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Loch Lomond & The Scottish Highlands

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4.0 stars(92 reviews)
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Journey to the heart of the Highlands

You are viewing the 2023 itinerary. Select your departure year
20232024
6 days From £729 £679 per person
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2023 Tour code: 23FWS

About the tour

Journey to the heart of the Scottish Highlands, taking in the marvellous lochs and glens this part of the world is famous for. Travel by vintage steam train on the superb West Highland Line and set sail on stunning Loch Lomond.

Highlights

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - Glasgow

Your Tour Manager greets you in Glasgow, then the rest of the day is free for you to explore. Straddling the River Clyde, Glasgow is a vibrant Scottish city with a lot to offer, and its lively centre is complemented by the backdrop of its rich history and outstanding Victorian architecture. Maybe experience your first taste of Scotland with a visit to a traditional pub for a wee dram, or take a dose of culture with a visit to one of Glasgow's excellent museums or galleries.

Day 2 - West Highland Line

Enjoy a journey on the West Highland Line today, a route that covers some of the most beautiful areas of Scotland. As you leave Glasgow, you're quickly immersed in the wild and windswept panorama of the Scottish Highlands. You arrive in Crianlarich and transfer to your hotel where you have dinner. Crianlarich is a village in Perthshire, whose name is derived from the Gaelic for 'low pass' because of its location in a glen surrounded by several mountains. The villagers call their village the 'gateway to the Highlands', as it's the starting point for a beautiful walking and cycling trail, and has stunning views of Ben More, one of the highest hills in the area.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 - Loch Lomond

This morning you travel to Tarbet for a cruise on majestic Loch Lomond. Surrounded by the Trossachs National Park, Loch Lomond is Britain's largest inland body of water and an impressive sight. This freshwater Scottish loch is located at the border of Central Scotland and the Highlands, and attracts a variety of wildlife and fish. After soaking up the beauty of Loch Lomond from the waters, you head to Inveraray, a town on the western shore of Loch Fyne where you have free time. You could visit Inveraray Castle, a unique castle with Baroque, Palladian and Gothic style architecture, surrounded by glorious gardens. Or, visit Inveraray Jail. This 19th-century prison and courthouse is now a 'living museum' recreating the history of the era.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 - Oban, Duart Castle & Tobermory

This morning you transfer to Oban where you have a little free time. The town boasts some beautiful beaches, one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland and a factory for homemade chocolatiers. Next, you catch the ferry to Craignure, on the Isle of Mull just off Scotland's west coast. On arrival, visit Duart Castle, the ancient home and seat of the Clan Maclean. This striking 13th century castle has watched over the Sound of Mull for hundreds of years. Enjoy a guided tour of the imposing estate, built on the end of a peninsula jutting into the Sound of the Mull. Continue by coach to Tobermory, the capital of the Isle of Mull, a lovely little fishing port famous for its brightly coloured houses, where there's free time to explore.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 - The Jacobite

Join the iconic Jacobite today for a magnificent journey on the final leg of the West Highland Line, hailed as one of the great railway journeys of the world. The Jacobite travels from Fort William to Mallaig, passing lochs, rivers, mountains, silvery beaches, and beautiful villages along the way. One of the most iconic landmarks to look out for is the Glenfinnan Viaduct, an incredible feat of engineering that was opened in 1901. Famously featured in the 'Harry Potter' films, the viaduct stretches over some truly impressive landscapes. On arrival in Mallaig, a quintessential Highland port town, you could head out to a nearby restaurant to try the fresh catch of the day.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 - Home

Head back along the West Highland Line to Glasgow, where your tour ends. You're free to depart or continue exploring.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Please note

Please note that while every departure of this tour features the same excursions, they may not necessarily be in the order listed above.

Departure times

On many of our UK & Ireland tours, you may check in at the first hotel on your itinerary anytime after 14:00; your Tour Manager will be available between 16:00 and 18:00. However, if you are arriving later, you can meet your Tour Manager before dinner from 19:00.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotels

Best Western Crianlarich Hotel, Crianlarich

Best Western Crianlarich Hotel, Crianlarich

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Holiday Inn Express Glasgow City Centre Riverside, Glasgow

Holiday Inn Express Glasgow City Centre Riverside, Glasgow

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Maldron Hotel, Glasgow

Maldron Hotel, Glasgow

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Trains

Jacobite Steam Train
Scotrail
West Highland Line

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Upgrades

Rail travel to and from Glasgow
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Reviews

4.0 stars4.0 / 5 · 92 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (33)
  2. 4 stars
    (40)
  3. 3 stars
    (12)
  4. 2 stars
    (3)
  5. 1 star
    (4)

Mr Jones

5 stars

Submitted 27/May

Great trip Well organised and fed Good guide contrary to other reviews and comments from previous travellers Will recommend Solo supplement was unecessary as less food provided in double room and paid more

Collected by Trustpilot

Malcolm

5 stars

Submitted 27/May

Really good and happy trip

Collected by Trustpilot

M Hill

4 stars

Submitted 26/May

Excellent trip , well organised and good value for money. Quite relaxed, small group and excellent guide/manager. Family run hotel with lovely friendly staff, but short comings with food service because of staff shortages which is not uncommon since Brexit. Tours amazing by coach, train and ship and not demanding. As a single passenger I was well looked after, and as usual on Rail Discovery trips , there were several of us. Beautiful scenery and good weather .

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D Haimes

4 stars

Submitted 26/May

Great trip, scenery breathtaking, good accomodation, excellent tour manager (Gareth). Would have given 5 stars, but our trip to the Isle of Mull was cancelled, which was a real disappointment...

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Mr David Harold White

5 stars

Submitted 09 Nov 2022

Great holiday ??

Collected by Trustpilot

Mavis Frost

3 stars

Submitted 07 Nov 2022

Beautiful scenery, excellent hotel but the trip could have run more smoothly. Too much time hanging about in Glasgow, waiting for the Loch Lomond boat and mix up with ferry tickets. Could have been five stars with slicker organisation.

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