Arrive Mondays: 1 night x Overnight Ayrshire, 2 nights Inveraray, 2 nights Morar, 1 night Glasgow Area
"Classic produces innovative and exciting tours year after year, even when you think its all been done before". UK Coach Operator
Join seven memorable days of Island Adventure as the holiday criss-crosses three of the best Inner Hebridean Isles, each one with its unique character and culture. From Arran in the south, then westwards over to Islay, famous for its whisky and where island life has little changed in generations. Finishing with perhaps the most well-known of the Scottish islands – The romantic Isle of Skye, with its incredible coastline, turbulent history and unspoilt scenery.
There are currently nine working distilleries on Islay, with two more planned to open in the next couple of years. The first recorded distillery was Bowmore, founded in 1779.
All ferries used in this package are wheelchair accessible.
Arrive Mondays: 1 night x Overnight Ayrshire, 2 nights Inveraray, 2 nights Morar, 1 night Glasgow Area
"Classic produces innovative and exciting tours year after year, even when you think its all been done before". UK Coach Operator
Day 1 Overnight Ayrshire
Carefully selected minimum 3 star hotel, to suit your journey time.
Day 2 Isle of Arran
Board the morning ferry to Isle of Arran. Time to explore the island’s capital Brodick, before a tour of the island, visiting Lamlash, Whiting Bay & Blackwaterfoot. Free time at Sense of Arran and Arran Cheese (they are next to each other). Board the late afternoon ferry from Lochranza to the Mull of Kintyre, with a drive along the mighty Loch Fyne to your Inveraray hotel for 2 nights.
Day3 Isle of Islay
Embark with your coach on the ferry for a 3 hour scenic sailing to the Queen of the Hebrides - Islay. The tour visits Bowmore, the islands capital, with its round church, where spirits have nowhere to hide! Followed by a more tasty spirit - a tour & tasting at a whisky distillery. Afterwards, spend time at the “Big Strand” on Laggan Bay with 6 miles of unspoilt sandy beach, before travelling across the island to catch the Port Askaig ferry back to the mainland. (Breakfast or dinner served on ferry dependant on ferry schedule).
Day 4 Oban & Isle of Skye
Depart Inveraray and journey through lochs and glens, passing imposing Kilchurn Castle and along bonny Loch Awe, with free time in Oban; “Gateway to the Isles”, before driving along the shoreline of Loch Linnhe with castle Stalker coming into view, Over the Ballachulish Bridge and to Fort William. “The Road to the Isles” is recognised as one of the best drives in the UK, stopping off at Glenfinnan, where you have every chance of seeing the Harry Potter train & famous Glenfinnan Monument, where Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his standard in 1745. The drive passes some most wonderful silver sand beaches with views across to the Isles of Eigg, Much and Rhum. Arrive in the beachview Morar Hotel for the next two nights.
Day 5 Isle of Skye
Board the morning ferry to Armadale, Skye from nearby Mallaig. Skye is not short on its introductions with its wealth of history from Jacobite battles to feuding clans with evidence of the Highland clearances still very much in evidence. The island is abundant in wildlife and the scenery ever changing from the patchwork of velvet moors to jagged mountains and towering sea cliffs. Today’s tour makes the most of the island visiting Portree the islands capital & Dunvegan Castle – home of the Macleod Clan for over 800 years, sweeping back round the west coast with clear coastal views of the Cullins. Back to Mallaig on the ferry in time for dinner.
Day 6 Great Glen, Glencoe & Loch Lomond
Depart Morar and enjoy a leisurely tour through the mountain glens back to Fort William, stopping at Neptunes Staircase, 8 lock gates on the Caledonian Canal, with magical scenery of Ben Nevis. Next stop is a cable car ride into the mountains on Nevis Range Gondola, the only one of its kind in the UK. The views from the top, some 2500ft high are spellbinding. Free time in Fort William before continuing south through the jaws of Glencoe and then follow the shoreline of 23 mile long Loch Lomond checking into your Glasgow area hotel for your final night’s stay.