 Short breaks
4 days private guided walking / hiking in Argyl, southwest Highlands
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Cowal & Isle of Bute, based in Strachur
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Cowal is a land of quiet corners - beautiful and very much off-the-beaten-track. Rugged mountains such as Beinn an Lochan and Beinn Bhuidhe in the north give way to gentler hills, peaceful glens and a lovely coastline to the south. We should not see many people on the hills and we can often have the shore to ourselves too.
Across the Kyles (Gaelic 'caolas' = narrows), the Isle of Bute lies with its head tucked between two of Cowal's prongs while its tail seeks the open sea. A lovely sliver of land, Bute is a geological and scenic hybrid of highland and lowland.
The walks:
(May be altered depending on the group and the weather)
Strathlachlan
This walk takes us amongst rugged little hills overlooking Loch Fyne and along its quiet shores where seals and sea birds live peacefully beside the ruins of an early Christian chapel, a medieval castle and an abandoned farming township.
This area, with its birch and oakwoods fringing open hill land has been the home of the clan MacLachlan since at least the 15th century.
9-10 miles (14-16 km) and 1200 feet (380m) - on a mixture of track, path and hill.
Isle of Bute
We walk on the end of the Isle of Bute. We will see the wide seascapes of the lower Firth of Clyde, with views to Arran's wild mountains and to Ailsa Craig. The walk is a circular one along the coast past Glencallum Bay and Garroch Head, returning north across lava hills. Apart from the views, attractions include the substantial ruins of a 12th century chapel with a much older early-christian enclosure. The graveyard near the chapel includes a Viking hogback-style gravestone. There is also lots of geological interest along the shore.
6 to 8 miles (10 - 13 km) and up to 1000 feet (300m) depending on detailed variations on the day. Some rough going beside the shore, but otherwise mostly easy underfoot.
Beinn Mhor
This walk takes us to the summit of Beinn Mhor*, one of Cowal's highest mountains. Our route up starts from beside Loch Eck, a beautiful and perhaps not widely known ribbon of water lying between Strachur and Dunoon. By first climbing 'the fairy hill' (Meall an t'Sidhe) we achieve a real bird's eye view along the loch. For the rest of the way we first follow a ridge looking down into Beinn Mhor's rocky corries and finally cross the summit plateau to the highest point, with views far into Argyll - weather permitting!
7 miles (11km) and 2500 feet (760m)
*Alternative hills: Beinn Donich (easier), The Cobbler (harder). The choice will depend on the group's fitness.
Note: If weather conditions are poor, we may take an alternative walk at lower level.
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Lorn & Isle of Kerrera, based in Oban
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The walks:
By making our base in the heart of Lorn (the ancient name for the district around Oban) we put ourselves in reach of some of the best walking in Argyll
(May be altered depending on the group and the weather)
Island of Kerrera
A circuit of the south end of the Island of Kerrera via dramatically-situated Gylen Castle. Scenically beautiful, with new views opening out as we follow successive turns of the coast clockwise from the ferry landing, there's a lot of historical and geological interest on this walk. The confined Sound of Kerrera gives way to more open views south towards the islands of Seil and Scarba, followed in turn by the sudden appearance of Gylen Castle, its prominent silhouette backed by the hills of Mull across the wide Firth of Lorn. Turning north gives yet more new views towards Lismore and the hills beyond lining the long, straight rift where Loch Linnhe leads towards the distant Great Glen.
Glen Coe
Northwards to Glen Coe where a walk into the 'Lost Valley' takes us into the heart of this wild mountain land beyond Rannoch Moor. The Lost Valley (properly Coire Gabhail, or the corrie of booty) is a dramatic glaciated 'hanging valley' situated between two of Glen Coe's famous 'three sisters' ridges. Hidden from the world behind massive piles of tumbled rock that fell from the oversteepened mountainsides late in the ice age, it is reputed to have been the place where the Glen Coe MacDonalds hid their stolen cattle if the original owners came looking. We may also have time for a second walk through one of the two passes linking upper Glen Coe with Glen Etive; the Lairig Gartain or the Lairig Eilde.
String of Lorn
A crossing of the 'String of Lorn' pass through the surrounding little hills of the Lorn plateau to Loch Scammadale a few miles south-east of Oban. Lonely and little-visited country, with beautiful waterfalls tumbling beside the site of a long ago battle between Campbells and MacDougalls. A large cairn beside the track marks the spot where the Campbell chief, Cailein Mor, is said to have been killed.
What is included
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Description
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4 days, accommodation in carefully selected B&B.
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Walking
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7-11 miles (10-18 km) daily, with a mix of rough going and path.
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- the services of our well-qualified, well-informed and welcoming guide.
- small groups - usually between 4 and 8.
- an attractive, well-thought-out walking programme.
- carefully-selected B&B or guest house accommodation plus picnic lunches on walking days - single room supplement £25.00
- transport by minibus and ferries, as needed, throughout your holiday, including evenings and from/to Glasgow/Glasgow airport at its beginning and end.
- Entrance fee to museums, if visited.
- short evening get-togethers to set the scene for the next day's walking.
and most especially
- personal care and attention in all that we do for you.
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