants a go? The town of Pitlochry and the village of Blair Atholl are full of character and where you will spend your overnights in superior accommodations. Walk in the rolling hills of Perthshire through towering forests, alongside rushing rivers and through peaceful glens.
This 5 day tour of Highland Perthshire incorporates relaxing walks alongside rushing rivers and tumbling waterfalls and on the moorland with visits historic castles, small intriguing museums, and a famous distillery. Free time has been built into the itinerary in order for you to have the luxury of learning about, and experiencing this magical area of Scotland.

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 14km. They are relaxing walks and take you to historic sights, 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 wish. 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, guest houses 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. Mostly they are blend of old and new where possible. They are extremely comfortable and welcoming. 

Alternative Accommodation

We will always try and confirm the accommodations listed. However, if those listed are unavailable, alternative accommodation of the same or better standard than those described will be provided.

This is a popular trip and accommodation in Blair Atholl is limited. It may be the case that for your preferred departure date we can only secure the Old Manse of Blair which is located just outside Blair Atholl. The property lies in the quiet surroundings of Highland Perthshire and is a 45-minute walk from Blair Atholl town centre. We will provide taxi transfers to the Old Manse of Blair from Blair Atholl on your arrival day and to the start of your walk to Pitlochry on Day 3. 

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
  • 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 Pitlochry
  • 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

Pitlochry, your departure point, is on a trainline and you can take a train from here to Edinburgh. The journey takes around 2H to 2H30. Buses are also available but the journey takes longer this way.

Luggage Transfer

Your bags will be collected from your accommodation each day and moved onto your overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.

At Macs Adventure, we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase. Your booking includes a transfer of 1 bag per person. It is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits, there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags or if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees), which we must respect.

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.

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 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 Onward Travel

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