Saturday, June 8, 2024 - Thursday, June 20, 2024
Highlands,
International,
Scotland
Experience some of Scotland's most remarkable summits and glacial valleys on this thirteen-day adventure. We will travel through Edinburgh, Stirling, Fort William, Glencoe and Aviemore while enjoying the hospitality of the Highlands and reaching to high heights on mountain peaks. We will climb Ben Nevis, the UK's highest mountain, along with 7 "Munros's" (mountains taller than 3,000 feet). Ben Lomond, Ben Vorlich, Schiehallion, Buachaille Etive Mor, Carn Gorm, and Ben Macdui await us as we traverse through the Highlands of Scotland. After spending our first night in Edinburgh, we travel by train to Stirling where we will spend four nights. While there, we will explore Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, hike two Munros and have a free day to take in the sights of Stirling. On our way to Fort William, the "Outdoor Capital of the UK", we stop to hike Schielhallion before arriving at our inn for the next three nights. Glen Nevis begins around the northern edge of Fort William and wraps around Ben Nevis. We'll hike Ben Nevis as well as Buachahaille Etieve Mor which has an option of hiking two to four peaks. As we travel on to Aviemore to spend our last three nights in the Highlands, we'll have a stopover in Glen Coe, Scotland's most famous glen with its dramatic scenery and deep history. While in Aviemore, we'll enter the Cairngorms National Park, the largest national park in the UK, to hike Cairn Gorm and Ben Macdui. The following day we will explore the Craigellachie Nature Reserve with its steep hillsides, natural birch forests and crags where we may spot wildlife such as falcons. One day twelve, we take an early train to Edinburgh, allowing us time to explore the city, have a farewell dinner and one last night before flying home the next day. Traveling via a mix of public transportation and private mini coach through towns, villages, moors, and mountain passes, we will enjoy the scenery along the way and learn about Scotland's Gaelic culture and ecological diversity while hiking some of Scotland's well-known mountains.