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Touring Scotland: Longer tours of Scotland

Itinerary IH-10: Week of Bays & Beaches from GBP 498 per person for 7nts

A week exploring the deserted beaches, remote bays and peaceful island escapes in the South of Argyll. You will find it hard to believe that such an unspoilt area exists within a few hours of Glasgow!

This carefully planned trip includes a stay on the peaceful island of Gigha with its powder white bays and wild-flower strewn hills, a visit to Sanda a tiny, picturesque island popular with puffins and seals, a relaxing break on the stunning Kintyre Peninsula with its deserted beaches, dramatic scenery and the famous "Mull" (made famous by Sir Paul McCartney), and a stopover on the tranquil shores of Loch Fyne and the nearby sands of Kilbride Bay.

Day One - the Isle of Gigha

Your route  will pass Loch Lomond, and the so-called "Arrochar Alps", then through picture postcard Inveraray, and on to a tiny ferry port, and a short crossing to your first base, the gloriously peaceful Isle of Gigha.

Your comfortable and extremely welcoming hotel exudes Hebridean charm and, in its position a few minutes walk from the ferry terminal, is very much the social hub of this tiny island. A favourite haunt for locals, the bar features fascinating old photographs which give the visitor a flavour of the island’s history - the ideal place to enjoy a few drams of single malt and listen to tales of Gigha life which have been handed down through the generations. Practically every room in this comfortable and simple hotel offers stunning views, either of the island’s gently undulating landscape or over the wide sweep of Ardminish Bay, where colourful yachts and ferry boats ply back and forth to the Kintyre peninsula on the mainland. The lively dining room serves an array of local produce: keep an eye out for the halibut, which is farmed in the waters around the island.

Day Two - the Isle of Gigha

Known by the Vikings as "the Good Isle" – and later as "God’s island"– Gigha, the most southerly of the Hebrides, is a place of complete escape. As you cross the Sound of Gigha on the ferry from Tayinloan, you feel as though you are leaving behind far more than just the mainland. Walkers can take in stunning panoramic views from wildflower-strewn hillsides and cyclists will discover perfect picnic spots on tiny beaches of pure white sand. The island’s history makes fascinating reading – especially the recent community buy-out, ensuring Gigha’s future for islanders and visitors alike. Sitting in the friendly Gigha Hotel Bar, the locals’ passion for their island is apparent as you quiz them on the ancient Bronze Age burial cairns, the spectacular banks of rhododendrons in Achamore Gardens (not to be missed!), the 13th century church of Kilchattan or the best place to watch the sun rise over Kintyre.

Day Three - Kintyre & Gigha

Return to the mainland, and make the short journey south towards Campbeltown & the Mull of Kintyre. Spend the day discovering the dramatic scenery, rich history and deserted beaches of this, our favourite Scottish peninsula. Start by  Continue through Campbeltown- perhaps stopping at the Springbank Distillery and on to the far south and the Mull of Kintyre. The energetic should walk to the Lighthouse - everyone can enjoy - in good weather - the views to Ireland, just 12 miles away. In nearby Southend stop to watch for seals and to visit the spot where St Columba first landed after leaving Ireland on his way to Iona.

Your Guesthouse

This listed Georgian country house is both a family home and a welcoming bed and breakfast offering warm, friendly personal attention in a country house setting, just outside Campbeltown, by the Mull of Kintyre. Set in its own small estate less than five minutes drive from Campbeltown harbour and well away from the main road along a private drive, this house was built in 1780 for the Laird of the Achachoirk and Garvachy Estate.cSituated in open countryside and enjoying views of Islay and Jura, it is on the very border between fertile farming land and the wilds that lead, uninterrupted, from here to the Mull of Kintyre.

Day Four - Seatours boat trip

The holiday includes an exhilirating trip on a fast rib as far as Sanda Island off the Mull of Kintyre. Get close to basking seals and watch puffins (during the breeding season) fly around the boat. Sanda itself has a wonderful Stevenson designed lighthouse by the very aptly named "Elephant Rock" and is home to a host of seabirds, with porpoises and dolphins seen frequently on our journey. The two hour trip also includes short stops to learn about the history of the area.

Day Five 

Time to visit the famous Mull of Kintyre itself, perhaps walking to the lighthouse, with its edge of the world atmosphere, or simply enjoy time on Kintyre's numerous and quiet sandy beaches.

Day Six

You now turn north, perhaps taking the rugged east coast road, where Skipness Castle, the crescent beach at Carradale and the magical Saddell Abbey should not be missed. Your destination is the harbour village of Tarbert, for your next ferry across Loch Fyne to the Cowal peninsula.

Your hotel

Enjoying spectacular views of the Isle of Bute, this is an imposing Victorian establishment dominating the rocky shore. Look out for the exquisite mosaic floor in the entrance – laid by Italian prisoners of war. Attention is paid to the tiniest of details here, from the complimentary whisky liqueur from a secret family recipe in your room to the dramatic display of local art in the public areas. During your stay you will learn about the local lady who dives for the scallops, the stalker who sources the venison (he really is called Winston Churchill) and the rugged fisherman who lands the langoustine. The hotel’s “Shinty Bar” offers local real ales and simpler snacks and is crammed with memorabilia, aptly enough, from the local shinty team.

Day Seven

Tighnabruaich is perfectly placed to explore the many treasures of The Cowal peninsula, from the nearby white sands of Kilbride Bay to the tranquil shores of Loch Fyne and the myriad rhododendron species of the Benmore Botanic Garden. You can also take the short ferry to the nearby Isle of Bute - the “unexplored island”, with its fine sandy beaches, glorious gothic house Mount Stuart (scene of Stella McCartney’s wedding a few years ago) and listed Victorian toilets (really!)

Day Eight

Return home with a final ferry across the Clyde from Dunoon to Gourock.

Prices & Dates

This holiday can be arranged from May to September 2010.

Price is £498 per person for May, June & September, £525 per person for July & August, based on 2 people sharing, for 7 nights on a bed & breakfast basis.

The price includes the boat trip from Campbeltown and ferry crossings to Gigha return, from Tarbert to Portavadie and Dunoon to Gourock and for car and passengers.

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.