Argyll & the IslesWilderness Walking

Trip Grade: Green 3

View Trip Dates Book Now

Argyll and the Isles is a glorious coastal region of western Scotland. Known for its glittering sea lochs, wild islands, hills and glens, it is perfect for exploring on foot. While the scenery is outstanding, the ancient heritage, abundant wildlife and whisky distilleries are equally appealing. This fascinating itinerary takes you on a journey through the Argyll peninsula and several of its islands, including hard-to-reach Jura. Our hikes link prehistoric sites, nature reserves and whisky distilleries, all set against the backdrop of green hills and the rolling Atlantic. The second half of the trip is three nights on the Isle of Islay - a wild and beautiful island on the very western fringe of Scotland - known for its eight whisky distilleries, prolific birdlife and stunning coastal landscapes.

Argyll & the Isles

Highlights • Explore the beautiful Argyll Peninsula, visiting some of our favourite islands which hug its

western coastline, spending the last three nights at a lovely hotel on the whisky island of Islay• Take a privately chartered boat to the wild island of Jura, detouring to view the turbulent

waters of the famous Correyvreckan Whirlpool• Stay in two welcoming small hotels, each with a tranquil setting, with wonderful meals

providing the perfect end to each day

PLEASE NOTE – The itinerary may be subject to change at the discretion of the Wilderness Scotland Guide with regard to weather conditions and other factors.

Book with confidence • We guarantee this trip will run as soon as 2 people have booked• Maximum of 8 places available per departure

Day 1 | The Green Isle of KerreraDay 2 | Kilmartin Glen & Argyll's BeaversDay 3 | The Wild Island of JuraDay 4 | Sail to Islay; Hike to Killinallan PointDay 5 | Woodland Wander & Islay Woolen MillDay 6 | Mountains, Monuments & Single MaltsDay 7 | Journey Back to Oban

Planned Itinerary

Arrival Info• Your Guide will meet you at the centre of Oban Railway Station• 11.30am on Day 1 of your trip

Departure Info• You will be returned to Oban Railway Station • 2:00pm on the final day of your trip

PLEASE NOTE – The itinerary may be subject to change at the discretion of the Wilderness Scotland Guide with regard to weather conditions and other factors.

Day 1 | The Green Isle of Kerrera We meet in Oban late morning, coinciding with the arrival of the train from Glasgow. After introductions, we head straight to our first island - Kerrera. Just south of Oban, we take a small boat across the strait to this small island, which has about 100 residents. We enjoy a superb hike which takes a circular route covering the southern half of the island. On the way, we pass the ruined outpost of Gylen Castle, once a stronghold for the MacDougall clan. The views are wonderful and will whet the appetite for the week ahead! After hopping back across to the mainland, we transfer 30 minutes south to our hotel. Set in a fantastic coastal location, all rooms benefit from sea views. We enjoy a welcome dinner at the hotel. (L, D)

Walk details: 10km/ 6 miles | 300m/ 980 ft of ascent | approx. 4-5 hours

Day 2 | Kilmartin Glen & Argyll's Beavers Picturesque Kilmartin Glen is one of the richest sites in Europe for prehistoric remains. Our morning walk takes us on a circular route through some of the most interesting sites, including Celtic crosses, medieval grave slabs, Bronze Age chambered cairns and standing stones. In the afternoon we visit the home Scotland’s only wild Beaver population, which were reintroduced to the wild after being extinct here for over 400 years. We take a fascinating tour with the knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff and perhaps take a short wander along the nearby Crinan Canal before returning to our hotel. (B, L)

Walk details: 8km/ 5 miles | 50m/ 160 ft of ascent | approx. 3-4 hours

Day 4 | Sail to Islay; Hike to Killinallan Point Today we’ll take the ferry Islay, the southernmost island in of the Inner Hebrides archipelago. On arrival, we’ll enjoy a hike which explores the shoreline of Loch Gruinart and Killinallan Point keeping a look for birds such as cuckoos, corncrakes and hen harriers and visiting beautiful beaches with views north to the islands of Colonsay and Mull. (B, L)

Walk details: 10km/ 6 miles | 50m/ 160 ft of ascent | approx. 4-5 hours

Day 3 | The Wild Island of Jura With a privately chartered boat at our disposal, this day is sure to be a highlight of the trip. We’ll venture, with a flexible approach, to the rarely-visited Isle of Jura to enjoy some wild hiking. We may land in West Loch Tarbert and hike coast to coast, being collected by our boat on the eastern shores. Or we may hike point to point along the east coast, passing George Orwell’s cottage and enjoying fantastic views back to Argyll. Whatever hike we undertake, our boat will detour to the Corryvreckan Whirlpool, so we can appreciate the power of Scotland’s largest tidal whirlpool - from a safe distance! (B, L)

Walk details: 11km/ 7 miles | 350m/ 1150 ft of ascent | approx. 4-5 hours

Day 6 | Mountains, Monuments & Single Malts Our walk today explores the Oa Peninsula in the far south of Islay. We hike up to the American Monument, which commemorates the loss of two troops ships in 1918. We then follow a dramatic cliff-top trail past an Iron Age fort to reach the summit of Beinn Mhor. Although just 200m high, this is a superb viewpoint - on a clear day, the coast of Northern Ireland can be seen! After the hike we recover by visiting one of Islay’s whisky distilleries before returning to our farewell dinner at our hotel. (B, L, D)

Walk details: 9km/ 6 miles | 250m/ 820 ft of ascent | approx. 4-5 hours

Day 7 | Journey Back to Oban After breakfast, we take the morning ferry back onto the Argyll mainland, keeping a lookout for wildlife and admiring the views as we sail. Once back in Kennacraig, it’s a 90-minute transfer back to Oban. We should arrive by 2pm. Trains south to Glasgow depart at approx 2.30pm. (B, L)

Day 5 | Woodland Wander & Islay Woolen Mill Enjoy a change of pace with a woodland exploration this morning. On the way we stop in to a working wooden mill producing beautiful woven products which have featured in many Hollywood films. We will have some time to admire some other local crafts, including a tiny brewery which is the only beer producer on this island dedicated to whisky. Depending on time we may head out for another short hike along Islay’s beautiful Machair dunes. (B, L)

Walk details: 7km/ 4.25 miles | 23m/ 75ft of ascent | approx. 2 hours

Trip Grading | Green 3 | Green graded walking holidays are suitable for active travellers who are reasonably fit and enjoy moderate hikes. We walk at a comfortable pace and you can expect to be out for 5-6 hours a day. The terrain will be small paths (not paved) and hill trails but these can still be muddy and rough in places and you will need to be confident hiking on uneven ground at times. Some hikes may involve an ascent up to a max of approx 1,500 feet / 450m. Distances will be typically 8-10km but there may be the odd slightly longer day. Daily hike details are available in the itinerary.

The weather in Scotland can be unpredictable and at times can make activities more challenging. Please do bear this in mind when thinking about what trip to join.

If our guides feel that you are not able to complete a scheduled hike they may ask you not to join in that day. If you have any questions about the grading, then please do give our Adventure Consultants a call to chat through your experience and suitability for this trip.

It is your responsibility to ensure you are appropriately fit and capable of doing the described hikes in the expected times. Please refer to the grading section on our website for more details. If you are unsure we encourage you to speak to us first.

Accommodation and Meals We spend our nights in welcoming and friendly hotels. Accommodation is in twin or double rooms with en-suite bathroom facilities. Please note that we can offer a maximum of two single rooms on this itinerary.

Both accommodations offer wonderful hospitality and a warm welcome is assured. You can relax and enjoy the tranquil coastal locations, indulging in wonderful meals and perhaps tasting a local whisky or two.

Food is of paramount importance and our meals are prepared from the best local produce. Naturally, vegetarians and other dietary requirements are willingly catered for - simply let us know at the time of booking.

On this trip we generally eat dinner as a group however if you would like to make alternative arrangements you are free to do so. Your guide will have an evening off during this trip where they do not eat with the group. They will recommend options for dinner that evening and will help you make any necessary reservations.

Single Rooms For solo travellers: Accommodation is based on sharing a twin room with another solo traveller of the same gender. A limited number of rooms for single occupancy are available on a first come first served basis, subject to a single supplement. Please enquire for availability.

Single supplements vary across our itineraries so please refer to the ‘What’s Included - Accommodation’ tab on the trip page on our website for this trip or contact our sales team.

Inclusions This trip includes the following:

• 6 nights accommodation in comfortable small hotels

• Most meals during the trip (Meals included indicated as B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)

• The services of an experienced and knowledgeable guide / driver throughout

• All transport throughout the trip starting and finishing in Oban, including ferry fares

• A private boat charter on Day 3

• Tour of a whisky distillery with tastings

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Wilderness Scotland to anyone! I'd previously never used a tour company, preferring to travel and sight see on my own, but the benefits of travelling with Wilderness Scotland have definitely been revealed to me. When you are only travelling with a small group of 7 or 8 people, it feels more like you are travelling with a group of friends instead of a tour, and when you add the expertise of the guide, you not only have that added knowledge of a "local", but someone to co-ordinate all your logistics for you and just let you relax and enjoy! One of the first things I thought of when I got home was to go back to the Wilderness Scotland website and start to plan which trip I could do next! Julie Umpherson

“

”

Our holidays reviewed in your words…

All Trip Reviews Here

Your Guide During this trip you will be accompanied and led by one of our professional guides. Our guides are among the most highly experienced and qualified in the country. Defined by their passion for Scotland’s wild places, they have an intimate knowledge of the natural and social history of this land which they will be delighted to share with you. For more info and to meet the team please see our Guide Pages.

Sustainable Travel Wilderness Scotland is committed to the principles of ecotourism. We work very hard to ensure our engagements with local communities, wild lands and wildlife are positive.

We are a proud partner of the Leave No Trace Centre for Outdoor Ethics, which enhances our commitment to responsible activity in Scotland’s wild lands, as enshrined in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC).

We are also proud to be a John Muir Trust Peak Partner. Thanks in part to the generosity of our clients though our Conservation Contribution scheme the John Muir Trust can rely on our investment to go towards conservation projects that have a deep connection to Wilderness Scotland and the areas we adventure in.

You can learn more about the work we’re doing with the John Muir Trust and the other ways we care for the wild places we love here.

Eat | Stay | See Looking for accommodation for before or after your adventure with us? Check out our list of where to stay and what to do

Eat – Stay – See – Oban.pdf

Equipment List Check out our guide on what to wear when adventuring in Scotland.

wildernessscotland.com/blog/hiking-in-scotland-what-to-wear

General Info – Scotland From food and drink to the Loch Ness Monster, our General Info for Scotland guide has got you covered for all your need to know facts.

General-Info-Scotland.pdf

Travel Insurance It is your responsibility to take out appropriate travel insurance to cover you during your trip. This should include cover for cancellation prior to the trip, the activities undertaken (i.e hiking), curtailment, and adequate medical insurance for sickness/injury and medical repatriation. We also strongly recommend you have cover for your other travel arrangements such as flights, and your personal possessions.

We suggest you do your own research to find the best insurance cover for you however the follow companies offer suitable policies.

Campbell Irvine Direct – campbellirvinedirect.com

Journeyman Insurance Services – journeyman-services.com/travelInsurance

If you cancel your holiday charges will apply. Please see section 2 of our terms and conditions for a breakdown: wildernessscotland.com/make-a-booking/booking-conditions

Travel With Confidence You can book with us in complete confidence that all trip payments made to us are fully protected.

Wilderness Scotland Ltd is a licensed and bonded tour operator. Your financial security is guaranteed through our membership and bonding with ABTA.

FAQs Looking for more information? Check out our frequently asked questions page.

wildernessscotland.com/faq

Questions to Ask? Ready to Book? If you want to get in touch please send us an email or give us a call. We accept bookings online, by email, or over the phone. A deposit of 25% is required at the time of booking to secure the trip with the balance payable 8 weeks (56 days) before departure. If booking less than 56 days before the trip start date, full payment of the trip price is required immediately.

We accept payment by credit or debit card, or bank transfer.

View Trip Dates Book Now

email: info@wildernessscotland.com Tel (UK and Europe): +44(0)1479 420 020 Tel (US and Canada): 866-740-3890