Book this trip as a private tour for your family and friends! Diverse wildlife experiences and easy hiking in unrivalled coastal scenery surrounded by Highland landscapes and relax in comfy and handpicked local accommodation. Discover the beautiful Hebridean islands Mull and Iona and their lively communities.
Scotland’s wild Atlantic Coast is magical! Our versatile new trip offers stunning wilderness experiences in a myriad of green islands surrounded by Highland landscapes – breathtakingly bautiful coastal scenery, an awesome boat trip to a sea bird colony, unexpected cultural discoveries and accommodation in truly idyllic and authentic small island hotels and guesthouses.
Walking is easy and the day’s pace such that you can enjoy and truly take in what is around you.
Scotland’s wild Atlantic coast has been sculpted into a spectacular landscape by deep fjord like sea lochs and the green beautiful islands of the Inner Hebrides whilst the surrounding alpine mountains of the Highlands complete a dramatic scenery and are home to a wide variety of wildlife.
Discover Neolithic Stone Circles, explore Castles and magnificent Rhododendron Gardens, visit a Buddhist community on a remote island, watch for sea eagles and otters, sit amoung the delightful puffins on their rock in the sea and hike along ruggedly beautiful coastal paths between mountains, sea and sky.
The West Coast was home to Scotland’s first people who left many traces of their culture, some up to 5000 year old, in the valleys, along the shore and on hill tops. Later, in the 5th century, the first Scottish Kings arrived from Ireland establishing their Kingdom of Dalriada.
St. Columba settled on the tiny island Iona around the same time and undertook the christianization of Scotland. To this day, Iona is the home of a thriving ecumenical community and the lovingly restored Abbey in its remote coastal setting a feast for eye and spirit.
Wildlife
The sea and wild landscapes offer superb opportunities for observing wild birds and sea mammals in their natural environments. Learn to distinguish between eagles, buzzards and ospreys and follow the trail of otters on land. A special island expedition takes you into the amazing world of Atlantic seabirds to the Isle
of Lunga where you spend time with puffins, gannets, fulmars, razorbills and manx shearwaters. The early summer is breeding time and so quite special.
Accommodation
For your comfort we have chosen and tested good quality, cosy and warmly hospitable 3 star accommodation in hotels and guesthouses. The local pub is an excellent place to celebrate your day’s adventures in the evenings – with delicious ale and good food in the company of your group of fellow travellers.
Your walking group of no more than 8 allows flexibility and a friendly, personal ambience. You are accompanied throughout by an experienced and knowledgeable guide who will endeavour to make your holiday a wonderful and enjoyable experience.
Heading north from Glasgow, along famous lake Loch Lomond and west over the Arrochar Alps, we find magnificent prehistoric stone circles and standing stones in beautiful Kilmartin Glen. A gentle walk exploring these sculptures and their history is followed by lunch in the museum cafe before we continue our onward journey to Oban where we board the ferry to the Isle of Mull.
Driving 4 h, Ferry 1 h, walking/ exploring 2 h, Overnight Isle of Mull
Just 10 minutes drive from our house starts todays walk to Mull’s most westerly point accompanied by Ruth from Mull Magic, Mull’s very own and extremely knowledgable naturalist and historian. Ruth knows the best places to sit a while waiting for an otter or spotting one of Mull’s famous white eagles, she tells island stories over lunch and guides us along imposing cliffs and huge white beaches and over green pastures to ruined old settlements.
Walking 10km, 4 hours, easy/ Overnight Isle of Mull
Leaving the main island, we venture across the narrow sound to the tiny island of Ulva which has recently been bought by the local community, with its own ferry service, lovely coastal hikes and beautiful views. The icing of today’s cake is a Scottish Cream tea in the new island Boat House restaurant.
Walking 8km, 2 hours, easy/ Overnight Mull
This is a highlight of your trip: we take a boat to the Treshnish Isles where we discover the magnificent Fingal’s Cave which inspired Mendelssohn to write his famous Hebrides Ouverture.
The neighboring island Lunga is home to an amazing number of breeding Puffins who are so busy flying in and out of their nests, looking after their brood that they barely notice us. We are awe – inspired!
There are many other birds – Razorbills, Guillemots, Gannets and Shags – all living together in protective harmony for the breeding season.
Sea journey 3 hours in total, walking as you please/ Overnight Isle of Mull
A more relaxed day at the end of our stay on the island, we amble along a wooded shore path to Rubha nan Gall Lighthouse which affords great views.
Famous for its colourful houses Tobermory, Mull’s main settlement and harbour, sits prettily in a sheltered bay with a hillside beyond. Enjoy the many small craft shops, visit the whisky distillery and relax over tea and scones.
In the afternoon, we travel to Mull’s far southwest corner for the brief ferry journey to the Isle of Iona, ready to watch the sun’s fading glow over skerries, beach and sea.
*Drive 1 hr 30 minutes, walking 2 hours/ Overnight Iona
Rarely does one find such idyllic scenery combined with significant historic monuments:
Scotland’s most important early Christian historical monument is Iona Abbey. Founded by St Columba along with 12 monks in the 6th century Columba undertook the task of christianizing Scotland. There are 12th century ruins, artful celtic crosses and the well restored and quite special building of the Abbey to explore.
However, wild and white sandy beaches await, green meadows and the blooming machair, turquoise water for swimming and a miniscule hill for a gigantic view …
Easy walking as you like. Overnight Iona
We catch the early morning farry back to Mull for our sail to Oban. From here we hop to our last small island for a 2 hour walk with wonderful views and a visit to a well preserved medieval castle with stunning views.
We arrive in Glasgow at around 17 hours where your trip ends.
*Drive 30 mins, Ferry 1 hour, journey/ drive 2.5 hours
We travel to 2 different locations beginning with the Isle of Mull for the first 4 nights and the Isle of Iona for the following 2 nights.
You’ll be staying in good quality, cosy and welcoming 3 star accommodation:
The family run Druimnacroish guesthouse on Mull and the small cosy Argyll Hotel on Iona with its excellent organic restaurant serving island sourced seafood and veg from their own garden!
Both have been partners for a number of years and have, without fail, delighted every one of our guests.
Your walking group – small is beautiful
Our groups are of a personable size of no more than 8 persons and accompanied throughout by an experienced and knowledgeable guide who will do her/ his best to make your time with us in Scotland interesting, enjoyable and comfortable.
Level of fitness
The hiking on this trip is of an easier nature and designed for people with a good general level of fitness and mobility. We hike on good trails but also some rough, rocky and uneven paths. You should be sure footed, have good balance and be used to regularly walking on unpaved tracks .
You may like to concider bringing some walking poles.
Our itinerary lists distances and elevation for each day. If you are unsure, please contact us and we are happy to discuss any issues.