After a short coffee stop we cross the Highland boundary
fault line leaving the rolling farms for the wild mountains
and forests of the Highlands. We will make a short stop
at Loch Luibnaig before we continue over the Braes of
Balquhidder, the final resting place of Highland outlaw
Rob Roy MacGregor. Made famous by Sir Walter Scott, Rob
Roy was a sort of Highland Robin Hood, he stole from the
rich, but never quite got round to giving it to the poor.
From Balquhidder the tour winds its way through the tough
knot of mountains known as Breadalbane (meaning the 'heights
of Scotland') down to Dalmally and our lunch stop. For
lunch we will eat at the Glenorchy Lodge, a lovely converted
shooting lodge in the shadow of Ben Cruachan, one of the
most stunning peaks in Scotland.
After lunch it is a short
hop to Kilchurn Castle. This ruined castle, sitting on
a promontory jutting into Scotland's longest loch, Loch
Awe, was the ancestral seat of one of Scotland's richest
and most powerful families, the Campbells of Breadalbane.
By 1900 the Marquis of Breadalbane owned an Estate stretching
for over 70 miles. Today the family own nothing, a real
case of how the mighty have fallen. You will get a chance
to explore inside this magnificent reminder of the wild
days of the Highland Clans.
From Kilchurn we take the short drive through Campbell
country to Inveraray. This picturesque whitewashed town
was designed by the same architects that designed Edinburgh's
New Town. We give you enough time to explore the town,
and you can visit the Old Jail, the ship museum or the
Bell tower. Also, you have the chance to visit Inveraray
castle, seat of the 13th Duke of Argyll, Chief of Clan
Campbell. Inveraray sits on Loch Fyne, which is itself
an arm of the Atlantic Ocean, and the area is famous
for its shellfish and seafood. After an hour or so at
Inveraray we will head over the mountain pass known
as 'Rest and Be Thankful' and when you see the view
at the top you will see that it is aptly named. During
the 1730s the Government in London decided that the
best way to curb the warlike tendencies of the Highlands
was to build a number of forts with roads to connect
them; needless to say it didn't work. The Rest and be
Thankful was one such project.
From here we skirt around Loch Long and down to the
Bonnie, Bonnie banks of Loch Lomond. This is Scotland's
largest loch and it takes its name from the mountain
Ben Lomond on the eastern shore. Ben Lomond means 'Beacon
Hill', and fires we lit on this high mountains as a
signal to the local Clansman for a call to arms. We
make a short stop at the conservation village of Luss,
with its quaint houses and stunning views across the
loch. At 17.30 we make our way back to Edinburgh, with
a short photo stop underneath Stirling Castle.
Return time - approx 7.30pm
This full day tour departs
every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday from Central Edinburgh.
9.30am - 7.30pm.
Adult Price:
£28
Child Price:
£25 (3 - 16 yrs)
Inclusions:
Transportation by top of the range 16 seat Mercedes
minicoaches for a more personal service.
Forced air ventilation as standard.
Services of a professional driver/guide
Exclusions:
Lunch and refreshments.
Entrance to Inveraray Castle.
|
