heartlands1 clan donald - bannockburn 2014 (scotland)

Click icons for information

Fàilte WelcomeWe’d like to introduce one of our Heartlands tours of the stunning west coast of the Scottish Highlands.

This is the home of the Clan Donald, once known as The Lords of the Isles, from Somerled onwards.

Tours are adaptable, according to the parties taking part and expected events. So if you have a whole family or other group, we can focus on your particular interest in Clan Donald; one of Scotland’s most famous and alluring clans.

You will find more information abouthow the tour operates on the lastpage. There are some importantdetails there, which we hope willmake your choice that much easier,and raise your expectation to thatof any Clan Donald kinfolks.

Fraoch Eilean!


Day 1At a glance

ArrivalYou arrive in Glasgow according to your own schedule. We can arrange flights and transfers for you

AccommodationGlasgow Millenium Hotel

DinnerPiper’s Tryst at the National College of Piping on McPhater Street in Glasgow’s Cowcaddens

Arrival, Glasgow, and Welcome!

you are right in the city centre; the Merchant City, stuffed with pubs, clubs, and eateries; and numerous galleries within very easy reach.

GlasgowMilleniumHotel is right next to Queen St. station. Overlooking George Square.

An intimate restaurant, it’s great for a relaxed evening with friends, and dare we say, some good malt.

The Piper’s Tryst Restaurant is attached to the National Piping Centre. Along with an exhibition of piping history, the restaurant has a great reputation for excellent food.


Day 2At a glance

Departure 10:00

Bannockburn 11:00We visit the 1314 site of the battle of Bannockburn in which Clan Donald played such an important part with King Robert the Bruce. Stirling Castle Lunch 12:15 Explore 13:15 – 15:00The Castle and nearby Argyll’s Lodgings; Church of the Holy Rood; the Old Town Jail Travel 15:00 Glencoe Hotel 17:00 Glencoe Museum 18:30A private tour of the museum in this most historic little corner of Scotland Glencoe Hotel 20:00Dinner

Glencoe Museum just a fewmoments from your hotel. It

houses many artefacts and tellsthe story of the infamous massacre

of the MacIans of Glencoe

Robert the Bruce statue at Bannockburn Heritage Centre which has just been completely rebuilt and upgraded

Stirling Castle one of Scotland’s twomost important castles. The Queen’s Palaceand Banqueting Hall have now both been fullyrenovated to a brilliant standard of story telling.

Loch Leven from Glencoe

King Robert, Bannockburn, Stirling Castle, and Glencoe


Day 3At a glance

Fort William 10.45The local garrison town

Departure 10:00

West Highland 11:00

Museum

Jacobite and local history

Lunch 12:15Crannog seafood restaurant Free time 13:15Clans talk, local archives, shopping, looking at the Ben?

Steam to Mallaig 14:20Voted top railway journey in the world three years running – stunning! Harry Potter??!!

Mallaig 16:30Live harbour / Heritage Ctr

Borrodale House 18:30First house Bonnie Prince Charlie entered upon landing

Borrodale Beach Landing and leaving point

Dinner 20:00 Arisaig House

Crannog’s Seafood fresh, rich, and tasty

The West Highland Railwayvoted as top train journey in the

world three times is also the setting for the Harry Potter

Express. Shown on Glenfinnan’s spectacular viaduct.

Borrodale Beach placeof landing and departingfor Bonnie Prince Charlie

The Appin Gun? one of four in the UK said to be the gun used to kill the Red Fox at Appin. It is kept in the West Highland Museum

Crannogin Fort William

serves fabulousseafood from its

lochsiderestaurant

Fort William, A Steam Train Trip, Mallaig, Arisaig, & Borrodale


Day 4At a glance

Departure 10:00

Cèilidh 19:15Some music before dinner

Knoydart Ferry 10:30

20 mins seascape splendour Inverie, Scotus, 11:00 and KilchoanLocal historian walk and talk following the time, content, and abilities of individuals

Lunch 12:30

Old Forge, the remotest pub on mainland UK

Mallaig Ferry 14:00

& Blessed Morar 14:45Morar RC church, PrinceCharlie’s priest’s vestments,seminaries, manhunts, monsters, Europe’s deepest loch and shortest river

Soldier’s Tour 16:00WW2 Special Ops sites, inc Morar MacDonalds’ homes

Scotos

Knoydart, Loch Morar, Morar Mac Donalds, and a secret war

St. Cumins & Loch Morar Eilean Bàn, seminaries, monsters, deep loch, short river

Seascape en route to Knoydart - Loch Nevis, Rum, Skye

Arisaig House 3 nights accommodation with history!

The Old Forge most remote pub on the UK mainland

Czech memorial (above right) a token of thanks from old soldiers for the training they received around Arisaig


Day 5At a glance

Departure 10:00 Moidart Bound 10:00

A drive-by guide to important places, landmarks, and events - Loch nan Uamh, Ardnish, Loch Ailort, Glenuig & Kinlochmoidart

Loch Ailort & Loch Eilt16:30Home and more fascinating histories and places on this delightful little fresh water loch

Shiel Folks 10:45An important area and loch for Mac Donalds over centuries Castle Tioram 11:00 The Clan Ranald stronghold Lunch 13:00Loch Shiel Hotel, or Dalilea Shiel Cruise 14:15A glorious loch cruise - nature, wildlife, and the Glenaladales! Glenfinnan 16:10Iconic for the Jacobite rising, now too for the Harry Potter Express. You will have a chance to ascend the monument and visit the NTS.

Dinner 20:00After some time to relax

Jacobite Monument Glenfinnan

Tioram, Loch Shiel, Glenaladale Mac Donalds, &Glenfinnan

Boathouse jettyon Loch Eilt

AlasdairMac Mhaighstir

Alasdair in a pretty bonkers artistic

impression!

MV Sìleas Loch Shielpleasure cruiser

Polnish Church Ardnish / Loch Ailort

Castle Tioram ancient stronghold of Clan Ranald, built by Amy Mac Ruari


Day 6At a glance

Departure 09:30

Clan Donald 10:30Centre, Armadale, SkyeThe fabulous Castle gardens, a stunning view onto Knoydart and Arisaig, and the award winning Museum of the Isles. Terrific!

Tea 16:30Tea at Glengarry Castle Hotel, then time to settle and relax

Lunch @ Kinloch 13:00Kinloch Lodge, former home of the High Chief and his wife, Lady Claire. Some of the best food to be found in Scotland.

Over the sea… 10:30Ferry from Mallaig to Armadale on Skye. What a vista!

Travel 14:30Bus trip, seeing: Broadford; Skye Bridge; Eilean Donan Castle; Loch Duich; Five Sisters of Kintail; Glen Shiel; Cluanie, Loch Garry

Local history 18:30from Glengarry Historical Society

Dinner 20:00 Glengarry Castle Hotel

Rock of the Raven a memorial statue to the previous Chief of MacDonell of Glengarry

Armadale, Skye, Glen Shiel, Cluanie, and Glen Garry

Clan Donald Ctr Armadale, Skye. Beautiful grounds and an award winning Museum of the Isles

Kinloch Lodge renowned for the excellence of its food

The Five Sisters of Kintail

Glengarry Castlesacked after Culloden by

Butcher Cumberland, and later abandoned Glengarry Castle Hotel

your accommodation base for two nights. The Castle looks over Loch Oich and is close to the original Invergarry Castle


Day 7At a glance

Option 2 Easy Day 11:00With Clan Donald

A good Clan Donald historian will be on hand to discuss the history of the clan. Give us some prior warning, and perhaps we can tell your story a bit better too.

Tomorrowis a longish day, so today is much more about relaxation and slow!

Option 1 Easy Day 09:30with Culloden

An early run to Culloden. On the way: Loch Ness, Fort Augustus, Urquhart Castle (Nessie?!). If the all agree, some time in Inverness.

Option 3 Easy Day 15:00with Genealogy

A good DNA specialist explains. Early notice to us will help get your profile delivered and explained on the day.

Dinner 19:30Glengarry Castle Hotel

Urquhart Castle is one of those icons of Scotland which simply endures.

Sitting its promontory iy has a majestic view of the loch in all directions.

Free Day with Easy Options

Fort Augustus is a dainty little village marking the last Caledonian Canal lock set before the final flight at Inverness.

Culloden needs no introduction. Just east of Inverness, it has a marvellous exhibition and interpretation space alongside the preserved ruggedness of the historic moor where such an awful set of events passed.

Genealogy is important to kinsfolk. We can team you up with a good company. With the right time frame, they can give you your family history while on the trip.


Day 8At a glance

Departure 09:00 Invergarry 09:00This is a fairly long stint. Leaving the hotel, we pass the Well of the Seven Heads, Loch Lochy, the Cameron lands, Keppoch lands, Spean, Fort William to Corran Ferry. A short boat across to Ardgour, then to Loch Sunart and down into Morvern to Lochaline.

Iona 15:00Between 1-1.5 hours

Lochaline 12:00A pretty short ferry again.

Lunch 12:30Craignure Hotel. This will also be an opportunity to drop luggage.

Fionnphort 14:15From Fionnphort to Iona by pedestrian ferry.

Dinner 19:30 Isle of Mull Hotel

Fionnphort 16:15Text

Ardgour, Morvern, Mull, and Iona

Corran Ferry to Ardgour

The Island of Iona is Scotland’s spiritual heart with a long history of religious activity. Many Clan Donald chiefs are buried here, including Angus Òg.

Mull is the only way to get to Iona without making a long trip by boat from the mainland.

Duart Castle is the ancient stronghold of the MacLeans, an ally and neighbour clan to Clan Donald

The Well of the Seven Heads In 1663, two sons of MacDonell were killed in a quarrel with an uncle and his six sons, who were executed in revenge by 60 men who cut off their heads, washed them in this spring, and took them to the Chief in Invergarry


Day 9At a glance

Departure 10:00 Duart Castle 10:15Home of the MacLeans, a good ally clan to Clan Donald, it would be a pity to miss it!

Dinner 19:30Highland Hotel

Ferry to Oban 13:00This is a short run, just about three quarters of an hour with some glorious views of the town on the way in.

Oban 13:45Oban is a pretty little town, but not an essential part of the tour. If the group wishes it can visit, or just crack on for an early finish, and time to relax in Stirling.

Stirling 17:00Highland Hotel, a former school, which was attended by one of the few Scottish Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom.

Duart Castle, Oban, Loch Etive, Loch Awe, and Stirling

Loch Lubnaig a jewel of the Lomond & Trossachs National Park,

between Strathyre and Callander

Loch Etive A real, striking enigma, very tide dependent, so far inland

The Loch Awe Viaduct When the banks are too steep … !

Oban, an important west coast market town, gives access to many of the south western islands, including Mull and the Uists.

The Stirling Observatory still a working part of the old school which is now the hotel.

Duart Castle A quick morning visit before catching the ferry to Oban

Stirling Highland Hotel accommodation for two nights


Day 10At a glance

Farewell Dinner 19:30 Hermann’s Restaurant, Stirling

Stirling is a great transport hub and we recommend getting to main cities by train.The station is about 5 minutes walk. Ask us about what’s on offer, but here’s some highlights:

Option 2 - Glasgow 35 minsKelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery, The People’s Palace, The Gallery of Modern Art, Transport Museum, Shipbuilding, Science Museum, Barras, Cathedral Quarter, galleries, City Hall, Italian Centre, & great food

Option 3 - Dundee 50 minsVerdant Works jute mill, The Tay Bridge, Scott’s ship Discovery, frigate Unicorn, Broughty Ferry Museum, Mills Observatory, shopping Option 4 - Edinburgh 60 minsCastle, Parliament, Holyrood Palace, Royal Mile, many galleries, the New Town, Camera Obscura, Whisky Centre, endless tartan!

Option 1 - Stirling --:--Castle, Argyll’s Lodging, Church of the Holy Rood, Cowan’s Museum, Smith Art Gallery, Wallace Monument, Cambuskenneth Abbey, Bannockburn

Option 5 - Trossachs 10:00A bus based tour around Stirling’s hinterland and the National Park

Free Day with Big City Options

Kelvingrove Art Gallery &

Museum

Wallace Monument Stirling

Scottish Parliament Mace Edinburgh

World’s Oldest FootballStirling Smith Art Gallery

Scott’s ship Discovery Dundee

Verdant Works Jute MillDundee

Gallery of Modern Art Glasgow


The Tripnotes and considerations

General Information

Tour Content

Access Issues Clan Donald places are very … ‘natural’! Much of the tour is in the area known as The Rough Bounds. If you have mobility problems, please let us know. Accommodation and transport will always be sought to suit, but adapting to some locations is less easy, and you may need to decide whether you want to take part in a particular activity or not. Some walks are quite long and on unmade tracks or parkland.

Access Issues

Tour Content The tour is totally adaptable to you if it is a single group taking part. If you prefer to have a longer or shorter trip, or see some different locations, please just let us know. Mixed groups tours will be much less able to vary. However, there are always some options on a tour that can be omitted in favour of something else, if the group agrees.

Travel Flights & Transfers

Accommodation

Pricing

Genealogy

Alterations

Food and Drink

Facebook

Heading

Facebook If you are happy to, we will set up a secret Facebook group which will allow you to upload photographs and videos for your friends and family to share in your experiences.

Travel, Flights & Transfers No allowance has been made in the costing shown. Flight or other travel costs to get to the start of the tour will be additional. We can organise flights and transfers for you, should you wish. It is often more effective to arrange group bookings for better rates.

Accommodation can be varied if you wish to go for a higher or lower cost option. Providers shown are not guaranteed until your booking has been made, and is according to availability at that time.

Food and Drink All breakfasts and dinners are included in the package price. However, beverages are not. Lunches are not included so that you may adapt to your own particular needs.

Pricing Due to the adaptability of the tour, the prices shown can only be considered indicative for the tour content shown, Prices have been given in pounds Sterling as the local currency, and you should use current exchange rates to calculate approximate costs. Prices will be quoted in your local currency when the trip has been agreed.

Genealogy No allowance has been made for the genealogy component. We will introduce you to one (or more if you prefer) providers, and any arrangements will be between you. We will have no part.

Alterations Clearly nobody wants to be altering agreed schedules. However, from time to time it may be necessary to adapt to local or personal conditions. We advise that you take out insurance to cover such eventualities. Deposits and planned payments will be non-refundable. In the case of our need to alter all costs will be refundable