Special Experiences: Whale & shark watching

Itinerary Family-2: Family Steam trains & wildlife week from GBP 519 per adult

Scotland can be a great destination for a family holiday and we have created this unique two centre trip with you in mind.

You start on the Isle of Mull, a beautiful and relaxed island, perfect for family visits. Its colourful capital Tobermory instantly recognisable as children's TV favourite Balamory. Spotting Minke whales, dolphins and basking sharks on a marine cruise is a highlight for all ages.

The wonderful Isle of Mull railway is a charming taster for the longer and more spectacular Jacobite Express steam train which is the focus of the second half of your stay, in the West Highlands. Renowned the world over for its engineering and glorious scenery, the West Highland Railway Line reveals new and stunning views at every turn as it journeys from Fort William to the coast at Mallaig.

Finally, for a totally different perspective on the Highlands, we have included tickets for the cable car (known as the Gondola) at Aonach Mor in the Nevis range. You will be whisked effortlessly to over 2100 feet and can admire the majesty of some of the highest mountains in Britain from close-up.

Day One - Isle of Mull

Your ferry departs from Oban, and 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 (weather permitting). We have a choice of hotels just over half an hour's drive from the ferry port.

Your Hotel – option 1 in Dervaig

This cosy 17th century droving inn is ideally situated between Tobermory and Calgary in the pretty estate village of Dervaig. Popular with the locals, who come from far and wide to soak up its convivial atmosphere, this is a place where visitors can enjoy traditional island hospitality, regular live music and wholesome highland fayre. Hearty meals and lighter bar snacks both feature fresh seafood and the finest Mull beef and venison. Children are very welcome and can enjoy their own interesting menu. Accommodation (including family rooms) is quietly situated away from the hustle and bustle of the bar and residents can escape to a private lounge/TV room with glorious views over the village and glen.

Your Hotel – option 2 in Tobermory
Basking in the picture-postcard charm of Tobermory's brightly coloured waterfront - famous as the setting for the children's' TV series Balamory of course - your hotel has been cleverly converted from a row of fisherman's cottages into a delightful family-run establishment. Comfortable lounges and cosy 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 the adult palate, and welcomes children with early meal times.
Mull & Iona

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. 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. A world away from all this, but in reality just a short ferry crossing, tiny Iona 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 Two - Torosay Castle steam train

Your holiday includes a ride on the miniature steam train in Craignure that passes stunning scenery before arriving at Torosay Castle. Duart castle is also worth a visit while in this part of the Island with its spooky reconstructions.

Day Three - Marine Wildlife Adventure

This boat trip is up to four hours long, and takes an informal, yet informative approach. This is a wildlife cruise for all ages with an emphasis on fun and relaxation. The cruise goes out to the whale grounds with Skipper and Crew keeping you informed about the wildlife encountered whilst keeping young minds entertained and active! There is a quiz on board for the children with a prize for the lucky winner! Adults can join in too!. Enjoy the suspense of looking for the whales with everyone participating in the search. A Mars Bar hangs tantalisingly from the mast - a prize for the first person to spot a minke whale! So keep your eyes peeled and watch out for the hungry crew stealing the prize!

Day Four - Spean Bridge

Crossing back to the mainland by a different short ferry, today you will head north along the shores of Loch Linnhe to reach your second base by the Nevis Range.

Your Hotel

This delightful highland haven manages to combine pine-clad luxury with a truly relaxing, laid-back atmosphere, where friendliness and informality are the order of the day. On arrival, you will be welcomed with fresh tea and home-made scones, before settling into your comfortable room to contemplate the tranquil beauty of the surrounding woodland. The cosy sitting rooms offer comfy sofas, quiet corners and shelves overflowing with books just waiting to be browsed as you curl up in front of the fire after an afternoon spent tramping the hills. An eclectic selection of DVDs is also available in case of wet weather and, for those who have come unprepared, wellies and maps are also supplied. Children are especially welcome (there are two family rooms and a family suite) and the hotel boasts a children’s lounge and outdoor play area with playhouse and trampoline. In the kitchen, maximum use is made of local produce such as trout, salmon, Scotch beef and Great Glen venison. The hotel has developed an organic vegetable garden and even has its own smokehouse for home-smoked bacon, haddock, trout and cheese.

Day Five - The Jacobite Steam Train

This leaves from Fort William, which you can reach by car or by taking the service train just one stop from Spean bridge. Described as one of the great railway journeys of the world this 84 mile round trip takes you past a list of impressive sites. It starts near the highest mountain in Britain (Ben Nevis), makes a stop en route at the village of Glenfinnan where Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his standard in 1745, crosses the world famous 21 arch Glenfinnan viaduct, which has been used in the Harry Potter movies,visits Britain's most westerly mainland railway station (Arisaig), then passes close by the deepest freshwater loch in Britain (Loch Morar), and the shortest river in Britain (River Morar) and finally arrives next to the deepest seawater loch in Europe - Loch Nevis. The train leaves Fort William at 10:20am and returns to Fort William at 4:00pm with an hour and a half in Mallaig. It is a great way to spend the day!

Day Six - The Nevis Range Gondola

The Nevis Range mountain gondola system, the only of its kind in Britain, was originally constructed on the mountain of Aonach Mor as a way to transport skiers to the slopes. The gondola is also widely used as a short cut by climbers to the many challenging winter routes and by paragliders and hangliders on their journey to the clouds. However the gondola is a highly acclaimed visitor attraction in its own right, allowing sightseers to enjoy the scenic ride, whilst absorbing the stunning views and clear mountain air, feeling fully refreshed on their journey back to firm ground! The gondolas transport visitors effortlessly from 300ft up to 2150ft on the north face of Aonach Mor, the eighth highest mountain in Britain. The journey takes approximately 12 - 15 minutes each way, and each gondola can accommodate up to six people inside.

What else to see and do

This is a superb base for exploring Scotland’s west highlands and islands. The nearby Nevis Range offers gondola rides, mountain biking, walking and skiing in the winter months, or head north to Fort Augustus for boat trips on Loch Ness (the kids will love the Loch Ness Monster Visitor Centre at Drumnadrochit!). To the west is the unspoilt Ardnamurchan peninsula and the pretty coves and glorious sandy beaches of Arisaig. Horse-riding, watersports and quad-biking are available locally – or you could just settle for a leisurely stroll along the surrounding country lanes and savour the amazing views of Ben Nevis, Loch Lochy and the Great Glen.

Day Seven - return Home

Prices & Dates for 2010

This holiday can be arranged between 16th May and 20th September 2010.
Price from £519 per adult and £315 per child, if you choose to stay in Dervaig on Mull. If you prefer Tobermory, the price is £575 per adult and £340 per child.
Prices are based on sharing a family room for 6 nights on a bed & breakfast basis, and include:

  • Ferry crossings for a car and passengers to/from Mull
  • First class day trip on the Jacobite Express steam train
  • Half day marine adventure on Mull
  • Return tickets on the Isle of Mull Steam railway
  • Return tickets on the Aonach Mhor Gondola in the Nevis range.

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.

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