Whisky Distillery Tours - Homecoming 2009 Whisky Coast – Northern Explorer

An exclusive 8-day island hopping, small group tour of the Whisky Coast including Oban, Mull, Skye and the “Spirit of the West” Festival. With distillery visits, special whisky tastings, great food, friendly comfortable accommodation and a knowledgeable local guide this is a trip of a lifetime for any whisky enthusiast.

Tour Dates: 15th –22nd May 2009 (including 2 days at the Spirit of the West Festival)
Group Size: Maximum of 16
Transport: Luxury minicoach with driver/guide
Accommodation: Hotels and guesthouses– minimum 3 star standard

Friday 15th May: Transfer from Edinburgh and Glasgow via Loch Lomond to your base in the pretty West Coast village of Inveraray - home to the Spirit of the West Festival

Overnight stay at The Loch Fyne Hotel in Inveraray, home of the Whisky Festival and your base for the next 3 nights. Dinner in hotel (1st night only)

Saturday 16th: May A full day at the Spirit of the West Festival

Sunday 17th May: Another full day of events at the Spirit of the West Festival

Monday 18th May: Today sees the start of your Whisky Coast island hopping adventure. From Inveraray you will travel first to the Inverawe Smokehouse to sample some local smoked salmon then continue on to Oban – the Gateway to the Isles. Here you will have a tour and tasting at the Oban Distillery, followed by an optional seafood lunch before we catch the ferry to the island of Mull. As the ferry approaches Mull you will see the dramatic outline of Duart Castle sitting high on the cliff top. This is the family home of the Macleans where you will have a private tour followed by a whisky in front of the fire in the living room of a real clan chief!

Overnight stay and dinner at the Isle of Mull hotel

Tuesday 19th May: Mull is an Island of incredible diversity. There are 1,000 foot sea cliffs, powder white sand beaches and mountains rising 3,000 feet from crystal clear sea. The coastline alone covers 300 miles creating a beautiful and wonderfully varied area. Today you will have the chance to explore and experience the wonderful variety on offer.

At the far south-western tip of the island a small passenger ferry crosses to the Island of Iona with its ancient abbey, fascinating history and beautiful scenery. There will be time to explore and have lunch in this special place. The Isle of Mull is Britain's premier destination for visitors wishing to see white-tailed sea eagles, the largest UK bird of prey. Look out for these majestic birds as you travel across the island.

And if all this wasn’t enough we will finish off the day with a tour and tasting at Tobermory Distillery and/or a drink in the famous Mishnish Hotel – known by yachtsmen and women worldwide.

Overnight stay and dinner at Isle of Mull hotel

Wednesday 20th May: Travels across the remote Ardnamurchan peninsula. It is one of the least populated areas of Great Britain. Today less than 2000 people live on the 50 sq mile peninsula, there is however an abundance of wildlife, including Red Deer, Otters, Seals, Eagles and Pine Martins. You will have the morning to explore this magnificent area including Moidart and Castle Tioram. You then travel along a spectacularly scenic coast of sheltered inlets, stunning white beaches and beautiful views to the islands of Rum, Eigg, Muck and Skye before arriving in the harbour town of Mallaig for lunch. As a fishing port you should be guaranteed some fresh seafood! After lunch the short ferry ride takes you to the Isle of Skye and a scenic drive past the Cuillin Mountains to the island capital Portree and your hotel.

Overnight stay and dinner at the Rosedale Hotel (or similar)

Thursday 21st May: A full day to explore the island of Skye and sample some of its finest produce. In the morning the tour will take you round the dramatic north tip of the island and the scenic highlights of the Quiraing, Old Man of Storr and the Kilt Rock. Lunch will be at the Three Chimney’s Restaurant – one of the finest places to eat in the whole country and situated in a beautiful remote location.

And of course a trip to Skye would not be complete without a visit to the Talisker Distillery where you will have the chance to sample some of their more unusual whiskies in a special tasting. The tour then returns to Portree where you can try one of the local pubs or restaurants for dinner

Overnight stay at the Rosedale Hotel (or similar)

Friday 22nd May: The final day of this unique tour returns you to the mainland traveling through the dramatic mountain scenery of the West Highlands to Fort William.

Here the real whisky enthusiasts will want to visit the Ben Nevis distillery, situated in the shadow of Britains’s highest mountain– alternatively nearby Glen Nevis has some beautiful waterfalls and short walks. There will be time to explore an shop in the town – we recommend the Crannog smokehouse and restaurant for lunch. In the afternoon we will explore spectacular Glencoe, scene of the infamous massacre of the Clan Macdonald in 1692, before returning to Glasgow and Edinburgh with unique memories to last you a lifetime.

Departure Points

207 High St. Edinburgh and George Square, Glasgow

Price

£990.00 pp Twin/double share
£1290.00 Single

Inclusions

7 nights accommodation with breakfast
Lunch at the Three Chimneys Restaurant on Day 6
Dinners on days 1, 4 and 5
Transportation by top of the range Mercedes minicoach
Services of a professional Rabbie's driver/guide
All ferry crossings.
A weekend ticket to the Spirit of the West Festival
All distillery tour and tasting fees as specified in the itinerary
A private tour and fireside dram at Duart Castle.

Exclusions

Meals not specified above.
Drinks with meals
Other items of personal expenditure
Optional gratuities to your driver/guide