You’ve made the fantastic choice to spend a week with The Highland Club! But what should you do when you get here? Follow our 7-Day Itinerary for all Highland Club guests to enjoy.
Day One – Fort Augustus and Loch Ness
Morning
Urquhart Castle
Opening time: 9:30am Postcode IV63 6XJ
30 minutes from The Highland Club, on the west side of Loch Ness is an old ruin of a medieval castle- the most visited tourist destination in the Scottish Highlands. Take a morning trip down to Urquhart Castle and learn more about the history of the area surrounding Loch Ness with their audio-visual presentation, which is available in six languages. Examine the artefacts, such as the bronze Urquhart ewer from the 15th century and enjoy the panoramic views from the battlements over looking the Loch.
Prices Adult – £9.00 Children – £5.40 Concession – £7.20 For more information, please visit https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/urquhart-castle/
Afternoon
Loch Ness Cruise
After viewing Loch Ness from a high in the morning, take a cruise or a speedboat to experience the Loch in a different light. There are 4 different rib boat trips, with varying lengths and prices, whilst afternoon cruises depart at 1pm and 2pm. View Urquhart Castle from the water and feel the wind blow through your hair. Hopefully Nessie will come up and swim alongside you!
To book or find out more, see here.
Caledonian Canal
After the beautiful ride over Loch Ness, wander the Caledonian Canal and watch the locks open and close whenever a boat passes through Fort Augustus – perhaps even venture into the Caledonian Canal Visitor Centre.
Evening
The Boathouse
Enjoy a delicious dinner at The Boathouse at the bottom of The Highland Club, the only restaurant on the south shores of Loch Ness. Whilst looking over the water on tables outside or inside, treat yourself to freshly made meals and a dessert – we recommend the sticky toffee pudding!
To book a table, please call 01320 366 682
Croquet, chess, & snooker
You can now idly walk back to your apartment from The Boathouse and perhaps enjoy a game of croquet on the Monastery Lawn! Alternatively, play a game of giant chess in the Cloister-Garth or play pool/snooker/table football in The Refectory. These are all amenities provided to you by The Highland Club.
Day Two – Inverness & Cawdor
Morning
Inverness Museum and Art Gallery
One of the gems of Inverness is its Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, a building which houses some of the best historical and art exhibitions that the Highlands have to offer. Explore art from the masters to some of the latest contemporary artists or exhibitions on the Jacobites to the Vikings! There is something for everyone here! Inverness Museum and Art Gallery is open in the summer from 10am to 5pm and they are open in the winter from 12pm to 4pm. Find them at
Castle Wynd INVERNESS IV2 3EB
For more information, please visit: https://www.highlifehighland.com/inverness-museum-and-art-gallery/
Afternoon
Cawdor Castle
Unfortunately, Inverness Castle is not open for public viewing currently. But half an hour drive away is Cawdor Castle, a castle linked to Macbeth (though in reality he did not stay in it). The castle is dated to the late 14th century and houses three beautiful gardens that you can wander around: the Walled Garden, the Flower Garden and the Wild Garden. Adventure around Cawdor Big Wood or tee off on their 9-hole golf course! There is plenty here to occupy an afternoon happily!
For more information, please visit: http://www.cawdorcastle.com/Home.aspx
Find Cawdor Castle at Cawdor Castle Nairn Scotland IV12 5RD
Evening
Eden Court Theatre
Return to Inverness and have a lovely meal in one of their many restaurants before an evening at Eden Court Theatre! Depending on what you want to see/what is on, you can have your choice between the movies, comedy shoes, cinematic live theatre, theatre, ballet, or opera! As their calendar is ever changing, it is best to look before hand and book tickets online prior to your visit!
For more information, please visit: https://www.eden-court.co.uk/
Day Three – Ready, Set, Action!
Morning and Afternoon
Biking
Pack a lunch and then head down to Girvans Bike Hire and rent out a bike for the day. The price for a full day adult is £24, for a full day child it is £16. Each bike comes with a lock and a helmet. Check when you have to return it. For an easier route, you can cycle down the Caledonian Canal for a picturesque and flat route. For those more adventurous, challenge yourself by trying a Great Glen cycle route! The upper Great Glen Way trail winds through the mountain forest to give you panoramic views out over Loch Ness.
Bike Hire:
Girvans Bike Hire Website: http://www.girvanshardware.co.uk/index.php/fort-augustus-bike-hire Email: girvanshardware@gmail.com Phone: 01320 366 864
Biking routes:
Great Glen Cycle Routes Please visit http://www.highland.gov.uk/ggw/
Horseriding
If you only want to cycle in the morning, there are many other activities around Fort Augustus. Close to Urquhart Castle there is Borlum Farm where you can go horse riding. Experience the Highlands in a unique form and make a new friend in the beautiful surroundings that the north of Scotland offers.
For more information please visit www.borlum.co.uk
For more ideas, there is a blog post on sports in and around Fort Augustus. This includes golf, fishing, WOW balls and mountaineering amongst many more options.
Evening
Try your hand a Scottish meal! For recipes or ideas visit our blog post on traditional Scottish recipes here! Then enjoy a film in your apartment’s private lounge or if you’re feeling more active, wander down to the Pepperpot Lighthouse, supposedly the UK’s smallest lighthouse, and Loch Ness View Point, both at the mouth of the Caledonian Canal entering into Loch Ness. Experience a sunset standing there with a stunning view of this famous Loch.
Day Four – Train
Morning
A Great Rail Trip
If you fancy getting away for a few day, you can get a train ride from Fort William to Mallaig. Whilst this doesn’t seem like a notable train ride, you pass by the Glenfinnan Viaduct – famous for the Hogwarts express. Fort William is about 50 minutes away via car. You can also get local buses from Fort Augustus to Fort William. Depending on the train company you can actually go over the Glenfinnan Viaduct with the Jacobite Steam Train. However, booking the Jacobite Steam Train with West Coast Railways needs to be done in advance as this journey is very popular. Otherwise, you can take the Scot Rail from Fort William to Mallaig. The train ride is around 1 hour and 30 minutes. The Scot Rail tickets can be as cheap as £14!
For more information please visit: https://www.scotrail.co.uk/ http://www.westcoastrailways.co.uk/jacobite/jacobite-steam-train-details.cfm
Afternoon/Evening
Isle of Skye
From Mallaig, there are ferries that ship you to the bottom of the Isle of Skye, Armadale. In the summer, Armadale has a sheltered beach where you can go surfing. There are also puffin, rock doves and oystercatchers that live around the area providing plenty of opportunity for animal lovers. There are also the Armadale Castle gardens, the seat of the MacDonald Chief in the museum. Elsewhere, Portree (the capital of Skye) is about 1 hour drive away. So if you want to go to other locations on the island, it is easy to book a hire car to meet you at the ferry station for adventuring further in. You can go to the famous Fairy Pools or walk the Old Man of Storr to get your own photograph of the stunning landscape. You can buy lunch at many of the local restaurants or pack your own lunch – there is plenty of choice! However, it is important to note that whilst the first train to Mallaig from Fort William is at 8:30am, the last train from Mallaig to Fort William is at 6:15pm. Though this seems like limited time for a day trip, it is easily possible to experience a lot of what the Isle of Skye has to offer over the day!
For more information about ferries: https://www.calmac.co.uk/mallaig-armadale-skye-ferry-summer-timetable
Day Five – Fort William
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Morning
Ben Nevis Mountain Range
Take the only mountain gondola in England 650m up Aonach Mor for a scenic view of Ben Nevis and the Highlands. There are plenty of walking trails across this mountain so feel free to explore the area. If you pack a lunch, you can enjoy your home cooked food in a stunning location. If not, there is a café and restaurant by the top of the Gondola.
Afternoon
Ben Nevis Distillery
For fans of Scotch whiskey, enjoy an afternoon spent in a distillery opened in 1825. Learn how about how Scotch is made and even taste-test it! Find out what makes Ben Nevis whiskey, made with water from Ben Nevis, so legendary.
For more information, please visit http://www.bennevisdistillery.com/
Afterwards, spend some time wandering around Fort Williams – there is plenty to see and do there.
Evening
Ceilidh
Every evening from late June until September, the Skipinnish Ceilidh House in Fort William offers a Ceilidh Show from 8:30-10:30pm. Ceilidh is a fantastic part of Celtic culture and introduces you to traditional music and dancing, the translation of ceilidh from Gaelic being party! So wear some dancing shoes and enjoy the show!
For more information please call 01397 705 666
If you are at The Highland Club on a Thursday or Friday in July and August, there are also Ceilidh Evenings at the Ben Nevis Mountain Range’s Snowgoose restaurant. Learn how to dance a Ceilidh to live traditional music and enjoy a delicious Scottish dinner 650m high in the Highlands.
For more information please visit http://www.nevisrange.co.uk/extended_summer_opening.asp Phone: 01397 705 825 Email: info@nevisrange.co.uk
For more ideas, there is a blog post on activities in Fort William, Inverness and elsewhere.
Day Six – Fort George
Morning
Culloden Battlefield
Around 65 minutes away by car, is the site of the famous Battle of Culloden. The battle took place after the two Jacobite Risings in which Highlanders tried to restore the Stuart house to the throne. On 16th April 1746, 1,000 Jacobites were slain on this field. Artefacts are displayed in the Visitor Centre, along with exhibitions to show exactly what happened that day.
For more information, please visit http://www.nts.org.uk/Visit/Culloden
Afternoon
Fort George & Highlander Museum or Dolphin Watching
Alike Fort Augustus, Fort George was built to combat the Jacobite rebels. But by the time it was complete, the Highlander threat had been defeated. So Fort George has been a base for the British Army. The Highlander Museum, a regimental museum also houses artefacts of Scotland’s military history.
For more information, please visit: Fort George: https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/fort-george/ Highlander’s Museum: http://www.thehighlandersmuseum.com/
Alternatively, if you’ve had enough history for one day, you can head to the other side of Moray Firth to Fort George to Chanonry Point. That is the best point to go dolphin watching, in particular bottlenose dolphins. Or you could book a boat trip around the Moray Firth coastline to get great views of Fort George or the dolphins!
To find out more or to book a boat trip around the Moray Firth coastline, please visit http://www.moraydolphins.co.uk/
For more options on boat trips, please visit www.dolphinspace.org – this site lists credible and responsible boat companies who provide tours with fantastic views of wildlife without disturbing the animals or damaging the environment extensively.
Evening
Games and The Boathouse
After all these days out-and-about, you should relax in your home away from home! Go out for dinner at The Boathouse or make a delicious meal in your kitchen. Then enjoy all the different games around The Highland Club from boules to table tennis to chess!
Day Seven – Fort Augustus Fun
Morning
Horse riding
Enjoy the views with a new best friend – a horse! Learn how to gallop through the Highlands near Urqhart Castle with Borlum Farm. Borlum Farm is BHS approved and has a large indoor school and two outdoor schools as well as 400 acres of land. 1-hour ride costs £40.00, whilst 1.5-hour ride costs £50.00, whilst a 30-minute lesson costs £25.00 for one person.
To find out more, or to book a horse riding session, please visit www.borlum.co.uk
Afternoon
WOW Balls
With In Your Element, you can book a WOW Balls session on Loch Ness, WOW standing for Walk on Water! Try to find Nessie by rolling across the Loch (though you are attached to the side) and try to stand up! It is harder than it looks!!
A Walking Tour of Fort Augustus
The Highland Club has made a walking tour, specifically for our guests, that covers the history of Fort Augustus, from Cilcumein to Queen Victoria. Follow this walk to find interesting areas in Fort Augustus and find out about how Fort Augustus came to be!
Evening
The Highland Club Lounge
Relax in the lounge! Play some pool or table football, talk or read or even take a stroll around the grounds. The Highland Club is perfect for a chilled evening with friends or family, enjoyed in our historic site and excellent facilities.
Post first published 2nd June 2018