AUTUMN IN THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS,

THE FAMOUS JACOBITE STEAM TRAIN, FORT WILLIAM,

LOCH NESS CRUISE, INVERNESS

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Monday, 4 October  -  Friday, 8 October, 2027.

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Staying at the ALEXANDRA HOTEL, FORT WILLIAM, the Alex as it is known locally has been a feature of Fort William for the past 125 years.  Situated in the town centre the hotel is minutes away from the High Street, train station and pier.   With good freshly made food and clean rooms, the hotel offers a home from home experience with an old world charm.   We are booked in for Dinner, Bed and full Scottish Breakfast in Twin, Double and Single Rooms.   Single Rooms have a supplement and will be a standard Single Room.  The hotel has a limited number of walk in showers, so please request when booking, there is a lift to all floors, but a few steps on some floors.   There will be entertainment on two evenings.

 

MONDAY  -  We travel via the motorway and drinks are available to purchase, a comfort stop will be made at a services, then we continue on our journey and a further stop will be made so lunch can be purchased. After lunch we head for the Highlands of Scotland, passing Glen Coe, travelling along the shore of Loch Linnhe to FORT WILLIAM and our Hotel. On arrival whilst we are checking in our luggage will be taken to our rooms.   Evening Dinner on the Hotel Restaurant.

  

TUESDAY  -  Full Scottish Breakfast in the Restaurant and today is our exciting return journey on THE JACOBITE STEAM RAILWAY, which is described as the greatest railway journey in the world. Departing from Fort William station we leave in the shadow of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Britain at 4,406 feet, then there are 84 miles of extremes.   A little out of Fort William we sweep onto the GLENFINNEN VIADUCT, 20 arches curving a hundred feet above the River Finnen, and famous for being in the Harry Potter films as the Hogwarts Express, as he heads toward the school by train.   Time permitting the train slows on the viaduct giving us time for photographs, look out for people gathering below to wave to the train.

From here the line threads the villages of Lochailort, Arisaig and Morar and the land gives way to the sea. On a clear day you should be able to see the Small Isles, Rum, Eigg, Muck and Canna with Skye beyond.   Then we come to MALLAIG, a working fishing port and the end of the line. We have 1 ½ hours here, time enough for the harbour, a walk and fish and chips, freshly caught, before the locomotive runs round and turns for our return journey back to Fort William. A fabulous day to remember.

 

WEDNESDAY   -   Today we travel further into the Scottish Highlands to INVERNESS where the River Ness meets the Moray Firth. It is the largest city and the cultural capital of the Highlands.  Its old town features Inverness Cathedral, the Old High Church and an indoor 150 year old Victorian Market and is easy to navigate on foot.

We meet the coach in the afternoon and travel to Clansman Harbour where we take the Inspiration Cruise which is a circular 1 hour’s cruise on the deepest section of LOCH NESS with stunning view of URQUHART CASTLE ruins.

After our sail we meet the coach and return to Fort William.

 

THURSDAY  -   Today is a free day to recharge our batteries, relax around the Hotel, explore Fort William at your leisure, breath in the pure Highland air.

 

FRIDAY  -  We meet the coach, after breakfast and commence our journey home, making a comfort stop and leg stretch, and a further stop for lunch, leaving the Highlands behind us.   As we near home Rob will give us estimated arrival home times, so passengers wishing to be met can telephone home. 

 

 

PRICE PER PERSON SHARING A TWIN, DOUBLE ROOM:  £740.00

 

SINGLE ROOMS:  £804.00.

 

Bookings can be made over the telephone when a deposit of £50.00 per person must be paid to secure the booking.    Payment can be by Bank Transfer or Cheque.   Full payment is required 6 weeks prior to departure date.   

  

INSURANCE:   it is advisable to take out your own insurance to cover for cancellation due to illness.