scotland, glasgow, the west coast, oban, the hidden highland

THE WEST COAST, OBAN & THE 'HIDDEN' HIGLANDS
4 days / 3 nights - Saturday to Tuesday

TENTATIVE ITINERARY	NIGHTSTOP
DAY ONE - SATURDAY
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.	Oban
DAY TWO - SUNDAY
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.	Oban
DAY THREE - MONDAY
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!	Oban
DAY FOUR - TUESDAY
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. Accommodation tonight is not included. If continuing onto the next tour in our Scottish sequence, or to other Back-Roads tour, your accommodation (B&B) tonight can then be reserved by Back-Roads as part of your overall package at a special price from £45 per half-twin and £60 single.
Note: this tour can be combined with either or both of our three-days tours, running before or following this tour, to make a longer holiday. You can also transfer to another of our departure cities on the Tuesday evening and join a tour departing from London, Manchester, Dublin or Lille.