Quintessential Scotland: From Edinburgh to the Highlands

Please note that the leader and trip dates have changed from what was originally published. If you have questions, please contact us.

The Trip

Our trip begins in Edinburgh, the eclectic, cosmopolitan center of Scotland. We will have four days to explore this magnificent city during the world-famous International and Fringe Festivals. The festivals include theater, choral and instrumental music, dance, comedy, and literary events all over the city in venues large and small, as well as mime and street theater on many corners and along the entire Royal Mile. Local poet Hugh MacDiarmid described Edinburgh as “a mad god’s dream.” You will understand this sentiment as you experience the concentration of beauty and the architectural clutter, and as you learn about the religious and political upheavals the city has endured throughout its history. And then there is the weather, reliable only in being inclement. Although our trip itinerary is jam-packed, we have built in some time for you to partake in festival events, if you wish. While in Edinburgh we will stay in a four-star hotel with easy access to everything in the city. (For the entire trip, double ensuite rooms are included in the trip cost. Singles may be booked in advance at an additional cost.)

On our 5th day we board a dedicated minibus heading to the Western Highlands, still accompanied by our own private guide. On the way we stop for a boat ride and hike at Loch Lomond, which you may have heard of from a famous song. During the next seven days we will experience the breadth of Scottish culture, while exploringing castles, abbeys, lochs, islands, and bird and wildlife sanctuaries. Our accommodation during this time is an English Manor house, Alltshellach, on the shore of beautiful Loch Leven. From this base, we will do daily hikes (up to four miles with elevation gains up to 500 feet) on field paths and hillside trails to enhance your experience of this amazing country, and its people and culture. Most of our meals during these seven days will be home cooked, served in the Manor’s dining room with dramatic views of the loch and surrounding mountains, and featuring Scottish specialties. Lunch fixings will be provided for trailside or picnic table eating. After our hikes, you may decide to sample local beers or a wide range of whiskeys in the Highland bar, or enjoy the indoor pool and hot tub, all on site.

How can we ask for more, with hiking, history, spectacular views, and culture all around us? As true in all of life, good things must come to an end. At the end of our seven days at Alltshellach, we take our bus back to Edinburgh for flights home or on to further adventures. If you wish, our concessionaire offers further adventures in England’s Lake District or Northumberland. The Sierra Club leader can give you contact information on this extension if you wish to participate. Please plan your flight home or elsewhere for after 3 p.m.

Day 1: Arrival

Arrive at Edinburgh Hotel by 4 p.m. and meet your guide who will accompany us for the entire tour. At 5 p.m., we'll have our trip orientation and opening dinner.

Day 2: Key sights of Edinburgh

Today we visit the Princess Street Gardens, the Royal Mile, and Edinburgh Castle. We will also visit St. Giles Cathedral, the grave of John Knox, and do a guided walk along the Water of Leith to a botanic garden.

Day 3: Conservation on the Firth of Forth

Our Sierra Club founder, John Muir, was born in Dunbar, a short ride out of Edinburgh. The John Muir Birthplace is an interactive visitor attraction, which includes seaside hiking. In the afternoon we drive to the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick, an important conservation and educational trust. Here there are live cameras to zoom in on wildlife action on the Firth of Forth islands. We get live close-ups without any disturbance to the seabirds or marine wildlife. If you wish, you can return to Edinburgh this day in time for an afternoon festival event.

Day 4: Arthur’s Seat, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and the Tattoo

Today we enjoy a four-hour hiking tour of Arthur’s Seat, a dormant volcano, that sits 251 meters above sea level providing excellent views of the city. It is also the site of a large, well-preserved fort dating from 2,000 years ago. This site is a gem of diverse flora and geology.

Lunch will be at the Sheep Heid Inn, the oldest pub in Scotland, and formerly frequented by Mary, Queen of Scot’s grandfather. Next, we visit The Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen's official residence in Scotland. At the Palace visitors can explore historic State Apartments and the ruins of Holyrood Abbey. Best known as the home of Mary, Queen of Scots, today the State Apartments are used by the Queen for state ceremonies and official entertaining. Tonight we plan to attend the legendary Edinburgh Tattoo. This will be a late night and we can relax in the bus tomorrow.

Day 5: Transfer to Alltshellach House, Glen Coe

On our drive to Glen Coe, we will stop for a cruise around the small islands of Loch Lomond, with a stop on the wooded island of Inchcailloch to visit a Nature Preserve. Choose the Summit Path or the Low Path, enjoy a picnic lunch, and then return to Luss for the rest of our bus journey to Glen Coe. Check in to Alltshellach House, our home for the next seven nights.

Day 6: Dunstaffnage Castle and Oban

A short drive will take us to Dunstaffnage Castle, dating from 1220 and inextricably linked with the struggles to control Western approaches. Then we enjoy a coastal walk across Ganavan Hill, with views out to Lismore, Mull and Kerrera, finishing in Oban -– the acclaimed ‘Gateway to the Isles’ where there will be plenty of time to explore, perhaps visiting the Oban Distillery or the War & Peace Museum. 4 miles (6.5 kilometers) with 500 feet (150 meters) of ascent.

Day 7: Lismore and Glencoe Folk Museum

A ferry will take us to Lismore for a circular walk on the island. Along the way we will visit Port Ramsey, a quaint fishing village, before turning inland to explore Appin Rocks. We then bus to the Glencoe and North Lorn Folk Museum, which is housed in traditional, heather-thatched cottages and tells the story of the area. 3 miles (5 kilometers) with 200 feet (60 meters) of ascent.

Day 8: Aluminium, slate, and a burial island

Explore Kinlochleven and Ballachulish today. In Kinlochleven we visit the Grey Mare’s Tail waterfall, the Ice Factor and ‘The Aluminium Story’ at the Visitors’ Centre. Our bus then takes us to Ballachulish for a stroll onto the peninsula, exploring the Burial Isle for a local clan. We will also see old slate wharves and a quarry. 4 miles (6.5 kilometers) with 300 feet (90 meters) of ascent.

Day 9: Distillery and Achnacarry

Our day starts at the Ben Nevis Distillery. We then drive via the Commando War Memorial to the Achnacarry Estate, the family seat of the Cameron Clan and a Second World War commando training center. We will walk through the estate to Loch Arkaig and the Eas Chia-Aig waterfall, and then visit Cameron Museum and the Estate Church before returning via Neptune’s Staircase to Altshellach. 4 miles (6.5 kilometers) with 300 feet (90 meters) of ascent.

Day 10: The Holy Isle of Iona

Catching the early ferry from Oban, we will head to the Holy Isle of Iona. We have three hours to explore this tiny island and its world-famous abbey, which holds a unique place in the history of Scotland. Afterward, we ferry back to Oban for a traditional fish-and-chip supper in Oban’s award-winning restaurant.

Day 11: Glenfinnan and Mallaig

First, we explore Glenfinnan, famous for its association with the 1745 Jacobite uprising, then bus along the picturesque coastline to a walk on Camusdarach Beaches -– across white sands with offshore islands in full view. Then we visit Mallaig, with options for another walk to viewpoints beyond the harbor or a visit to the Heritage Centre. Next, we catch a train to Fort William along the scenic West Highland Railway, crossing the famous Glenfinnan viaduct, which is featured in the Harry Potter films. 1 mile (1.5 kilometers) with 100 feet (30 meters).

Day 12: Departure day

We take the bus back to Edinburgh. Please plan your flight home for after 3 p.m. Optional transfers to HFH Lake District or HFH Northumberland.

Getting There

The trip begins and ends in Edinburgh. Flights to Edinburgh are widely available, though you are likely to pass thru Heathrow or Gatwick en route. Don’t forget that a full day is lost while traveling to the UK, so plan accordingly. To help recover from jet lag and allow for possible delays, we suggest arriving a day or two prior to the trip start. Please note that leader approval is required to participate in this trip. Do not make travel arrangements until directed by the Leader. Once authorized, you will make your own travel arrangements to Edinburgh and our hotel.

Accommodations and Food

In Edinburgh we stay in a four-star hotel with a full Scottish breakfast included. Lunches will either be eaten in a restaurant or bought as take out to enjoy as a picnic. Dinners will be in local restaurants. As stated previously, double ensuite rooms are included in the trip cost and singles may be booked with the leader at an additional cost. A same-gender roommate will be assigned for solo travelers who do not wish to pay the extra cost of a single. While we are at Allltshellach, most of our meals will be home cooked, be served in the Manor’s dining room that offers dramatic views of the loch and surrounding mountains, and feature Scottish specialties.

Trip Difficulty

This is an active trip focused on history and culture that includes easy to moderate hiking. As long as you’re in good health, get regular exercise, and enjoy city and rural hiking, you should find the activity level very comfortable. Of course, trails may be narrow, uneven or have an irregular surface, so it is essential that your hiking boots provide good ankle support for the trail and that you also bring along comfortable, supportive shoes for city walks. As always, the better physical shape you are in, the more you will enjoy the trip. Perhaps the most important thing to bring with you on any trip is a flexible attitude.

Equipment and Clothing

The climate in Scotland in August is usually pleasant with temperatures in the low 60s during the day and high 40s in the evening. Dress will be casual and comfortable. Full raingear (tops and bottoms) is essential for hiking. An umbrella for the city is a good idea. A daypack to carry water, lunch, snacks, raingear and an extra warm layer is required. It is also a good idea to bring a walking stick or trekking poles. Your leader will provide additional pre-trip information to registered participants, including a comprehensive packing list.

References

Books:

• Gracie, James, Spectacular Scotland (2013). Great photography.
• Herman, Arthur, How the Scots Invented the Modern World: The True Story of How Western Europe's Poorest Nation Created Our World (2007). Cites crucial contributions to science, philosophy, literature, commerce, and politics that have formed and nurtured the modern West ever since.
• Lonely Planet, Scotland's Highlands & Islands (2nd Edition, 2012). All the most relevant and up-to-date advice on what to see, what to skip, and what hidden discoveries await you.
• Magnusson, Magnus, Scotland: The Story of a Nation (2003). Encompasses everything from the first Mesolithic settlers in 7000 B.C. to the present movements for independence.
• Oliver, Neil, A History of Scotland: Look Behind the Mist and Myth of Scottish History (2011). Something of a revisionist view on how Scotland forged its own identity despite its union with England in 1707.
• Watson, Fiona, Scotland: From Prehistory to the Present. (2003). This accessible introduction will familiarize you with the history of Scotland.
• Wrightham, Mark (editor), Hostile Habitats: Scotland’s Mountain Environment. (2006) This excellent guide is an introduction to the ecology and geology of the region where we are hiking.

Authors and Poets:    

• Robert Burns
• Robert Lewis Stevenson
• Walter Scott
• Beatrix Potter

Movies:

• "Rob Roy"
• "Kidnapped"               
• All Harry Potter films
• All WWII films featuring commandos

Conservation

Since its founding in 1892, The Sierra Club has worked to preserve and restore the natural environment we all share on this planet. Thousands of grassroots-level volunteers spearhead our efforts to conserve and sustain resources, both in our own backyards and on a global scale. Through direct experience in the outdoors, Sierra Club outings enable participants to better understand, advocate, and participate in the environmental conservation goals of the Club.

Our Scotland trip will include the distinct pleasure of visiting the birthplace of John Muir, the amazing conservationist who founded Sierra Club. We will explore the tidepools he played in as a boy and learn about his journey to America and his founding of our Club. During our hikes, we will learn about seabirds, and flora and fauna of the lowlands and Highlands. Along our route we will see windmills, hydro stations, and a few solar arrays, which have put Scotland on the path to providing fully one-quarter of all Europe’s power. We encourage you to bring information about conservation issues that concern you or your Sierra Club chapter so we all can learn about them.

Evacuation and Travel Insurance

The Sierra Club provides evacuation insurance to all participants on international trips. Since this coverage does not include any trip cancellation or interruption insurance, we suggest you purchase another policy separately to provide coverage for your trip and other travel costs. This policy also does not cover pre-trip and post-trip travel. Please note the evacuation insurance provided does not cover claims resulting from any pre-existing condition that occurs within 60 days of the trip departure. If you have specific questions about this exclusion, please review the insurance brochure. For information on purchasing a separate policy, please see our travel insurance page.