Island Hopping Walking Tour

Trip Details

This wonderfully diverse 5 island hopping whisky and walking tour incorporating the island of Arran and the islands of the Inner Hebrides, offers a taste of Scotland in every way you can imagine! Walking over dramatic mountains and through lush valleys, relaxing ferry journeys with superb views, and some of the best Malt whisky Distillery tours Scotland has to offer.

We begin the adventure with 2 nights on Arran where we ascend majestic Goatfell mountain and visit the mystical Machrie Moor standing stones and enjoy a tour of Arran’s highly regarded whisky distillery.

Then we are off to Islay for 3 nights – the southernmost of the Inner Hebrides, known for its numerous whisky distilleries producing the island’s characteristically peaty malts. We have several tastings and at least one distillery tour during our time here as well as some beautiful walks including stunning coastlines and snippets of the island’s history.

From here we take a short ferry journey over to the isle of Jura for a magnificent mountain ascent as well as a visit to Jura distillery.

Our next island is Mull where we are based for 4 nights giving us plenty of time to explore this magical isle including a mountain walk on Scotland’s most westerly ‘Munro’ (listed mountain over 3000 feet) and a day visit to the small fascinating island of Ulva where we do a delightful circular walk on this lesser know community-owned and run island.

We also have time to visit beautiful rugged coastlines and of course, incorporate a tasting tour at Tobermory distillery.

What`s included

• 9 nights accommodation with breakfast
• 8 fully guided walks
• fully qualified mountain leader throughout
• 2 distillery tours
• 5 tastings
• all ferry fares to and from 5 islands
• Transport throughout the tour
• pickup from Edinburgh/Glasgow at start of the tour

What`s not included

• lunch and dinner
• Transport to and from Edinburgh/Glasgow
• Travel insurance (recommended)

Dates

• 05/07/2024 – 14/07/2024

PRICE

• B&B/Hotel: £1919 pp including dinner
• B&B/Hotel: £1599 pp excluding dinner
• Single Supplement: £250 pp

AT A CLANCE

• Group size: 4 – 8
• 9 days walking
• Difficulty:
• Deposit: 20% of the full amount
• Start: Edinburgh 9 am
• Finish: Edinburgh 1 pm
• Extension possible

ACCOMMODATION & MEALS

• 9 nights B&B/Hotel
• 9 breakfast

Day 1 – Machrie Moor standing stones

After taking the one hour ferry from Ardrossan on the mainland over to Brodick on Arran, we have time in the afternoon to take a shorter walk to the fascinating archaeological landscape of Machrie moor with ancient standing stones, stone circles and burial cairns dating back to between 3500and 1500bc.

We then check in to our B&B for the next two nights and you will have time to explore the village before we have an informal introduction from your guide with a summary of the week ahead.

Walk details: 4.25 km/ 2.75 miles | approx. 1.5 – 2 hours | ↗ 42 m/138 ft | ↘ 42 m/138 ft

Day 2 – Goatfell Mountain and Arran Distillery

Today we ascend Goatfell, the highest point on Arran at 874 metres from sea level. We pass the Arran Brewery where there is time to sample this renowned local beer!

The ascent is via a good path initially which becomes rougher nearer the summit. the views out to Holy island and of the surrounding ridges are outstanding.

We descend to the small village of Corrie with a refreshment stop at the Corrie Hotel. We are then off to Lochranza for a whisky distillery tour and tasting.

Walk details: 12.5 km/ 7.75 miles | approx. 6 – 8 hours | ↗ 853 m/2798 ft | ↘ 853 m/2798 ft

Day 3 – Ferry to Islay and coastal walk

Today we are off to the Isle of Islay for our 3-night stay. After taking the ferry over from Arran we will head out on a wonderful coastal walk taking in the beauty of one of Islay’s many unspoilt beaches. There is always a chance to spot birds and marine life on the coastlines.

Our accommodation for our 3 nights is in the vibrant village of Bowmore, home to Islay’s first distillery established in 1779. This diverse island has several wonderful distilleries and we visit at least four of the best in our time here.

Walk details: max. 10 km/ 6 miles | max 3 hours | ↗ 50 m/164 ft | ↘ 50 m/164 ft

Day 4 – Magnificent Paps of Jura

After a very short ferry trip over to the Isle of Jura, we head to the start of our walk-up onto the highest of the Paps of Jura – Beinn an Oir, an impressive mountain giving fantastic views of the other hills and beyond.

It’s a long rather boggy walk in but improves once on higher ground and then a steep ascent onto this excellent summit. We return the same way and finish with a whisky tasting at world-renowned Jura distillery before our short ferry trio back to Islay

Walk details: 13.25 km/ 8.25 miles | approx. 6 hours | ↗ 758 m/2486 ft | ↘ 758 m/2486 ft

Day 5 – Mull of Oa, singing sands and the ‘distillery trail’

We have three shorter walks today, The Mull of Oa is one of the most dramatic locations on Islay on the far point of the Oa peninsula and is home to an important monument which your guide will be happy to talk about.

We then take a walk to the singing sands in the south of Islay and visit an unusual lighthouse, followed by a walk that links three distilleries, Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg, where we stop for a tasting in each and finish with a tour of Ardbeg. A fantastic end to this varied day!

Walk details: 14 km/ 8.7 miles | approx. 5 – 6 hours walking | ↗ 200 m/656 ft | ↘ 200 m/656 ft

Day 6 – Ferry to Mull and explore Tobermory

Next on our island list is the gorgeous hospitable Isle of Mull, which we reach by ferry and a wonderful scenic drive via the village of Tarbet and the famous coastal town of Oban.

We spend four nights on Mull giving us plenty of time to discover all its hidden delights. On arrival, we may have time for a short afternoon walk before checking into our delightful B&B based in lovely Tobermory with its colourful harbour houses.

Walk details: approx 5 km/ 3 miles | approx 2 – 3 hours | ↗ 100 m/328 ft | ↘ 100 m/328 ft

Day 7 – Ben More mountain

Ben More is not only the most westerly ‘Munro’ in all of Scotland (mountain over 3000 feet) but is also the highest peak in the Inner Hebrides other than the mountains of Skye.

We take the straight route up the mountain which can be boggy in the lower section followed by a rocky upper section. On a clear day, the views from the summit are fantastic. We return to Tobermory where we have a tasting tour at the Tobermory distillery on our Island Hopping Walking Tour.

Walk details: 9.25 km/5.75 miles | approx. 6 hours | ↗ 945 m/3100 ft | ↘ 945 m/3100 ft

Day 8 – Isle of Ulva circuit

The island of Ulva has recently become community-owned and is really such a delightful place to explore.

We take the tiny ferry over to the excellent boathouse cafe where we start our excellent varied circuit around the southern section of the island, which includes a visit to the remains of the explorer, David Livingstone’s grandparents croft, an interesting cave and some beautiful rugged coastline.

We return to the cafe for a refreshment before our short ferry back to Mull and a scenic drive with a beautiful beach stop on our return to Tobermory.

Walk details: 7.5 km/4.66 miles | approx. 3 – 4 hours | ↗ 185 m/606 ft | ↘ 185 m/606 ft

Day 9 – Dun da Ghaoithe mountain ridge

Dun Da Ghaoithe is the second-highest mountain on Mull and offers some beautiful views, not only on the summit but on the walk up and back down.

It has a wonderful long ridge which we do a section of to marvel at the views before retracing our footsteps to the start.

There is time to take the short drive from here to the wonderfully positioned Duart Castle for a short walk in the grounds and a tour of the inside of the castle.

Walk details: 15 km/9.25 miles | approx. 5 – 6 hours | ↗ 843 m/2765 ft | ↘ 843 m/2765 ft

Day 10 – Homeward Bound

The following day we take the ferry over to the Ardnamurchan peninsula which allows us a very scenic route back to Edinburgh via stunning Glencoe, allowing you to sit back, relax and reminisce about what promises to have been a true Scottish adventure on the Island Hopping Walking Tour.

Walk details: Transfer day with short leg stretchers and photo stops