North West Explorer
Grade: Flexible
Between Ullapool, the attractive fishing and ferry port, and Cape Wrath, the most north-westerly point of the mainland, lies a unique corner of Scotland: Cape Wrath & the North West Highlands. The scenery here is like nothing you have ever seen before. Towering, strangely shaped mountains appear to stick up out of nowhere; curious sea stacks and precipitous cliffs play host to countless birds; the ancient weathered moorland lies peppered with a rash of tiny lochans.
The landscape of this corner of Cape Wrath & the North West Highlands is formed from the oldest rock sequences in Britain. The low plateau of rugged knolls is formed from Lewisian Gneiss (up to 3,000 million years old). This rock is impermeable and forms the basis for the lochan-strewn moorland for which the area is renowned. Past glaciers shrouded the area in ice, carving the mountains and cliffs and gouging the deep basins which now form the major lochs. Heather moorland and peat bog are predominant in the Cape Wrath & the North West Highlands with a few green and fertile areas, such as at Elphin and Durness existing due to the presence of limestone.
The moorland is home to many - red deer, pine marten, plovers, wheatear, greenshank, divers… with the coastline varying from long sandy beaches to some of the highest cliffs in the UK. Terraced sandstone cliffs offer impregnable nest sites for many seabirds such as fulmar, guillemot, gannets, kittiwakes, puffins... and it is the combination of mountain, moor and sea and the long northern evenings which makes this area of Cape Wrath & the North West Highlands unique and unforgettable. This 3 centre holiday allows you to discover some of the hidden gems of this fantastic area. There are 4 full days for walking plus some extra additional time for shorter walks or explorations. Walks are flexible allowing you to choose the options that appeal to you. Starting from Inverness you will travel across to Ullapool on the West Coast and gradually work your way northwards to reach the village of Durness at the north western tip. From Durness it should be possible for you to make an optional visit (not included) to the cliffs of Cape Wrath.
Please note that single room on this holiday are extremely limited.
Start: Inverness – early afternoon
Finish: Inverness - lunchtime
Availability:
May/June/July/August/September
All departures subject to accommodation availability
Departure days:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Sample Itinerary
Day 1: Travel from Inverness to Ullapool
Days 2- 3: Exploration from Ullapool
Day 4: Travel to Lochinver
Day 5: Walk in Lochinver area
Day 6: Travel to Durness
Day 7: Walk in Durness / Cape Wrath area
Day 8: Travel to Inverness
Your Independent Walking Holiday includes:
- 7 nights accommodation in hotels and guest houses
- 7 breakfasts
- 1 train journey
- 1 coach journey
- Holiday dossier and maps
Not included:
- 3 essential bus journeys
- Meals except as stated above
- Taxi/ferry/minibus to Cape Wrath
- Option activities and excursions
Book Your Independent Walking Holiday
| Option | Price | SRS | Choose your date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel/Guest House
(2 or more) |
£479 pp | £105 |
2 or more: Minimum 2 people per booking
