Spend a delightful twelve days discovering the truly stunning Scottish Highlands and some of the Western Isles. Nowhere else in Britain can match the Scottish Highlands & Islands for sheer splendour and dramatic landscape. There are spectacular mountains, heather-clad hillsides, tumbling rivers and mirror-like lochs in the Highlands to be explored as well as heading out to the northwest edge of Europe – the 150 mile long island chain of the Hebrides, complete with some of Britain’s best beaches, as well as yet more of the beautiful scenery described above, dotted with small crofts, many sheep and lovely caramel-coloured Highland cattle.

This historic region abounds with tales and legends of saints and Picts, of Viking invaders and endlessly warring native clans. It is a long history, much of it bloodied with battles, and it has left the countryside rich in antiquities and burial chambers, standing stones, brochs, forts and castles which can be seen wherever people found land to settle.

Route

Accommodation

Hotels and guesthouses in Scotland are not as plentiful as we would like and due to the nature and size of the accommodation available we have to limit the size of this tour to no more than 16 cars.
We have handpicked the very best and most suitable accommodation available to us in Scotland. On a couple of nights we have taken over virtually all the accommodation in the town, and so we are unable to all be in the same establishment. The hotels we have chosen have a variety of rooms, so if you have a great room in one hotel, you will have a smaller room in the next, to ensure that over the course of the tour, everyone has an equal quality of rooms.

All the hotels we have chosen have character and charm, and most have great views. Dinner will be included on eight evenings.

Itinerary

*Itinerary may be subject to change without notice*

Day 1: Sunday 15 May

Meet at Loch Lomond and stay overnight on the lake shore at a lovely hotel. Set amidst some of Scotland’s most idyllic and unspoilt areas, Loch Lomond is engulfed by a natural beauty, surrounded by some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. Many of the hotel rooms and the restaurant offer undisturbed panoramic views of Scotland’s most breathtaking loch and its majestic mountainous surroundings. The award-winning restaurant serves up delicious modern cuisine carefully created using the freshest of local produce. There will be a welcome dinner for everyone.

Day 2: Monday 16 May

Drive over Rannoch Moor and on to Glencoe. After circling round Loch Leven spend the night between Glencoe and Fort William, situated right on the shore of Loch Linnhe. Dinner is included.

Day 3: Tuesday 17 May

Take the small Corran ferry to the other side of Loch Linnhe and drive a lovely single track road which then joins the Road to the Isles. Continue past Glanfinnan to Mallaig and then take the ferry across to Armadale on the Isle of Skye. Drive up through Skye, maybe stopping for teat at the renowned Kinloch Lodge. Stay for two nights at a lovely country house hotel in the north of the Island, which overlooks the Isle of Raasay.

Day 4: Wednesday 18 May

Spend the day exploring Skye. Drive over the Quiraing to Uig. Drive up to Waternishand then on towards Dunvegan to see the superb castle and seat of the MacLeods. Head south to the Talisker Whisky distillery and then return to Flodigarry.

Day 5: Thursday 19 May

After a morning in Skye take the ferry from Uig to Lochmaddy on North Uist. Stay for two nights on Uist. We shall be staying in three different establishments in Lochmaddy, but all dining together on both evenings.

Day 6: Friday 20 May

Explore the islands of North and South Uist and Benbecula. It is well worth the drive south, even as far as the Isle of Eriskay.

Day 7: Saturday 21 May

Take the ferry across to Harris. Drive up the beautiful west coast of Harris, from Leverburgh to Tarbert.

Day 8: Sunday 22 May

Discover the island of Harris and see how the famous eponymous tweed is made. There is a circular tour of the island. Return to Leverburgh down the west coast again, taking the opportunity for a stroll on the fabulous Luskentyre Beach. Head to Rodel for lunch and then visit the ancient St Clement’s Church. Return to Tarbert along the ‘Golden Road’ east coast, which contrasts starkly with the west coast. There are a number of small tweed makers along here, particularly in Plocropol, and a visit is very interesting and worth-while.

Day 9: Monday 23 May

Leave Tarbert and head along the wonderful road to Huisinis, passing Abhainn Suidhe Castle. Return to the main road and drive around the island of Lewis, visiting the Calanais Stones, and the wonderful and atmospheric Blackhouse Village at Gearrannan. Stay overnight in Stornoway, alongside the water, in an historic hotel. Dinner is not included, but the hotel has a bistro and a restaurant, and there are a number of places to eat in town.

Day 10: Tuesday 24 May

Leave Stornoway on Lewis and take the ferry to Ullapool, back on the mainland. Head north to Lochinver on some outstanding roads, and stay in a gorgeous hotel overlooking the lochs from its elevated, hillside position. A superb dinner is included this evening.

Day 11: Wednesday 25 May

A superb drive south with simply outstanding scenery and vistas.  Head south, past Ullapool to Inverewe, to the wonderful gardens. Continue to Loch Torridon and take the wonderful and narrow coastal road past Applecross and on to Plockton. Stay overnight in a lovely little hotel right in the centre of Plockton.

Day 12: Thursday 26 May

Drive south, past the exquisite Eilean Donan Castle, which is open to visitors. Continue to Invergarry and Fort William to stay for the last night on the shore of Loch Fyne. There will be a final dinner for everyone.

Day 13: Friday 27 May

Depart for home. For those not in a hurry, Inveraray Castle and Jail are well worth a visit. Return south over the Rest and Be Thankful Pass to Loch Lomond and wend your way home.

Details

Duration: 12 days

Dates: 15-27 May 2011

Mileage: To be confirmed

Price: TBC per person – based on two people sharing a double or twin room, and one car. Single supplement is extra – please enquire for details.

What’s Included

• An extensively researched and carefully designed itinerary to optimise your trip
• Tour participation
• All accommodation for 12 nights (price per person based on 2 people sharing a double or twin room)
• Full Scottish breakfast each morning
• Eight evening meals
• Tour book – includes a brief history of the countries to be visited, emergency details, maps and directions, accommodation information, and a very detailed, tailored account of sights and visits for each day. The book effectively eliminates the need for any other guide books
• Arrangement and reservation of optional activities (entry not included)
• Event regalia – there will be a rally plaque for each car.
• Scotland road maps
• Experienced and friendly Classic Travelling tour guides – Sarah Dowding & Ella Pickard

What’s not included

• Four evening meals and all lunches
• Entry into attractions and activities
• Personal travel and medical insurance
• We strongly suggest and recommend you have UK/European breakdown cover, and ensure you are covered for the countries to be visited.
• All drinks are extra to accommodate individual preferences.

Requirements

• This tour is only open to members of the Jaguar XK Club
• Please ensure you have suitable travel insurance
• It is a good idea to carry a warning triangle, first-aid kit, fluorescent jacket, set of replacement bulbs and a national identification sticker.
• The most important requirement is that you take pleasure in motoring through fabulous scenery, relish individual, character hotels and enjoy the company of like-minded travellers – and maybe enjoy the odd wee dram of whisky!