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 17 cars.
We have handpicked the very best and most suitable accommodation available to us in Scotland. 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 9 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 in the restaurant overlooking the loch.

Day 2: Monday 16 May

Drive over Rannoch Moor and on to Glencoe. Take the time for a walk to the Secret Valley and find out about the bloody history of the area. After circling round Loch Leven spend the night near Fort William, at a lovely hotel, which was a former hunting lodge, in the highlands. 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 Glenfinnan to Mallaig and then take the ferry across to Armadale on the Isle of Skye. Drive up through Skye, maybe stopping for tea 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. Flora MacDonald’s (of Bonnie Prince Charlie fame) cottage is just behind the main house and a couple of the rooms are here too. Dinner is included.

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. Perhaps indulge with lunch at the famed Three Chimneys restaurant (reservations have been made, but lunch is not included in the tour). Head south to the Talisker Whisky distillery and then return to Flodigarry. Dinner is not included, but you can dine in the restaurant or the bar.

Day 5: Thursday 19 May

Take the morning ferry from Uig to Tarbert on the Isle of Harris. Discover Harris with a circular tour of the island, and perhaps see how the famous eponymous tweed is made. Drive to Leverburgh down the west coast, taking the opportunity for a stroll on the fabulous Luskentyre Beach. Head to Rodel 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. Stay for two nights on Harris at a lovely hotel in Tarbert. Dinner is included at the hotel.

Day 6: Friday 20 May

Leave Tarbert and head along the wonderful road to Huisinish, 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. Drive up to the Butt of Lewis and visit some of the many art and craft galleries. Head back to Tarbert for dinner at a superb restaurant, just a few minutes walk from the hotel.

Day 7: Saturday 21 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 for the next three nights in a gorgeous hotel overlooking the lochs from its elevated, hillside position. A superb dinner is included each evening. The restaurant is managed by Albert Roux.

Day 8: Sunday 22 May

Enjoy a circular tour right up to the northernmost point on the British mainland, travelling over the superb Kylesku road, where a number of motoring adverts are filmed. Head up to Durness and Tongue and delight in the gorgeous scenery before returning to Lochinver.

Day 9: Monday 23 May

Another circular day tour of the highlands, or enjoy some time to relax. Massages can be arranged at the hotel. There is the opportunity to fish for trout if you wish. The clear running streams and lochs in this part of Scotland are the natural home of brown trout, the hotel can offer a range of loch fishing with boats and a ghillie.

Day 10: Tuesday 24 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. Dinner is not included as there are a number of places to dine in the village.

Day 11: Wednesday 25 May

Drive south, past the exquisite Eilean Donan Castle, which is open to visitors. Continue to Invergarry and through Fort William, and Inveraray to stay for the last night back at Loch Lomond.  Inveraray Castle and Jail are well worth a visit. Return south over the Rest and Be Thankful Pass to Loch Lomond. There will be a final dinner for everyone, overlooking the loch.

Day 12: Thursday 26 May

Depart for home at your leisure.

Details

Duration: 12 days

Dates: 15-26 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 11 nights (price per person, based on 2 people sharing a double or twin room)
• Full Scottish breakfast each morning
• Nine evening meals
• Wine (1/2 bottle of house wine per person) is included with all dinners
• Ferry crossings for a car and passengers: Mallaig-Armadale; Uig-Tarbert; Stornoway-Ullapool
• 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 any optional activities (entry not included)
• Event regalia – there will be a rally plaque for each car.
• Scotland Navigator road maps
• Experienced and friendly Classic Travelling tour guides – Sarah Dowding & Ella Pickard

What’s not included

• Two 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.

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!