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THE NORTH-WEST HIGHLANDS OF SCOTLAND
Europe’s most northerly Wilderness
3 days / 2 nights - Thursday to Saturday

This sparsely populated striking landscape is a face of Scotland that few travel off the beaten path to see. But what a reward for those who do. This is Europe’s last wilderness area and the landscape is shaped by the passing of many ice ages, resulting in spectacular and unusual mountains: Suliven, Quinnag and Canisp stand out across the landscape surrounded by some of the oldest rock formations in the world at 3,000million years old.

It is a land of startling contrasts. Warmed by the Gulf Stream from the Atlantic Ocean, it is home to some of the most luscious gardens in Scotland, and secluded sandy beaches like no other. The area’s wildlife is diverse, ranging from large coastal bird colonies to unique moorland flora. A wide variety of birds of prey hunt the remote landscapes, while waders feed along the rocky shores and sandy beaches.

Though sparsely populated, this region has a rich social history – we can see the legacy of cave dwellers from the Stone Age, through clan strongholds of the middle ages, the crofting communities from the Highland Clearances (perhaps your ancestors emigrated from here), through to the modern fishing communities providing lobsters to the tables of the finest restaurants in Europe.

We will travel on real backroads – many of them don’t even have a classification number!

NOTE: With a day to spend independently in Inverness between tours, you can link this itinerary with our four-day tour to the Orkney Islands, departing from and returning to Inverness. Together, they make a marvellous, contrasting picture of Northern Scotland. Accommodation in Inverness can be booked at our specially discounted rate.

DEPARTURE DATES & PRICES FOR 2008

Tour Code	Depart Inverness	Return Inverness
NWS	Thursday	Saturday
NSW 01	12 Jun	14 Jun
NSW 02	17 Jul	19 Jul
NSW 03	11 Sep	13 Sep
NSW 04	09 Oct	11 Oct

Cost: $799 USD per adult sharing a twin/double room; $839 USD single occupancy

What your tour price includes: Your accommodation for 2 nights while on the tour including both full breakfasts and dinners. Your price also includes all entrance fees to attractions, transportation, services of driver/guide-companion and all taxes and tips other than those you may wish to give your guide.

Airport transfers and accommodation pre and post tour is not included but can be reserved at a specially discounted price.

Tentative Itinerary

DAY ONE - Thursday

Wester Ross: Leaving Inverness in the morning, we travel the old main road north through the picturesque priory town of Beauly (well-named as it means ‘beautiful town’ in French). From there, it’s through the straths and glens to the Gulf Stream influenced Wester Ross coast.

There’s a chance to relax and marvel at the view over the Inner Hebredies islands from remote locations near to Gairloch, or perhaps explore the sumptuous world famous walled gardens at Inverewe with plants from around the world growing in the climate of the Scottish Highlands.

We’ll explore some of the crofting townships around the coast and recall the important role they played in World War II. With every turn there is an opportunity to head even further off the beaten path – and we will!

With spectacular views over Loch Broom and Little Loch Broom, we’ll head for Ullapool, stopping to watch the roaring waters of Corrieshalloch Gorge plunge 200 feet below us as we walk across the small suspension bridge.

We stay in the Ullapool area this evening. Ullapool was built in the 18th century in response to the growth of the herring industry. Although the herring fleet is long gone, it remains a bustling oasis. After dinner, we can watch the sunset over the Summer Isles.

NIGHTSTOP: Ulapool area

DAY TWO - Friday

Coigach and Stoer: today we take back roads like no other – some of the roads aren’t even classified. But the landscape is classified A1! The pace of life here is different, and our tour pace will reflect this. There are endless options to explore the landscape, or just admire the views – we’ll take all day to do what we want. And there is much to chose from:

• · the Coigach Peninsula is a treasure trove of tiny settlements, views over the coast and islands and mountain scenery such as the intriguingly shaped Stac Pollaidh and Suilven;
• · Inverpolly Nature Reserve is a beautiful wilderness of highland flora and fauna. It is also of immense geological significance as the exposed rock in this area is some of the oldest in the world at 3,000million years old. We’ll have a geology lesson at Knockan Crag (but no exam to follow!);
• · Inchnadamph Nature Reserve is home to the famous Allt nan Uamh caves where scientists found human remains dating back at least 4500 years, along with the bones of animals now extinct in Scotland such as bears and lynx;
• · the Stoer Peninsula, another peaceful crofting community bordered with secluded beaches for relaxing and picnics;
• · all around us are the incredible mountains of Suilven, Canisp, Quinag and Cul Mor, each uniquely shaped by successive ice ages, each changing shape at every turn;
• · throughout the area we chart the changing social history visiting the brochs of the Picts; the place names given by the Vikings; the ruined castles of the local clans such as Ardvreck.

NIGHTSTOP: Ulapool area

DAY THREE - Saturday

Handa Island or Sandwood Bay: weather permitting, we have the opportunity today to undertake one of two unique experiences.

If birds, flora and uninhabited islands are your fancy, then we can take the tiny fisherman’s boat on the crossing to Handa Island – in just a few minutes we’ll have the chance to get away from it all and stroll around this small, fascinating island. Uninhabited by humans since the potato famine of 1848, this is now home to thousands of seabirds.

Alternatively, we can explore the remote and secluded beaches beyond Kinlochbervie, one being Sandwood Bay which can only be reached by walking a Crofter’s path across the moorland. Many say it is one of the nicest beaches in Scotland, facing out to the Atlantic Ocean, but edged by high cliffs on one end and a moorland lagoon on the other.

Either way, you’ll enjoy the chance to sit back and relax and enjoy the scenery on the way back as we take the single-track road back towards Inverness via Lairg and the huge estates of the Duke of Sutherland, infamous for his role in the Highland Clearances.

We return to Inverness at end of day. Accommodation is not included but is available for a specially discounted rate. Alternatively, we can assist with making arrangements for your onward journey via rail or air.

This tour is operated by Back-Roads Touring Co Ltd