walking tour in Scotland

Featuring old cattle drove roads and military roads and off-the-road places of significance, the Lowland and Highland walking folklore walks will be a mix of walking and talking about history and folklore, using our imaginations to recreate the old routes, including drover roads and Wades military roads, and landscapes, the folklore (customs and beliefs, dress, and foodways of the people), the opportunities and threats that they faced (like the reiver and cattle lifting). Bags can be transported between locations and accommodation can be arranged to the level that you require. Please email for more information.

10 Day Custom Walking Tour - July 2007

This full-on adventure tour was tailormade around a young couples wish to maximise their two week holiday away from their children. It does not have to be such a tough schedule but this one was great!

Monday arrival at Edinburgh Airport at 07.50 am; travel by taxi to Aonach Mor Guest House (4 star B&B with 4 poster bed, en suite) check in luggage, entrance to Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Abbey via the Historic Scotland Three Day Explorer Pass; dinner in the Old Town

Tuesday time to climb Arthur's Seat, visit to the Royal Botanical Gardens, sample local hostelries and other places of interest

Wednesday pick up by Iain at 8.30am, travel to Stirling Castle (Explorer Pass), visit the Wallace Monument (included), visit Doune Castle (of Monty Python's Meaning of Life - Explorer Pass), travel through Rob Roy country to Oban, visit Ben Cruachan (the Hollow Mountain), stay at The Barriemore Hotel (four star with sea view, en suite) Oban

Thursday Visit Oban Distillery (entrance included), hike in Glen Coe, a pint of beer at the Clachaig Inn, travel up Loch Linnhe and the Great Glen to Kintail, stay at the Kintail Lodge Hotel (3 star, no loch view but with large en suite); lively traditional music session in pub and good food

Friday Over the bridge to Skye for some climbing, abseiling and sea kayaking, followed by a hike into the Quirang (amazing basalt rock formations); into Portree on Skye for food at the wholesome and funky Cafe Arriba before catching three pipe bands playing in Somerled Square, the centre of town; back to stay at the Kintail Lodge

Saturday Day walk to the Falls of Glomach, an epic twelve mile round trek through some of Scotland's great wilderness with scores of deer, birds of prey and lots of emptiness; eat at Off the Rails in Plockton and retire tired but happy to the Kintail Lodge (clothes washing and ironing arranged through the hotel)

Sunday Leave Kintail via Loch Carron, short walk through lush mixed woodland to the splendid Rogie Falls, visit Inverness for gifts and whisky and then onto Benromach, a great distillery owned by independent bottlers, Gordon and McPhail of Elgin; follow-up sampling with food at the up-and-coming whisky hostelry, the Highlander Inn in the heart of Speyside whisky country and a night cap in the world famous whisky bar of the Craigellachie Hotel; stay at the Bridge View Bed and Breakfast (3 star en suite)

Monday A morning's fly fishing on the Spey at Aberlour, a bonny drive over the Lecht Summit to Royal Deeside, views of the queen's Balmoral Estate, a hill walk to see some old hamlets above Invercauld; through Glenshee and past a million sheep and lambs (seemingly) to Aberfeldy; stay at Balnearn House, Aberfeldy (3 star double en suite) read more

walking tour example - November 2008

This custom tour included a completely different type of walk. For more photographs of this tour click here.

Monday: from Edinburgh accommodation, to the Antonine Wall at Camelon, tour of Glasgow, lunch at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum KG cafe, to Dumbarton Castle, via Loch Lomond to Glen Fruin (battle of the Colquhouns and MacGregors); up Loch Long and via the Arrochar Alps and the ‘Rest and Be Thankful’ to Inveraray for an overnight at the George Hotel.

Tuesday: Loch Fyne to Lochgilphead and along the Crinan Canal to Tayvallich, Loch Coille Bharr walk (easy walking for 2 hours) past a cross slab beside a holy well and the ruin of an old water powered meal mill; visit Castle Sween and Kilmory Knap Chapel with the MacMillan Cross, tea and shortbread at the Crinan Hotel; stay at Dunchragaig House in Kilmartin Glen; dinner at the Cairnbaan Hotel

Wednesday: Walk from Kilneuair: on Loch Awe, on old drovers' road on Loch Fyne (4 hours), visit Kineuair Chapel (reportedly of St. Columba and a market cross); tour Dunadd Fort at the gloamin' (dusk); stay at Dunchraigaig House

Thursday: walk to Achnabreck cup and ring marked rocks; visit Kilmartin House and Museum, walk to the Nether Largie Cairns, explore the Temple Wood Stone Circles, stay at Dunchraigaig House

Friday: visit Tarbert harbour; walk up and explore Dun Skeig, an iron age hill fort; walk the beaches of the west of Kintyre, visit St. Columba's Well and Footprint and Keil Caves at Southend; Campbeltown; stay at Dunchraigaig House read more