Holiday Scotland - award-winning holidays & short breaks in Scotland from McKinlay Kidd

• Call us on: 0844 804 0020*

• Request a tailor-made holiday

• Search

  Search
• Map search
• Sign up for our e-newsletter

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Scottish Island Holidays: The Gaelic Rings

Itinerary GR-2: Mull, Ardnamurchan to Skye from GBP 475 per person for 5 nights

Oban

Your journey starts in Oban (An t-Oban – little bay in Gaelic), a bustling town with wide range of restaurants, cafes, shops, galleries and attractions. It’s the capital of the ancient district of Lorne. Lorne takes its name from Loarn Mor, Big Lorne, a brother of Fergus Mor ma Ercc who, around the year 500 AD became ruler of the Scottish Gaelic Kingdom of Dalriada. Loarn created his own dynasty in the new kingdom, in the district of Argyll to which he gave his name – Lorne. Oban was once labelled the Charing Cross of the Highlands because of the range of steamer connections with the Argyll coast and Isles, and is still a busy port for ferries, cruise liners, fishing boas and pleasure craft.

Day One - The Isle of Mull

The 45 minute crossing will be one of your highlights, with often quite glorious views in all directions as you cross the Sound of Mull, passing the islands of Kerrera and Lismore, then the southeastern corner of Mull, with the prominent Duart Castle, seat of the Clan McLean before reaching your destination ferry port, Craignure on Mull. Your hotel is in Tobermory (Tobar Moire – meaning Mary’s well), just over half an hour's drive from the ferry port.

Your Hotel

Basking in the picture-postcard charm of Tobermory's stunning waterfront, your hotel has been cleverly converted from a row of fisherman's cottages into a delightful family-run establishment. Comfortable lounges and bedrooms offer a warm welcome just a stone's throw from one of the world's prettiest working harbours. The award winning restaurant enjoys views across to Calve Island and offers plenty to tempt your palate, whilst the well-stocked wine cellar is matched by an eclectic choice of unusual beers.

The Island

A sheer paradise for lovers of Scotland’s natural heritage, Mull is an island gem, with an enviable diversity of wildlife thriving everywhere from dense woodland glens to the grassy slopes of Ben More (A’ Bheinn Mhor). Its many miles of coastline boast fantastic sandy beaches – particularly at Calgary and Ardalanish – whilst off-shore is one of Europe’s prime habitats for whales and dolphins. Meanwhile, lively Tobermory has a bustling vitality and is a great place to spend a couple of days. Brightly painted houses provide a colourful backdrop to the picture-postcard harbour and the ‘craic’ in waterfront bars rivals anything on the mainland.

A world away from all this, but in reality just a short ferry crossing, tiny Iona, St Columba’s island, (known as Calum Chille in Gaelic- Dove of the Church) is a deeply spiritual place, a historic Christian pilgrimage and yet another peaceful wildlife habitat with some glorious beaches. You can also visit the isles of Ulva and Staffa during your stay.

Day Three  - Ardnamurchan & Morvern

You now cross once more to the mainland by ferry from Tobermory to Kilchoan, the most westerly village in mainland Great Britain. (in Gaelic Cill Chomhghain – St Coan’s church). With time to explore your next overnight base is a real hidden gem, set picture perfectly by the side of a peaceful loch - surrounded by trees and mountains flawlessly reflected in the still waters, you may be forgiven for thinking you have stepped straight into an oil painting.

Your hotel

Stunning views across the loch are just one of the highlights of this charming country house hotel. Elegant yet informal, its comfortable opulence exudes Scottish hospitality. Period furniture rubs shoulders with comfortable modern sofas and local paintings adorn the walls. Quirky touches (your ‘do not disturb’ sign is a soft toy reindeer outside your bedroom door) give the house real character, and log fires and well-stocked book cases are a temptation if the weather is wet. In the evenings white linen tablecloths and candlelight set the scene for a fine dining experience. Outside the grounds lead down to the loch past an old upturned rowing boat rumoured to belong to Arthur Ransome (author of Swallows and Amazons) who spent many of his childhood summers here. 

Day Four - to Skye

Your journey continues into the area known as the “Rough Bounds” (Na Garbh Chriochan) following the coastal road through Moidart, and on to the ferry port at Mallaig. This was once Europe’s busiest herring port, and is still a fishing centre. Here you will catch the afternoon the ferry to Skye – a crossing of just thirty minutes. Your next hotel is less than 15 minutes from the ferry.

The Isle of Skye

An t-Eilean Sgitheanach is the largest and lost northerly island of the Inner Hebrides. It is an island where Gaelic language and culture are very much alive.

Your Hotel

Sheltered by a gently curving bay, your charming whitewashed hotel sits right on the seashore, enjoying expansive views over the Sound of Sleat to the wilderness of Knoydart. This, the most southerly part of Skye, is an area of great natural beauty, often referred to as the Garden of Skye thanks to its abundant bird life and profusion of wild flowers. This is very much a Gaelic-speaking community - the hotel staff will be delighted to help you witha few words - and the bar is a convivial meeting place for the locals, who mix happily with hotel guests, often to the accompaniment of traditional music and Gaelic song in front of the roaring log fire. Twelve bedrooms (six in the Garden House) are decorated with pretty cotton and linen chintzes and there are four new suites in the recently restored stables, each enjoying superb views across the water to the lighthouse of Isle Ornsay. Candlelit meals in the wood-panelled dining room reflect the estate’s culinary riches, with wonderful shellfish and game featuring prominently on the menu. Langoustines are landed at the old stone pier, and oysters come from the hotel's own oyster beds.

 

What to see and do

On the little harbour right beside the hotel is the headquarters of ‘The Gaelic Whiskies’, where you can sample an excellent range of connoisseur brands before browsing in the nearby craft shop. The surrounding area of hills, moorland, woodland and seashore offers endless opportunities for walking and drinking in the magnificent sea views. Don’t miss the enchanting walk to the Point of Sleat, from where you can gaze across to the small isles of Rum and Eigg and dream of future visits! On the way down to the Point of Sleat, it’s worth stopping off at the Clan Donald Centre at Armadale Castle, with its fine arboretum and lovely garden. Further afield, in the north of the island, you’ll find historic Dunvegan Castle, and Portree, the bustling island capital.

Day Six -Return to the mainland

You will leave Skye by the bridge, completed in 1995 and cross into Lochalsh. Your route will take you past the famous sight of Eilean Donan Castle, and the soaring mountains of Kintail, then home by Inverness or Fort William and Glencoe.

Prices & Dates

This holiday can be arranged from April to October 2010

The price is £475 per person for holidays in March & April,  £499 for May, June &  October and £509 for July, August & September. Prices based on 2 people sharing a room, for 4 nights on a bed & breakfast basis, 1 night including dinner (day 3). Prices include ferry travel to/from Mull and in one direction to Skye.

All our touring holidays include a map of Scotland with recommended routes from your specified starting point, suggestions on places to see and visit depending on your personal interests and our expertise to help you get the most from your holiday.

All itineraries and room types are presented subject to availability at specific hotels.

The McKinlay Kidd Guarantee

All our holiday prices include a service charge of £8 per person per night towards the costs we incur in researching, planning and designing your holiday.

We guarantee to refund this service charge if you believe that arranging your holiday through McKinlay Kidd has not met your expectations for value. All we ask is that you write to us within 7 days of your return and explain your reason for claiming the refund. This will ensure that we can improve the experience for all our future guests.