Travel south through Skye and hear of mountain races started in rural bars and learn of the beer that fuels them. If the tide is right and the ferry timetable allows, visit Armadale Castle & Gardens to glimpse an Elysian staircase surrounded by crumbling glories. Next, it’s all aboard the ferry to Mallaig. Sit top deck and look in any direction for views of awe and drama, listen for the Grey Dog of Meoble and learn of a local monster to rival Nessie. On arrival, take a couple of hours to explore the seaside town before boarding the train.
Built to open up Scotland’s remote West Coast, The West Highland Line has had trains travelling on it since 1901. As you leave Mallaig, watch the Atlantic Ocean wash between the Inner Hebrides; Eigg Island rises to the west like a dolphin breaching the waves, rocky promontories outstretch from the mainland and slip beneath the salty water. Rising by coast and through hills, skies reflect in mountain lochs and tunnels cut through impassable cliffs. The whitewashed loneliness of Polnish Chapel shines amongst the rocks and bracken – a poignant monument to the abandoned townships it used to serve.
Your guide will be on hand to point out features of the journey including the Glenfinnan Viaduct, and to tell stories of the area’s importance in wars spanning from the 1700s through to World War II.
Stopping at Fort William in the shadow of Ben Nevis, here, you’ll be met by coach and transferred the short distance to your hotel in the very belly of Glencoe.
Your Accommodation in Glencoe
In a quite staggering location at the heart of stunning Glencoe, the last hotel on your tour will deliver a stay to remember. Really, it’s all about this jaw-dropping location, but there’s a warm wilderness welcome, too, with visitors from all over the world arriving here to enjoy this unique setting.
The landscape is reflected in the hotel’s interior, with an abundance of timber and natural tones in the reception and public areas.
Rooms are unpretentious and comfortable, while the glass-sided bar and restaurant with views right down the valley delivers a genuine wow moment the first time you see it. Dining here in the evening, whatever the weather, is something of an event.