recommends… UK TRAVEL Skye
2022 DEPARTURES NOW AVAILABLE!
6 days from
£895pp
A Grand Tour of the Outer Hebrides
C
Coach travel from Dundee, Perth, Dunfermline,
omplaining
Kinross, Edinburgh & Glasgow* about rain on a
staycation is a bit
like complaining
Departs 10 & 22 April; 3 & 24 May; 21 June; 1 July; 14 about mud at
Glastonbury. Why grumble
& 23 August; 4, 15 & 27 September 2022
when surrendering to the
mists, gusts and rain is all part
Our extended tour of the Hebrides has proved of the experience – especially
when there is somewhere
extremely popular, offering as it does a unique luxurious to dry off.
opportunity to travel the length and breadth of the
A quick check of the
Western Isles. This special tour takes in all the weather app the night
beauty and diversity of this very special before the journey north
environment, presenting the unique opportunity to shows the weather gods are
indeed planning a hissy fit
visit various islands in one journey of discovery. over Skye, the enchanting
Hebridean island which
astonishingly now attracts
up to 650,000 visitors a year.
At least conditions remain
dry long enough for the four-
hour trip along the A84 and
A82, the highlights including
jawdropping Glencoe, a
quick stop to visit family in
Glen Shiel, and Eilean Donan
Castle (if you don’t stop to
visit, or at least take a picture,
then you’re not doing the
Highlands right).
Once over the Skye
Bridge a fir-lined road leads
WHAT YOU’LL LOVE
to Isleornsay, in the Sleat
• Return coach travel from your selected pick-up peninsula. Four-star Duisdale
point and all ferry transfers included House Hotel is surrounded by
sculptured gardens, faces on
• Explore various Western Isles – including Lewis, to Loch Hourn, and is cloaked
Harris, Taransay, North Uist, Benbecula, South on three sides by woodland.
Uist, Eriskay and Barra A converted Victorian
hunting lodge which is about
• Visits to the Standing Stones of Callanish, Kisimul
eight miles from Broadford,
Castle, Cockleshell Beach, Vatersay – the film
Skye’s second-largest town,
location for the ‘Whisky Galore’ – the Gearannan Duisdale House is one of
Black Houses, Shawbost Norse Mill and St three Skye hotels run by
Clement’s Church award-winning hotelier Anne
• 5 nights’ hotel accommodation with dinner, bed Gracie Gunn.
The hallways and corridors
and breakfast
are adorned with classy
Where Skye
• Services of a professional tour manager touches: a grandfather clock
on the landing, a tall ship
on the stairside window
For more information or to book, call ledge. Comfy armchairs and
01334 898694 & quote Sunday Post
plush sofas line the first-
meets the sea
floor corridor (the selfless
staff happily take all items of
Visit www.dcttravel.co.uk luggage upstairs, but if you
do happen to be weighed
down by bags and find even
– it calls me
the short walk to your room
a bit of a struggle, there are
plenty of places to stop for a
rest halfway). Our twin room
Organised by Brightwater Holidays ABTOT 5001; ATOL 4498. Single room comes with LCD TV, safe, and
supplements apply. Subject to availability. *Some pick-up points are subject to
minimum numbers and addi�onal pick-ups may apply. When making an enquiry
about the holidays shown in this adver�sement we may pass your details onto our
par�cipa�ng tour operator partner to contact you regarding your enquiry.
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W O R D S wifi, while the en suite boasts
P A U L C U N N I N G H A M waffle robes and slippers,
and rainfall shower. With
ample room to sit back and
stretch out, the bath feels
more like a private hot tub.
There’s a relaxed feel as
guests gather in the lounge
pre-dinner to enjoy canapes
and drinks while browsing
the menu near the calming
low rumble of a log fire,
while tables are prepared in
the two AA rosette restaurant.
The menu showcases Skye’s
natural larder, and changes
daily to include the freshest
ingredients, many foraged for
near the hotel. I start with
scallops, pea puree and black
pudding, with venison, braised
red cabbage, chestnut puree
and elderberry for main, and
chocolate and coconut tart
for dessert (on night two, I
plump for pigeon, braised red
cabbage and brown butter
followed by lamb rack, pea,
buttermilk and salsa verde,
then cherry sponge cake).
Every dish is impeccably
presented and delicious.
The next day brings the
expected downpours but,
also, the first chance to
explore. From the hotel, a
path leads to a bay where I
find I have a shingle beach to
Scotland
Peter Irvine’s
the best
Favourite hills
Enjoy some special climbs offering
treks in beautiful countryside
fabulous view and faery tales
●● Clockwise from main: White
Quinag, near Lochinver
beaches on Sleat peninsula,
Skye; Duisdale House Hotel; Pronounced “Koonyag”. Like Stac Polly,
a log fire in the hotel lounge; this Corbett has amazing presence and
Armadale Castle; colourful seems more formidable than it actually
houses at Portree harbour is. Park off the A894 – great views from
several viewpoints north of Kylesku). An
up-and-down route can take in six or seven
myself.Thin layers of mist fold tops in your five-hour expedition (or curtail).
over Loch Hourn and enrobe Once again, awesome Assynt!
the view to the mainland, and
it all feels beautifully secluded.
Seven miles south of Doon Hill, Aberfoyle
Duisdale lies Armadale Legendary hillock, only 2.5 hours return
from Aberfoyle, so a gentle elevation into
Castle, once the seat of the
Macdonalds of Sleat, and faery land. The tree at the top is the
home of the People of Quietness; one
now a major attraction in the local minister had the temerity to tell
south of Skye.The ruins of
the castle itself are closed for
their secrets (in 1692) and paid the price
thereafter. Go round it seven times and
safety reasons. One of several your wish will be granted, go round
woodland trails leads uphill to backwards at your peril (you wouldn’t,
a clearing with sight of Beinn
A’ Chapaill, Beinn Sgritheall
and Ladhar Bheinn but, sadly,
today they aren’t very visible.
Still, the castle’s grounds
are vast and beautiful, with
ponds, arboretum, adventure
playground and sculptures.
The museum is top-class,
telling the story of the Clan
Donald and covering 1,500
years of history and culture.
Among the artefacts are a
firearm named Gunna Breac
dating from the Battle of
Culloden, and passed down
through generations of
MacDonalds; and the sculpture ●● Majestic sunset view of Quinag
used by William Brodie as a
model for the statue of Skye
would you?). From main street take Manse
terrier Greyfriars Bobby.
A visit to Armadale eats Rd. Half a mile past cemetery, then signed.
up time, with so much to
pore over at the museum but Criffel, New Abbey, near Dumfries
there’s still time for a quickfire Seven miles south by A710 to New Abbey,
road trip to Portree, albeit it’s which Criffel dominates. It’s only 569m, but
a good 45-minute drive from seems higher. Exceptional views from top as
Isleornsay. Hands up, it’s the far as English lakes. Granite lump with brilliant
outcrops of quartzite. The annual race gets
candy-coloured row of houses
up and back to the Abbey Arms in under an
by the harbour which this
visitor can’t wait to lay eyes hour; you can take it easier. Start from village,
on for the first time. But there or two miles south of village, the turn-off
is also a fine array of galleries, from the A710, 100m from one of the curious
painted bus shelters signed for Ardwell Mains
P.S.
gift shops and cafes to explore.
Time quickly runs out, and a Farm. Over there the Solway shimmers.
return visit is inevitable, with
Kinnoull Hill, Perth
so much more to catch sight
Skye is derived of on the Misty Isle. Various starts from town and A85, eg Manse
Rd and the Quarry car park. The wooded
from the Norse
word ski meaning ridge above the Tay with its tower and
incredible views to south from the precipitous
“cloud” and Factfile
ey, or “island”. cliffs. Surprisingly extensive area of hillside
Winter bed and breakfast rates (Kinnoull Hill Woodland Park) can include
It is home to
Scotland’s oldest for a double room from £152.
Treat Your Partner packages
Deuchny Hill, and it’s not difficult to get
lost. Look for the Arboretum. The leaflet/map
inhabited castle.
Dunvegan has are available including from Perth tourist information centre helps.
candlelit four-course gourmet Quarry car park a good start.
been the Clan
dinner, deluxe room stay and
MacLeod seat for
800 years. Visitors champagne on ice on arrival.
Visit skyehotel.co.uk/ Peter Irvine is the author of the
can tour the essential travel guide Scotland the Best
castle, gardens duisdale/
published by Collins, priced £15.99
and woodlands.
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