Although a wild and forgotten area of the Scottish Highlands, this walking holiday takes you through some of Scotland's finest glens and valleys and follows in the tracks taken by marauding cattle thieves known as Caterans who plundered the glens until the 17th century. Enjoy an abundance of wildlife, beautiful scenery and quaint villages with dramatic views of the Cairngorm mountains as you head through their foothills. Walk across moorland, peaceful wooded glens, a hill pass and gentle rolling lush farmland, always quiet and off the beaten track.
For a day of relaxation, your Private Driver takes you across the mountains to see inside Balmoral Castle, loved by the late Queen and to several villages including Braemar, host to the Highland Games. Enjoy a further day off to explore romantic Glamis Castle, family home of the King’s grandmother and visit with a Highland farmer to see how life ticks here.
The tour combines a wonderful variety of scenery and experiences with 2 or 3 night stays in unique luxury hotels and a castle. It all adds up to a very special and tranquil escape.
Holiday details
Price
- Luxury
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from £4,565 per person
Based on two people sharing a room
Duration
8 nights
Start & Finish
Starts and ends in Perth or Dundee both of which have a mainline station and are 1.5 hours north of Edinburgh.
Hotels
- Luxury
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2 or 3 nights at a 3, 4 and 5 star hotel
Holiday type
Self-guided so you are free to explore at your own pace. More info...
Activity level
Gentle walking (4) More info...
Mileage
5 days of walking 8-10 miles (13-16km) per day. Option of 5 days of walking 9.5-15.8 miles (15-25 km) per day with a slightly different itinerary. Ask for details
Terrain
Easy to moderate gradients in glens, forests and moorland
What’s included?
Ensuite accommodation every night with breakfast. The services of our friendly local Hosts. Luggage transfers between hotels. 24/7 phone contact number. Adventure Handbook with our local tips. GPS Routes on an App with waterproof phone holder. Guide Book or OS maps. Protection of your funds. Advice, help and guidance planning your trip.
Transfers to start/end stations, private Driver Guide for 2 days with entry to Balmoral and Glamis castles and farm visit, transfers to/from walks. Read About Our Trips for further details
Options
- Take an extra day to salmon fish on Shee Water
Itinerary day-by-day
Luxury
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1. Day one
Arrive Perth or Dundee
We meet you at the station in Perth or Dundee and transfer you to your hotel where you stay 2 nights, near Blairgowrie in the heart of the soft fruit growing area of Perthshire. Settle in and your Host will brief you on your tour details either today or early tomorrow morning.
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2. Day two
Bridge of Cally to Kirkmichael
Pull on your boots for your adventure to begin! We transfer you after breakfast to the small village of Bridge of Cally. Sitting at the junction of 3 glens or straths, you'll be walking up peaceful and beautiful Strathardle today, once plagued by the Highland rascals stealing cattle. With Blackcraig Forest and castle, wooded slopes and wildlife enjoy the silence. We meet you in Kirkmichael, focal point of the glen and worth investigating with a great spot for a pint and chat with the local hotelier.
Optional 8 miles (13km)
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3. Day three
Kirkmichael to Spittal of Glenshee
With 1590 feet of ascent, today is the stiffest challenge of the week but also a wonderful upland walk as you head into the foothills of the Cairngorm mountains on a moorland route. A hill pass leads you from Enochdhu to a spectacular descent into Spittal of Glenshee through wild mountainous country where wolves once roamed. Walk to your turreted castle hotel where you stay 3 nights.
7 or 10 miles (11 or 16km) 1590' ascent
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4. Day four
Balmoral Castle and Braemar
You've earned a rest so enjoy a driver for today who will take you further into the Cairngorms National Park on a dramatic ride over the largest skiing area of Scotland down to the picturesque village of Braemar and on to Balmoral for a tour of the Royal Family's summer holiday haunt at Balmoral Castle. The late Queen was very fond of this castle and the stags that frequent the surrounding hills. She died here. If it is closed due to a family gathering (July, August and some other dates), you will visit Braemar Castle instead. Enjoy lunch or tea in the lauded Fife Arms before returning to your hotel.
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5. Day five
Spittal of Glenshee to Forter
Your walk resumes and you are now heading south down Shee Water The views are again spectacular, be ready to spot red deer and their calves and glimpses of grouse, ptarmigan or mountain hare. The river contains salmon pools, and fishing permits can be obtained. Pass Dalnaglar Castle, skirt Mount Blair and by the end of the day you have left the Cairngorms behind you and entered Glen Isla with its fertile farmland and a scene change. Transfer back to your castle for a final night there.
Optional 9 miles (14km)
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6. Day six
Forter to Whitehills
Walking on from Forter, past its castle you rise high above the river with great views of lochs, through forests and folds on a remote and utterly beautiful track. There's no habitation until you reach Kirkton of Glenisla where refreshments await and you cross the river before a final hill. We transfer you to your next hotel where you stay 3 nights.
9 miles (14 km) 990' ascent
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7. Day seven
Glamis Castle
Enjoy a relaxed and outstanding day that begins with a visit to fairy tale Glamis Castle. It is the childhood home of King Charles's grandmother Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. Both her daughters - Princess Margaret and Princess Elizabeth spent many holidays here and the castle remains a family home, full of photos and objects belonging to the two generations of Royals. The castle was also the inspiration for William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. After lunch and for a different view of life in the area, your driver for the day will take you to meet a 4th generation local farmer, engage with his sheep, cattle and alpacas and chat about life here, past and present rascals and all!
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8. Day eight
Whitehills to Aylth
The final walk is through the tranquility of Glen Isla with the path above the river and fields giving way to wonderful open views over an idyllic pastoral scene. You are far from anywhere until you finally cross Alyth Hill to reach your hotel. If you haven't already, take the extra few yards into the town centre and along Toutie Street, its name taken from the sound of the herd-man’s horn as he drove the cattle to pasture - and alerted those Cateran rascals?
Optional 9 miles (15 km)
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9. Day nine
Depart Alyth
We will transfer you to Perth or Dundee for your onward journey