The Best of Argyll
A selection of excellent walks across mainland and island Argyll, based in Oban
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Gylen Castle, Isle of Kerrera
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Introduction
This guided walking / hiking tour offers all aspects of the southwest Highlands and Islands of Scotland.
In mountainous north Argyll we visit Coir Gabhail (the 'corrie of booty', also known as the 'lost valley'), where the Glen Coe MacDonalds used to hide stolen cattle, concealed on a high meadow behind a massive rockfall.
Southwards we explore Loch Awe-side and Kilmartin Glen, heartland of the first Gaelic-speaking Scots, with a unique concentration of prehistoric remains, such as cairns, a stone circle and rock carvings. There are several impressive medieval and later castles here, including Innis Chonnel and Carnasserie, and much else besides.
We will also hike on the islands of Kerrera and Lismore before ending our week with a dramatic walk around Jura's north shore beside the Corrievreckan tide race.
The programme day by day
A typical week, subject to variables such as the weather and any alterations to take account of lambing and deer stalking, could be as follows:
Saturday
Journey from Glasgow to Oban.
Sunday: 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.
8 miles (13 km), 700 feet (200m) ascent
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Glen Coe: Lost Valley
(photo: Stewart Richardson©)
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Monday: 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.
Min. 6 miles (9 km), 1100 feet (350m ascent)
Tuesday: Kilmartin Glen
Southwards to see the best of the prehistoric monuments around Kilmartin, in Mid-Argyll.
We start the day with a visit to Kilmartin House Museum and some of the neolitic monuments in the Glen, including Dunadd, the hill fort capital of the first Gaelic-speaking Scots. Our walk will take us into the hills between Kilmartin Glen and the shore with excellent views towards the isles of Jura, Scarba, Mull and the little inhabited islands closer to the coast.
7 miles (11 km), 1000 feet (300m) ascent
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Tirefour castle, Lismore
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Wednesday: Isle of Lismore
We take the passenger ferry from Port Appin for a walk along the northwest coast of Lismore to Castle Coeffin.
Lismore, Lois Mor in Gaelic, means Great Garden and that is just what it is. But don't think ithe walk will be all path and track, because our route takes us along a coast with cliffs and arches. We pass sheltered bays and blowy hilltops with marvellous views. The magnificent ruin of the 13th century Castle Coeffin will be the furthest point of our walk. From there we cross the island to the east shore for a visit to Tirefour Castle, a Pictish broch. It is believed to be constructed around BC 500. On a clear day there are great views from the broch to Bern Nevis, Ben Cruachan and the Paps of Jura in the south.
8 miles (13 km)
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Innis Chonnel Castle, Loch Awe
(photo: Stewart Richardson©)
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Thursday: Loch Awe and String of Lorn
We will travel to Loch Awe to see the evocative ruins of Innis Chonnel castle on their remote wooded islet This is the heart of clan Campbells' ancestral homelands and, though probably originally a MacDougall stronghold, the home of their clan chiefs before they shifted to Inveraray.
Innis Chonnel is one of the earliest, yet most complete, of Scotland's medieval stone castles; its more-or-less-complete curtain walls date largely from the 13th century. Perhaps being on an island has helped preserve it from quarrying?
Our walk is 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.
8 miles (13 km), 1000 feet (300m).
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View to the mainland from the isle of Jura
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Friday: Isle of Jura
By hired boat from Craobh Haven to the north end of Jura for a rough but spectacular walk around the wild Corrievreckan shore. Red deer are unmissable and we should keep an eye open for golden eagles, sea eagles, otters, porpoises and seals. If wind and tide are right then the overfalls in Corrievreckan make one of the most stirring sights of all the world's oceans, with one of the biggest of all standing waves. Do try not to fall in.
8 miles (13 km), 1000 feet (300m) ascent.
Saturday
Journey back to Glasgow.
Am I fit enough?
If you walk regularly, especially if you walk in the country or on rough paths, the answer is probably yes. Age itself is no problem. Very fit men and women in their seventies can cope with this programme and others like it. No day's walking is more than 10 or 11 miles. On no day do we plan to hurry. Having said all this, you will have to cope with rough going on ground that is sometimes steep, wet or broken because the West Highlands and Islands are like that, and their greatest rewards often go to those who are prepared to step away from the beaten tracks.
If you're still not sure whether or not you can cope after you've read this and the details of the week's programme, please get in touch to discuss it further.
Accomodation
You will be based in Oban for the week. As with all About Argyll's holidays, this will be in carefylly selected accommodation, either a B&B or a hotel, as you prefer. You can rely on the quality of the accommodation that we find for you - its comfort, its food and the welcoming nature of those who run it.
Details of where you will be staying will be sent to you well in advance of your holiday.
Clothing and equipment
You will need to bring boots with a good tread that provide adequate ankle support, warm clothing, waterproofs (top and over-trousers) and a rucksack big enough for your spare clothes, a packed lunch and whatever else you normally like to have with you (binoculars, a camera, etc.). Boots are especially important. They don't have to be particularly heavy, but wearing ultra lightweight ones may mean your feet get wet and trainers definitely aren't adequate nor, on some of the rougher and steeper going, however short it may be, are they safe.
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Dates and prices for 2009
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Description
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8 days (Saturday to Saturday), accommodation in Oban in carefully selected B&B or hotel.
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Walks
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7-11 miles (10-18 km) daily, with a mix of rough going and path. Four days with longer walks and two gentler days.
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Code
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Date
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B&B
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Hotel
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Comments
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BA1
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18-23 May
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£680.00
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£890.00
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single room supplement:
B&B £50.00
hotel £100.00 |
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BA2
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6-13 June
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| BA3 |
4-11 July |
| BA4 |
8-15 August |
| BA5 |
29 August - 5 September |
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Groups of 4 or more can book other dates. Please ask.
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The price includes:
- 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 (6 walking days)
- Carefully selected accommodation - B&B or hotel, double/twin room - plus picnic lunches on walking days
- Transport by minibus, as needed, throughout your holiday, including evenings and from/to Glasgow/Glasgow airport at its beginning and end
- Ferries and charter boats as required
- Get-togethers to set the scene for the next day
- Entrance fee to museums, if visited
For full details on booking and insurance, please click here.
