Europe
Walking Tours in Scotland by Scotland tour operator Rob Roy Tours
In the Heart of Scotland
7 nights, 8 days
DEPARTURES 2004: ( English and German speaking, Sunday to Sunday)
"Spring walks": 30.05.-06.06.
"Summer walks": 11.-18.07., 08.-15.8., 05.9.-12.09.,
"Autumn walks": 17.-24.10.,
Further departures by arrangement
Prices to and from Edinburgh Airport
Double/twin room per person: ONLY £ 499.30, single supplement £ 91
Minimum number required: 8 people
Price is per person double occupancy and includes:
Not included: excursions by bus or train
Highlights
A secret the Scots keep to themselves: Pitlochry in the county of Perthshire
The heart of Scotland is a country of mountains, lochs and rushing waters. Here you can enjoy walking in idyllic surroundings while making new friends. Your tour guide knows the area intimately and will be delighted to introduce you to his culture, country and people. Pitlochry is a friendly, colourful and neat little highland town on the banks of the River Tummel and Loch Faskally, Many Scots maintain that it is the prettiest small town in the country. Pitlochry has numerous shops and banks, several restaurants and cosy, traditional pubs. Pleasurable outings may be made to the famous fish ladder, to the smallest whisky distillery in Scotland or to the internationally-renowned Festival Theatre.
Directly from the hotel, you can take many a pleasant stroll or longer walk. At picturesque Loch Faskally you can try your hand at fishing, sailing or rowing. Canoes. kayaks and bikes can also be hired. Our hotel is a fine Victorian building situated peacefully above the attractive little town of Pitlochry. It is a very good three-star hotel with cozy public rooms, a homely bar and a tastefully-furnished diningroom. The large swimming pool, the sauna and the modern sports and leisure centre are available to guests free of charge. The bedrooms, all with ensuite shower/bath/WC, are modern, comfortably furnished and complete with TV, hairdryer and tea/coffee-making facilities.
The meals included in the price consist of a plentiful breakfast each day and five excellent evening dinners. The chef is delighted to cook vegetarian dishes and attend to your dietary needs. Anyone who wishes can buy a good, low-cost packed lunch for walks and other outings.
The neighbourhood offers many leisure opportunities. The wide range of sporting and creative activities allow you to choose from cycling, mountain biking, swimming, sailing, rowing, canoeing, kayaking, golf, tennis, riding, fishing, mountaineering and many more. The extensive cultural choices include, among others, the ducal seat of Blair Castle, medieval castles, whisky distilleries, museums of Scottish and Perthshire life and history, fascinating medieval churches and cathedrals, as well as the potteries and galleries of local artists. A visit to Pitlochry’s Festival Theatre, the famous Highland Games, and other events where you can meet the locals enhance the wealth of experiences your holiday already provides.
You can organise your own bus or rail trips from Pitlochry to discover, for example, Loch Ness, Inverness, Edinburgh and much more of Scotland. Pitlochry as an artist’s paradise meets all the requirements of the landscape painter or photographer. Materials can be obtained locally. Interesting little shops in Pitlochry and Perth tempt the souvenir-hunting shopper.
Walks
Three guided all-day walks and one half-day walk are already included in the price. In choosing Perthshire we have selected for you one of Scotland’s most beautiful walking areas. The walks range from a peaceful stroll along endlessly branching footpaths among woods and lochs, with lunch breaks in picturesque villages and cosy pubs, to a hillwalking expedition. Individual walks will be tailored to suit the interests and stamina of the group and for the most part follow established footpaths. Thus we can enjoy in comfort the romantic world of mountains, waterfalls and lochs. The ever-changing shades of green of the woods, fields and hills and the blues and greys of the lochs give the landscape an endless variety.
You need to be reasonably fit and able to walk for at least three to four hours. Bring strong walking boots with good ankle support, clothing suitable for warm and also for cooler weather, and waterproofs. Often you can cut a walk shorter or extend it to suit yourself.
Itinerary
Day One: Airport transfer, introductions, welcome drink, dinner together.
Day Two: First all-day walk. We discover the neighbourhood, picturesque River Tummel, Loch Faskally, River Garry and the Pass of Killiecrankie and the Soldier’s Leap. The walk can be extended to Blair Atholl with a visit to Blair Castle (additional cost). Dinner together.
Day Three: The half-day walk takes you, among other things, to Scotland’s smallest whisky distillery, Edradour. This interesting excursion and sampling of Scotland’s “water-of-life” is included in the tour price. The afternoon is free for you to choose your own activity. Day Four: Second all-day walk. A varied walk through woods and an area with fine views of the Scottish Highlands and lochs to Loch Tummel and the Queen’s View. For Queen Victoria this view was worth a journey in itself. Dinner together.
Day Four: Second all-day walk. A varied walk through woods and an area with fine views of the Scottish Highlands and lochs to Loch Tummel and the Queen’s View. For Queen Victoria this view was worth a journey in itself. Dinner together.
Day Five: Various outings as described below may be booked.
Day Six: Third all-day walk. Today we climb Ben Vrackie (841 m) on a varied and beautiful round walk. Dinner together.
Day Seven: Fourth all-day walk. This walk will be adapted to the wishes and abilities of the group. Later in the day we will possibly be entertained to a Scottish evening (still to be confirmed). Dinner together.
Day Eight: Airport transfer to Edinburgh and departure or connection to the next tour programme.
Organised Outings
May be booked during the tour. Arrangements are dependent on reaching a minimum number of twelve participants. In weather conditions unsuitable for walking an alternative all-day excursion will be offered (not included in the price).
1. By bus. Experience an eventful, purely Highland excursion: Loch Ness, Inverness, the prehistoric site of Clava Cairns, the Caledonian Canal, Fort William, the Western Highlands, Glencoe, Rannoch Moor and the Trossachs.
2. By train. You travel to Edinburgh and have an interesting city sightseeing tour or the option of an amusing afternoon’s treasure hunt in the Old Town.
3. By bus. You discover Royal Deeside with the Queen’s castle at Balmoral, Aberdeen, the North Sea coast, wild romantic Dunnottar Castle, Dundee and Perth.
Climate
Forget the received wisdom that it always rains in Scotland. The mild and temperate climate is influenced by the Gulf Stream. A light breeze often blows and the temperature, even in summer, is not too hot for pleasant walking.
Walking Tour Guide and Tour Leader
Your friendly and enthusiastic tour guide is experienced in leading demanding walking and study tours. He knows Perthshire intimately and will be delighted to introduce you to its culture, land, people and language.
This tour fits in neatly with our other walking, study and adventure tours in Scotland: Other Scotland Walking Tours
Email or call 203-222-8787 for information and reservation
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