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Wed like to introduce one of our Heartlands tours of the stunning west coast of the Scottish Highlands. This is the home of the Clan Donald, once known as The Lords of the Isles, from Somerled onwards. Tours are adaptable, according to the parties taking part and expected events. So if you have a whole family or other group, we can focus on your particular interest in Clan Donald; one of Scotlands most famous and alluring clans. You will find more information about how the tour operates on the last page. There are some important details there, which we hope will make your choice that much easier, and raise your expectation to that of any Clan Donald kinfolks. Fraoch Eilean!
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Day 1
At a glance
Arrival
You arrive in Glasgow according to your own schedule. We can arrange flights and transfers for you Glasgow Millenium Hotel is right

Arrival, Glasgow, and Welcome!

Accommodation
Glasgow Millenium Hotel

next to Queen St. station. Overlooking George Square. you are right in the city centre; the Merchant City, stuffed with pubs, clubs, and eateries; and numerous galleries within very easy reach.

Dinner
Pipers Tryst at the National College of Piping on McPhater Street in Glasgows Cowcaddens

The Pipers Tryst Restaurant is attached to the National Piping

Centre. Along with an exhibition of piping history, the restaurant has a great reputation for excellent food. An intimate restaurant, its great for a relaxed evening with friends, and dare we say, some good malt.

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Day 2
At a glance
Departure Bannockburn
10:00
11:00

King Robert, Bannockburn, Stirling Castle, and Glencoe

Robert the Bruce statue at
Bannockburn Heritage Centre which has just been completely rebuilt and upgraded

We visit the 1314 site of the battle of Bannockburn in which Clan Donald played such an important part with King Robert the Bruce.

Stirling Castle Lunch 12:15 Explore 13:15 15:00

The Castle and nearby Argylls Lodgings; Church of the Holy Rood; the Old Town Jail 17:00 18:30 A private tour of the museum in this most historic little corner of Scotland

Stirling Castle one of Scotlands two

most important castles. The Queens Palace and Banqueting Hall have now both been fully renovated to a brilliant standard of story telling.

Travel Glencoe Hotel Glencoe Museum

15:00

Glencoe Museum just a few

moments from your hotel. It houses many artefacts and tells the story of the infamous massacre of the MacIans of Glencoe

Glencoe Hotel
Dinner

20:00

Loch Leven from Glencoe

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Day 3
At a glance
Departure Fort William
The local garrison town 10:00
10.45 11:00

Fort William, A Steam Train Trip, Mallaig, Arisaig, & Borrodale

Crannog
in Fort William serves fabulous seafood from its lochside restaurant

Jacobite and local history

West Highland Museum Lunch Free time

Crannogs Seafood fresh,

rich, and tasty

12:15 13:15

The West Highland Railway

voted as top train journey in the world three times is also the setting for the Harry Potter Express. Shown on Glenfinnans spectacular viaduct.

Crannog seafood restaurant Clans talk, local archives, shopping, looking at the Ben?

Steam to Mallaig

14:20

Voted top railway journey in the world three years running stunning! Harry Potter??!!

Mallaig
Borrodale House

16:30
18:30

Live harbour / Heritage Ctr Borrodale Beach place

of landing and departing for Bonnie Prince Charlie

First house Bonnie Prince Charlie entered upon landing

Borrodale Beach
Landing and leaving point
Arisaig House
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Dinner

20:00

The Appin Gun? one of four in the UK said to be the gun used to
kill the Red Fox at Appin. It is kept in the West Highland Museum

Day 4
At a glance
Departure Knoydart Ferry Inverie, Scotus, and Kilchoan
10:00
10:30 11:00

Knoydart, Loch Morar, Morar Mac Donalds, and a secret war

Seascape en route to
Knoydart - Loch Nevis, Rum, Skye

Scotos

20 mins seascape splendour

Local historian walk and talk following the time, content, and abilities of individuals

St. Cumins & Loch Morar Eilean

Bn, seminaries, monsters, deep loch, short river

Lunch

12:30

Old Forge, the remotest pub on mainland UK

Mallaig Ferry & Blessed Morar

14:00 14:45

Arisaig House 3 nights

accommodation with history!

Morar RC church, Prince Charlies priests vestments, seminaries, manhunts, monsters, Europes deepest loch and shortest river

Soldiers Tour

16:00

WW2 Special Ops sites, inc Morar MacDonalds homes

Cilidh

19:15

Some music before dinner

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The Old Forge most remote pub on the UK mainland Czech memorial (above right) a token of thanks from old
soldiers for the training they received around Arisaig

Day 5
At a glance
Departure Moidart Bound
10:00
10:00

Tioram, Loch Shiel, Glenaladale Mac Donalds, &Glenfinnan

Jacobite Monument Glenfinnan

A drive-by guide to important places, landmarks, and events Loch nan Uamh, Ardnish, Loch Ailort, Glenuig & Kinlochmoidart

Alasdair Mac Mhaighstir Alasdair in a pretty

bonkers artistic impression!

Shiel Folks Castle Tioram Lunch

10:45

Boathouse jetty
on Loch Eilt

An important area and loch for Mac Donalds over centuries

11:00

The Clan Ranald stronghold

13:00 14:15

MV Sleas Loch Shiel

pleasure cruiser

Loch Shiel Hotel, or Dalilea

Shiel Cruise Glenfinnan

Polnish Church Ardnish / Loch Ailort

A glorious loch cruise - nature, wildlife, and the Glenaladales!

16:10

Iconic for the Jacobite rising, now too for the Harry Potter Express. You will have a chance to ascend the monument and visit the NTS.

Loch Ailort & Loch Eilt16:30

Home and more fascinating histories and places on this delightful little fresh water loch

Dinner
After some time to relax
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20:00

Castle Tioram ancient stronghold of Clan Ranald, built by Amy Mac Ruari

Day 6
At a glance Departure
09:30 Over the sea 10:30 Ferry from Mallaig to Armadale on Skye. What a vista! Clan Donald 10:30 Centre, Armadale, Skye
The fabulous Castle gardens, a stunning view onto Knoydart and Arisaig, and the award winning Museum of the Isles. Terrific!

Armadale, Skye, Glen Shiel, Cluanie, and Glen Garry

Rock of the Raven a memorial statue to the previous Chief of MacDonell of Glengarry

Clan Donald Ctr Armadale, Skye.

Beautiful grounds and an award winning Museum of the Isles

Lunch @ Kinloch 13:00 Kinloch Lodge, former home of the High Chief and his wife, Lady Claire. Some of the best food to be found in Scotland. Travel 14:30 Bus trip, seeing: Broadford; Skye Bridge; Eilean Donan Castle; Loch The Five Sisters of Kintail Duich; Five Sisters of Kintail; Glen Glengarry Castle Shiel; Cluanie, Loch Garry sacked after Culloden by Tea 16:30 Butcher Cumberland, and Tea at Glengarry Castle Hotel, later abandoned then time to settle and relax Local history 18:30 from Glengarry Historical Society Dinner
Glengarry Castle Hotel
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Kinloch Lodge renowned for

the excellence of its food

Glengarry Castle Hotel

your accommodation base for two nights. The Castle looks over Loch Oich and is close to the original Invergarry Castle

20:00

Day 7
At a glance Tomorrow
is a longish day, so today is much more about relaxation and slow!

Free Day with Easy Options

Urquhart Castle is one of those icons
of Scotland which simply endures. Sitting its promontory iy has a majestic view of the loch in all directions.

Fort Augustus is a dainty little village

marking the last Caledonian Canal lock set before the final flight at Inverness.

Option 1 Easy Day 09:30 with Culloden

An early run to Culloden. On the way: Loch Ness, Fort Augustus, Urquhart Castle (Nessie?!). If the all agree, some time in Inverness.

Option 2 Easy Day 11:00 With Clan Donald Genealogy is important to kinsfolk. We
A good Clan Donald historian will be on hand to discuss the history of the clan. Give us some prior warning, and perhaps we can tell your story a bit better too.
can team you up with a good company. With the right time frame, they can give you your family history while on the trip.

Culloden needs no
introduction. Just east of Inverness, it has a marvellous exhibition and interpretation space alongside the preserved ruggedness of the historic moor where such an awful set of events passed.

Option 3 Easy Day 15:00 with Genealogy

A good DNA specialist explains. Early notice to us will help get your profile delivered and explained on the day.

Dinner
Glengarry Castle Hotel
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19:30

Day 8
At a glance Departure
09:00 Invergarry 09:00 This is a fairly long stint. Leaving the hotel, we pass the Well of the Seven Heads, Loch Lochy, the Cameron lands, Keppoch lands, Spean, Fort William to Corran Ferry. A short boat across to Ardgour, then to Loch Sunart and down into Morvern to Lochaline. Lochaline 12:00 A pretty short ferry again. Lunch 12:30 Craignure Hotel. This will also be an opportunity to drop luggage.
14:15 From Fionnphort to Iona by pedestrian ferry.

Ardgour, Morvern, Mull, and Iona

The Well of the Seven Heads In 1663, Corran Ferry to Ardgour two sons of MacDonell were killed in a quarrel with an uncle and his six sons, who were executed in revenge by 60 men who cut off their heads, washed them in this spring, and took them to the Chief in Invergarry

The Island of Iona is Scotlands spiritual

heart with a long history of religious activity. Many Clan Donald chiefs are buried here, including Angus g.

Mull is the only way to get to Iona without

making a long trip by boat from the mainland.

Fionnphort

Iona
Between 1-1.5 hours

15:00 Duart Castle is the 16:15 19:30

ancient stronghold of the MacLeans, an ally and neighbour clan to Clan Donald

Fionnphort
Text

Dinner
Isle of Mull Hotel
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Day 9
At a glance Departure
10:00 Duart Castle 10:15 Home of the MacLeans, a good ally clan to Clan Donald, it would be a pity to miss it! Ferry to Oban 13:00 This is a short run, just about three quarters of an hour with some glorious views of the town on the way in.

Duart Castle, Oban, Loch Etive, Loch Awe, and Stirling

Duart Castle A
quick morning visit before catching the ferry to Oban

Loch Lubnaig a jewel of the Lomond & Trossachs National Park, between Strathyre and Callander

Loch Etive A real, striking enigma,

very tide dependent, so far inland

13:45 Oban is a pretty little town, but not an essential part of the tour. If the group wishes it can visit, or Oban, an important west just crack on for an early finish, coast market town, gives and time to relax in Stirling. access to many of the south 17:00 Highland Hotel, a former school, which was attended by one of the few Scottish Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom.

Oban

The Loch Awe Viaduct When the

banks are too steep !

Stirling

western islands, including Mull and the Uists.

Dinner
Highland Hotel

19:30 The Stirling Observatory still a

working part of the old school

Stirling Highland Hotel accommodation which is now the hotel.

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Day 10
At a glance
Stirling is a great transport hub and we recommend getting to main cities by train.The station is about 5 minutes walk. Ask us about whats on offer, but heres some highlights: Option 1 - Stirling --:-Castle, Argylls Lodging, Church of the Holy Rood, Cowans Museum, Smith Art Gallery, Wallace Monument, Cambuskenneth Abbey, Bannockburn

Free Day with Big City Options

Kelvingrove
Art Gallery & Museum

Wallace Monument
Stirling

Verdant Works Jute Mill

Dundee

Scottish Parliament Mace

Edinburgh

Option 2 - Glasgow 35 mins Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery, The Peoples Palace, The Gallery of Modern Art, Transport Museum, Shipbuilding, Science Museum, Barras, Cathedral Quarter, galleries, City Hall, Italian Centre, & great food Option 3 - Dundee 50 mins Verdant Works jute mill, The Tay Bridge, Scotts ship Discovery, frigate Unicorn, Broughty Ferry Museum, Mills Observatory, shopping Option 4 - Edinburgh 60 mins Castle, Parliament, Holyrood Palace, Royal Mile, many galleries, the New Town, Camera Obscura, Whisky Centre, endless tartan!
10:00 A bus based tour around Stirlings hinterland and the National Park
Worlds Oldest Football
Stirling Smith Art Gallery

Gallery of Modern Art Glasgow Scotts ship Discovery Dundee

Option 5 - Trossachs

Farewell Dinner 19:30 Hermanns Restaurant, Stirling

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General Information

The Trip
notes and considerations Tour Content

Tour Content The tour is totally adaptable to you if it is a single group taking part. If you prefer to have a longer or shorter trip, or see some different locations, please just let us know. Mixed groups tours will be much less able to vary. However, there are always some options on a tour that can be omitted in favour of something else, if the group agrees. Travel, Flights & Transfers No allowance has been made in the costing shown. Flight or other travel costs to get to the start of the tour will be additional. We can organise flights and transfers for you, should you wish. It is often more effective to arrange group bookings for better rates. Accommodation can be varied if you wish to go for a higher or lower cost option. Providers shown are not guaranteed until your booking has been made, and is according to availability at that time. Food and Drink All breakfasts and dinners are included in the package price. However, beverages are not. Lunches are not included so that you may adapt to your own particular needs. Access Issues Clan Donald places are very natural! Much of the tour is in the area known as The Rough Bounds. If you have mobility problems, please let us know. Accommodation and transport will always be sought to suit, but adapting to some locations is less easy, and you may need to decide whether you want to take part in a particular activity or not. Some walks are quite long and on unmade tracks or parkland. Pricing Due to the adaptability of the tour, the prices shown can only be considered indicative for the tour content shown, Prices have been given in pounds Sterling as the local currency, and you should use current exchange rates to calculate approximate costs. Prices will be quoted in your local currency when the trip has been agreed. Genealogy No allowance has been made for the genealogy component. We will introduce you to one (or more if you prefer) providers, and any arrangements will be between you. We will have no part. Alterations Clearly nobody wants to be altering agreed schedules. However, from time to time it may be necessary to adapt to local or personal conditions. We advise that you take out insurance to cover such eventualities. Deposits and planned payments will be non-refundable. In the case of our need to alter all costs will be refundable Facebook If you are happy to, we will set up a secret Facebook group which will allow you to upload photographs and videos for your friends and family to share in your experiences.

Travel Flights & Transfers

Accommodation Food and Drink Access Issues Pricing Genealogy Alterations Facebook Heading

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