Itinerary Expand allInverness to Inverness Day 1 Inverness to ThursoOur trip begins with a transfer from Inverness Rail Station to Thurso, the most northerly town on the British mainland. Located at the end of the A9, the main transport route through Scotland, Thurso is 300 miles from the main industrial area of Central Scotland and the cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. It is also the birthplace of Sir William Alexander Smith (1854 – 1914), the founder of the Boys’ Brigade.Our Inverness departure time is set at 2pm to meet with the morning trains arriving from Glasgow and Edinburgh and also to allow those arriving by air to make their way into town from Inverness Airport situated 9 miles east of the city.En route we will stop at Tain to take in a visit to the Glenmorangie Distillery where you can experience the centuries old whisky distillation process and sample a glass of highland hospitality before continuing the journey to Thurso. Overnight Manor House, Thurso Day 2 Dunnet Head and Castletown Bay This morning we take a transfer to Dunnet Head Lighthouse, the most northerly point on the British Mainland. We return by following the western side of the coastline on unmarked tracks overlooking spectacular cliffs with sea views over to the Orkney Islands to the north.We descend Dunnet Head past secluded Peedee Bay where we take lunch. If sea conditions are favourable a dip is even possible! After lunch, we move on to Dwarwick Pier and the expansive eastern end of Dunnet Bay. We then walk across the golden sands returning past Castletown at the west side of the bay for our return transfer to Thurso. Overnight Manor House, Thurso Meals included: Breakfast Day 3 Duncansby Head and OrkneyAn early morning departure to John O’ Groats with time to view the Lighthouse at Duncansby Head and The Stacks before boarding the 08.45 ferry across the Pentland Firth for our visit to Orkney. The full-day tour visits all the iconic locations of the islands such as Kirkwall with its magnificent Norse Cathedral, Skara Brae Neolithic site (older than Stonehenge), The Churchill Barriers and the beautiful Italian Chapel. We return early evening for our private transfer back to Thurso.Overnight Manor House, Thurso Meals included: Breakfast Day 4 Scrabster and BettyhillWe begin our day with a morning walk down to the picturesque harbour of Scrabster – the crossing point to Stromness on Orkney. We then head out past Holborn Lighthouse to Holborn Head for a circular walk around the headland taking in some dramatic seascape features such as stacks, arches and layered rock formations over crashing waves. Our morning's walk will be approximately 7 miles/11km. In the afternoon we journey west by private transfer Bettyhill for a short walk around Àrd Mòr (approx 3 miles/5km), a high peninsula north of Bettyhill Village and Farr Bay where again swimming is possible from this quiet secluded beach. Overnight Bettyhill Hotel, Bettyhill Meals included: Breakfast Day 5 Durness to Cape Wrath, local walking, return via ferry and short walkToday we have an early morning transfer from Bettyhill, past Durness to the Keoldale ferry point on the Kyle of Durness for crossing and onward local minibus transfer to the lighthouse at Cape Wrath, the most north-westerly point on the British mainland. Time spent at the lighthouse before walking to idyllic Kearvaig Beach (our lunch and swimming spot) before rendezvousing with the minibus for return to Keoldale ferry.The lighthouse at Cape Wrath was built in 1828 by Robert Stevenson and was manned until 1998 when it was converted to automatic operation. It is a Category A listed building, 20 metres tall, consisting of a white-washed tower built of granite with a single-storey semi-circular base building.Cape Wrath has a wide diversity of wildlife, including red deer golden eagles and a variety of seabirds such as cormorant and gannet can be seen on this walk.On return ferry crossing we return to Durness by taking the west side of the Durness Circuit to Balnakeil Craft Village, then on quiet roads through Durness and on to our hotel for the evening.Please note that on the 2nd July departure we spend this night and the next night, in Kinlochbervie. Meals included: Breakfast Day 6 Morning ferry; Cape Wrath Lighthouse walk; transfer to KinlochbervieA more relaxing day with local walking around Smoo Cave located on the eastern approaches to the settlement of Durness. We take time to view the cave from the beach before reaching Durness by way of Sango Sands on a mix of seaside tracks and road walking in time for lunch. In the afternoon we take time out at Balnakeil Craft Village before walking the circular route (about 4.5 miles/7km) over the peninsula out past the beaches at Balnakeil to Faraid Head. In the event of inclement weather preventing a crossing to Cape Wrath it is possible to take a local walk around the Durness Circuit (5.5miles, 9km)at the western end of the town adjacent to Balnakeil. The circuit is located at the west end of Durness and overlooks the Kyle of Durness and Balnakeil.Overnight Smoo Cave Hotel. N.B 02 July to 9th July departure will stay in Kinlochbervie Meals included: Breakfast Day 7 Walk to the picturesque Sandwood BayMorning transfer to Blairmore and onward walk to the magnificent beaches at Sandwood Bay on the dramatic Atlantic coastline. The walk is rewarded by an arrival at one of the most beautiful and remote beaches in all of Britain. Spend time exploring the mile of golden sand and dunes, with rocky cliffs and a giant sea stack to complete the dramatic scene before walking back to Oldshoremore where our minibus awaits to transfer you to Inverness for the final overnight on the tour. Meals included: Breakfast Day 8 End in InvernessThe trip ends in Inverness after breakfast. Meals included: Breakfast
United KingdomUK passport holders do not need visas for this trip. Other nationalities should check with the relevant embassies.For further Brexit travel advice please visit https://www.abta.com/tips-and-advice/brexit-advice-for-travellers
Hotels & GuesthousesThroughout the week, you will spend 7 nights in mainly locally owned, family-run hotels and guesthouses. The hotels we use are as follows:Manor House, ThursoBettyhill hotel, BettyhillSmoo Cave, Durness - Please note on the 2nd July departure we'll stay instead at KinlochberviePremier Inn, Inverness
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Reviewed September 2021 Colin DavidsonTrip is now much better Having just completed this trip I can report that the concerns raised by the reviewer of the July version had been addressed and I found it a most enjoyable trip well led by Brian and more than ably supported by Susan. All the walks were really good, some having been revised to ensure safety levels were suitable and the scenery is spectacular. A highlight was seeing otters on the beach on the walk back to Thurso from Dunnet Head. The day trip to Orkney was also well worth it. made memorable by the knowledge and enthusiasm of our driver. The accommodation generally was better than I expected, although the hotel in Thurso was not as good as the others. We had a good group who all got on well and meant that the atmosphere throughout was sociable, although some of the jokes left a bit to be desired!! I would definitely recommend this trip to others.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The otters.What did you think of your group leader? Very sociable and enthusiastic.Do you have any advice for potential travellers? As this is a fairly new trip approach it with an open mind and expect it will continue to be refined based on feedback from previous trips.
Reviewed July 2021 Alia MedniukShambolic chaos: a crushingly disappointing trip Firstly, there is no North Highland Way. There are no official routes, and the notion that the NHW exists remains in the mind of a few hardened Scottish hill walkers determined but not in the mind of farmers ans land owners who have put up barbed wire fences across inland bog and bracken strewn moorland, forcing walkers to take their chances on dangerous cliffs and rock and soil strewn beaches. The trip notes for this “adventure” are a work of fiction. The accommodations are mediocre at best. Exodus has lost a loyal repeat customer over this shambolic farce and waste of precious holiday time.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The glorious sunshine and the seeing the most northerly beaches in the UK at their best, essentially, those parts of the trip not put in place by Exodus and the dreadful company this trip is outsourced to, EasyWays.What did you think of your group leader? The director EasyWays joined the trip on the first three days. It is safe to say, I was not impressed. He did not join the group on the walks, instead walked a couple of the “planned” routes the day before our group was meant to. He would come back in the evening to report that the majority of the routes were unsuitable or impassable, therefore the billed route published in the trip notes was not going to happen. Shorter, dull routes were offered instead. The second leader was abandoned and left with a few maps and his map app on his smart phone to make up routes as we were ferried along from one chaotic accommodation booking to another. The second leader was therefore too distracted trying to find a route on the walking days to watch out for client safety and for people in the group struggling with the terrain, bogs and bracken. He made an effort to tell us about the history and background to the areas we stayed in, but it wasn’t enough to compensate for the lack of planning, the poor attention to safety and general cohesion and enjoyment of the group.Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Don’t book this trip.Is there anything else you would like to add? I am utterly crushed by this experience even more so after a miserable year as a frontline medic: Exodus as a company has let itself down terribly by putting on this trip and outsourcing it to an operator who clearly does not take client care seriously. The organisation was an utter shambles from start to finish. It has not been researched properly, the routes not actually walked before paying clients were booked onto the trip. The accommodation of the final night in Tain, The Royal Hotel, was a disgrace, with no COVID secure sanitisation, and the food offerings even more so. The last group meal was a grotty, greasy selection of takeaway food from the local kebab and curry shop. I went to the supermarket and bought a packet of crisps for dinner. This will be my trip with Exodus, after 8 years of loyalty. Reply from Exodus Reply from ExodusWe would like to thank Alia for her detailed review, although we genuinely regret that she has had cause to provide such disappointing feedback and that she does not plan to travel with Exodus again following her experience. This holiday was a new addition in 2021 and whilst we recognise that first departures of new trips may not run as smoothly as more established tours, given the work that goes into the design and logistics of new itineraries, we would not expect them to fall below our usually high standards. Having taken the time to review the itinerary with our Exodus staff observer who joined this trip and speak through concerns with the local manager at Easyways, aspects of the time management and some sections of the walking routes have been reviewed and, where appropriate, amended for future departures. We have also changed the accommodation to be used in Tain. Following these changes, we have received feedback more in line with our, and our customers, expectations. We genuinely appreciate that this cannot alter Alia’s experiences but hope this demonstrates that we have taken the feedback seriously and endeavored to react appropriately in the circumstances.Product Manager - Claire Ouditt
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