Details
Day One: From Glasgow to Fort William
You start your rail journey in Glasgow travelling north on the Scotrail regular service, past Loch Lomond, over Rannoch Moor and past Ben Nevis, to reach your first base in the highland village of Spean Bridge.
Your Hotel
With views toward Ben Nevis, this family-run small hotel is a popular restaurant serving organic, home-cooked food and also has comfortable but informal accommodation. On arrival, you will be greeted with fresh tea and home-made scones. Settle into your room to unwind, or take a stroll down the quiet country lanes for amazing views of Ben Nevis, Loch Lochy and the Great Glen and work up an appetite for dinner. There are comfy sofas and cosy corners in the sitting rooms with a library of books begging to be looked at and, when the need arises, real fires to warm your toes. This is a perfect haven for a relaxing break whatever time of year, where the pace of life slows the minute you arrive.
The hotel is around a mile from the rail station – and you will be picked up and dropped off as required. There are many walking trails close to the hotel, including the Great Glen Way as well as the famous and impressive Commando memorial. Fort William is only 17 minutes away by train.
Day Two: by Steam train to the Isle of Skye
This morning, travel on by train to Fort William then join the Jacobite Steam train for the final section of the West Highland Line; your route will include the spectacular Glenfinnan viaduct and finish at Mallaig, the ferry port for Skye. On the way you will also visits Britain’s most westerly mainland railway station (Arisaig), then pass close by the deepest freshwater loch in Britain (Loch Morar), the shortest river in Britain (River Morar) and finally arrive next to the deepest seawater loch in Europe – Loch Nevis.
After a short time in Mallaig, it’s over the sea to Skye on the ferry with a taxi waiting for you on the other side to whisk you to your waterside hotel.
Your Hotel
Sheltered by a gently curving bay, your charming whitewashed hotel sits right on the seashore, enjoying expansive views over the Sound of Sleat to the wilderness of Knoydart. This, the most southerly part of Skye, is an area of great natural beauty often referred to as the “Garden of Skye” thanks to its’ abundant bird life and profusion of wild flowers. This is a Gaelic-speaking community and the bar is a convivial meeting place for the locals who mix happily with hotel guests – often to the accompaniment of traditional music and Gaelic song in front of the roaring log fire.
Twelve bedrooms (six in the Garden House) are decorated with pretty cotton and linen chintzes and there are four new suites in the recently restored stables, each enjoying superb views across the water to the lighthouse of Isle Ornsay. Candlelit meals in the wood-panelled dining room reflect the estate’s culinary riches, with wonderful shellfish and game featuring prominently on the menu. Langoustines are landed at the old stone pier and oysters come from the hotel’s own oyster beds.
Day Three: Explore the Isle of Skye
Today you will embark on a small group tour of the island with one of our hand-selected local guides. Highlights may include the Fairy Pools, the Quaraing and the Old Man of Storr.
We can also arrange car hire, if you prefer.
Day Four
Today you retrace your steps, back to the ferry then across to Mallaig for an early afternoon crossing and journey by the regular train via Fort William to Glasgow, arriving in the evening.
Sustainable Travel
This holiday is part of our ever-growing collection of public transport based holidays, enabling you to reach destinations around Scotland without the need to drive – including the Isle of Skye. We feel strongly that true sustainability also means promoting and helping to maintain a way of life in areas where the economic benefit of tourism can make a genuine difference to the local community, which is why we have used locally-owned small accommodation and a local guide on this holiday.
Pricing
£695 per person for April & October, £755 per person for May through September.
Prices based on two people sharing a room for three nights, one with dinner, bed & breakfast and two on a bed & breakfast basis. This includes train travel from Glasgow to Fort William on the regular Scotrail service, travel by Jacobite steam train from Fort William to Mallaig first class, a full day guided tour in small group of the Isle of Skye, return ferry to Skye as foot passenger and return taxi transfers to the hotel on Skye. The return from Mallaig to Glasgow will be on the regular Scotrail service.
The supplement for a single traveller is £395 per holiday, based on single occupancy of double/twin rooms.
To hire a car instead of taking the tour during your stay on Skye costs an additional £50. The car would be collected from and returned to the ferry port on Skye.
Before your departure, you will receive personalised holiday information including full directions, recommended routes, and suggestions on places to visit depending on your interests and our local knowledge to help you get the most from your holiday.
All itineraries and room types are presented subject to availability at specific hotels.
Sustainable Travel
This holiday is part of our ever-growing collection of public transport based holidays, enabling you to reach destinations around Scotland without the need to drive. We feel strongly that true sustainability also means promoting and helping to maintain a way of life in areas where the economic benefit of tourism can make a genuine difference to the local community, which is why we have used locally-owned small accommodation and a local guide on this holiday.
