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ARRAN
Segment A
2 Nights
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Board the ferry for Arran at Ardrossan on the Ayrshire coast. Get a brochure and timetable beforehand from the
ferry company - CalMac, Phone: 01475 650 000. During the main holiday months of July and August make a prior
booking keeping an eye open for their special offers e.g. HopScotch fares. |
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Arran is often called "Scotland in Miniature" as the north is rugged and mountainous whereas the south is
rolling farmland. Like all of the islands, it is very relaxing with an atmosphere of yesteryear. There are
plenty of walks to suit every ability; all of which have magnificent scenery and a wide variety of bird life.
Brodick castle with its beautiful gardens is well worth a visit. Keep your eyes peeled for craft workshops
where a variety of hand-crafted goods can be picked up at very reasonable prices. 
Lochranza Castle, Isle of Arran
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To move further west, take the ferry from Lochranza to Claonaig then up the top end of the Mull of Kintyre
through Tarbet, Ardrishaig and Lochgilphead to Oban. Amble along admiring the craggy inlets of Loch Fyne and
the Atlantic where a mixture of fishing boats and pleasure yachts are at anchor - half a day’s journey at
most.
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OBAN
Segment B
2 Nights
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Look round Oban and watch the ferries plying to and from the islands.
If castles are of interest, an hour’s drive to Inveraray at the head of Loch Fyne is worthwhile, as it
houses the ancestral home of the Duke and Duchess of Argyll.
Missing out staying at OBAN - go direct to MULL (C) or journey on to FORT WILLIAM (D)
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MULL
Segment
C
2 Nights
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From Oban it is only a short ferry cruise to the next island - Mull. In Tobermory Bay, legend has it, there is
a sunken Spanish galleon with its hoard of gold treasure still intact. Visit the small village of Calgary and
go on to the bay, with its sweeping sands, where boat loads of Scots emigrated to North America during the
Highland Clearances. Calgary in Canada derived its name from this "wee clachan".
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Journey across Mull to the ferry for Iona from where St Columba brought Christianity to Scotland and built his
monastery, the shell of which can still be seen today.
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Travel back to the mainland, by returning to Oban and driving up the side of Loch Linnhe to Fort William or
take the landing craft ferry to Lochaline on the Ardnamurchan peninsular and then a similar type ferry across
Loch Linnhe at Clovullin.
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FORT
WILLIAM
Segment
D
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Don’t stop at Fort William other than to get shopping but drive on to Invergarry past Spean Bridge which
was a Commando training area during World War II. Fork left, stopping to study the breathtaking views of Loch
Eil before going through Glen Sheil with its dark mountains towering on either side.
Missing out SKYE and the north-west - go direct to GRANTOWN (K ) by taking the Loch Laggan road to
Kingussie.
If going to Skye, only take the new bridge, if time is pressing. For an adventure with magnificent scenery, at
Sheil Bridge take the single track road across Kintail to the ferry at Glenelg. This landing craft ferry takes
all of 10 minutes to arrive at Kylerhea on Skye.
Missing out Skye - go direct to Loch Carron (F)
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SKYE
Segment
E
2 Nights
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Some adore Skye’s bleak desolation, others find it disappointing. Dunvegan castle is worth visiting, as
is the distillery at Talisker. From the port of Uig the Hebridean ferries sail to Tarbet on the Isle of Lewis
and Lochmaddy on North Uist. Both crossings take about 2 hours and although an exhilarating experience you will
have to add an extra day to your Highland Tour, if you want a cruise to and from a Hebridean island.
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LOCH CARRON
Segment
F
1 Night
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Return from Skye across the new bridge and take the Stromeferry road. Meander up the side of Loch Carron to
Lochcarron village.
Missing out staying at Loch Carron - go direct to Kinlochewe via Achnasheen. |
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GAIRLOCH
Segment
G
1 Night
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For the courageous, take the narrow scenic road round by Applecross to Shieldaig. Otherwise take the direct
route. Either way follow Loch Torridon to the village of the same name and cross the moors to Kinlochewe.
Branch left along the side of Loch Maree finally stopping at Gairloch for the night. |
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ULLAPOOL
Segment
H
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Round from Gairloch are tropical gardens at Poolewe. They bask in the warm atmosphere emanating from the Gulf
Stream as it sweeps down this part of the coast line - an essential stop even though the day has only
started.
Carry on twisting and winding round lochs and across craggy moorland before taking the left fork for Ullapool.
Stop briefly to admire the tumbling waters at the Falls of Measach before reaching Ullapool whose harbour hosts
the Stornaway ferry and fishing boats from many nations.
Missing out Lochinver - retrace the road to Kinlochewe and then to Inverness (J)
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LOCHINVER
Segment
I
1 Night
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Do not be tempted to stop for too long as you still have to travel through more moorland and along the side of
majestic lochs before dropping down to the Atlantic coastal village of Lochinver. |
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INVERNESS
Segment
J
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Rather than go right up to the top of Scotland, cut back to Lairg, and Bonar Bridge. It is another 50 miles to
the top, over the terrain you have experienced during your last few days - twisting single track roads, craggy
moorland, lochs and ocean views. When you arrive at the Firths of Dornoch and Cromarty the rugged scenery will
give way to a rolling arable landscape. The capital of the Highlands - Inverness - awaits you.
Missing out Grantown - go direct to Perth down the A9
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GRANTOWN
Segment
K
3 Nights
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Take the main road south, the A9 where you will return to a constant stream of traffic and even the occasional
piece of dual carriageway! But not for long, as you take the Carrbridge turning and head for Grantown on Spey.
Revert to your holiday speed so that you can fully admire the towering Cairngorms and the expansive Spey valley
which lies to the south.
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There is a lot to see in and around Grantown. Take the ski lift to the top of the Cairngorms and wonder at the
view which can stretch for 50 miles on a clear day. Visit a distillery or two on the "Whisky Trail" to sample a
"wee dram" . Watch the Ospreys nesting at nearby Boat of Garten. Combine a visit to Culloden battlefield with a
tour of Cawdor castle - featured in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. For complete relaxation, stroll through the
woods and along the banks of the Spey stopping occasionally to watch an angler fish for salmon.
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Resist the temptation to finish your Highland tour by racing down the main A9 to Perth and your final
destination of Edinburgh or Glasgow. Scenic as this is, it is recommended you take the road across the
mountains and down through the glens. |
