 |
|||
|
 |
|
BritishIrish Touring Pricing & Information |
|
|||
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
Oban & West Coast
Most visitors to Scotland feel they have to trek to the far north, and
to Inverness, to get a taste of the renowned Highland scenery. Thankfully,
it's not so. On this tour we can show you the Highland region of Rob
Roy in the Trossachs and by saving a lot of driving time that you'd have
to
face on a traditional 'Destination Inverness' tour, we can also include
the wonderful coastal region south of Oban. Our variety of sightseeing
opportunities multiplies dramatically by following this itinerary. You'll
see castles aplenty, see prehistoric and Celtic folk sites, pretty fishing
villages, Oban, gateway to the isles, cross the only bridge over the Atlantic,
be able to say you've toured a Western Isle, and breath wonderfully fresh
Highland air of glen, loch and brae!
Itinerary:
Day 1 (Sat) Glasgow - Oban
As we leave Glasgow we'll drive through the
much-ignored town of Paisley, seeing the Abbey which hides the secret
roots of Britain's present Queen, statues to the Coats brothers,
whose business hung on a thread, and the weaver's cottages where
radicalism developed alongside the famed Paisley pattern Shawl! We'll
wander up the west side of Loch Lomond, hear the real tale of the
famous song, ponder a Viking gravestone in the picturesque village
of Luss, before climbing up and over the Rest and Be Thankful, through
some breath-taking scenery to Inveraray with its fairy-tale Castle
and delightful layout. We'll lunch here, perhaps in the 18th Century
George Hotel, or in the inn where Bothwell, Burns, Keats et al once
dined. Perhaps we'll visit the old Jail, see the birthplace of Neil
Munro, author of Para Handy, then on we go, by some more classic
highland scenic routes to Kilmartin. Older than Stonehenge, older
too than the pyramids, the stone circles and burial cairns of this
ancient glen await us. Day 2 (Sun) Oban
We cross the Atlantic today! On our way to Easdale
Island, we will drive over the Atlantic Bridge, by the 18th Century
Inn, Tigh an Truish (the House of the Trousers) and drive across
the beautiful Seil Island, where Princess Diana's mother lived, to
the little ferry which will whisk us over to Easdale, the Slate Island.
We'll visit the little Island museum and take a walk around the Island,
with its fabulous views and rare wildlife. This is a typical Back-Roads
destination; few others have yet discovered it! A visit to an Argyll
Garden, and an evening of Scottish song and dance with dinner will
round off another great day.
Day 3 (Mon) Oban
A day of scenery, of history, of treachery! With a bit of Scottish
engineering thrown in for good measure! We'll start with a visit
to Dunstaffnage Castle, once home to the Stone of Destiny, once
prison for Flora MacDonald. Then we'll head for Loch Awe and the
Cruachan Power Station, built deep inside a mountain! We can ride
the visitor's train inside the mountain and marvel at the engineer's
feat! After this, a drive through the magical Glen Orchy, over
the brooding Rannoch Moor and into Glencoe, the Glen of Weeping.
We'll hear the true tale of the treachery of the Massacre which
took place here in 1692, the memory of which is as fresh today
as it was then. Then it's another beautiful drive as we follow
the coast road back to Oban, watching out for Sea Eagles and otters,
ruined castles and Highland Cattle!
Day 4 (Tue) Oban - Glasgow
We'll leave Oban by the back roads, rejoining
the main road at the Pass of Brander, where Robert the Bruce defeated
the MacDougalls in the early 14th Century. Thence through classic
southern Highland country of glen, loch and brae (valley, lake and
stream). Aye, it's the very image of Scotland and what you've come
for! Ye'll no be disappointed! Amidst the stunning and spectacular
scenery, we'll find the tomb and tumbledown house of Highland robber
and sometime 'patriot', Rob Roy. You'll hear local tales of fairy
visits and the Minister who studied and wrote about them, before
mysteriously disappearing! We couldn't pass this region by without
a visit to a woollen mill, and you can't go home with a typical woolly
jumper! Finally, we round off a perfect day and tour with the magnificent
Stirling Castle, in the heart of 'Braveheart' country, then a return
to Glasgow. Those continuing enjoy the evening in Sterling.
Tour Include:
|
||||||||||||||
back to top© 2006 Holidays on Location - ABN 52 005 586 121 Australia
British & Irish Holidays™ is operated by Holidays on Location T/A Licence 30186