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Isle of Iona
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Highlands and Islands

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216 kg CO2
What's included:
  • Transport
  • Accommodation
  • Journey guide with tickets
  • WhatsApp support
  • Disruption replanning

Journey at a glance

Trip overview

  • London

  • Manchester

    1 night

  • Glasgow

    1 night

  • Oban

    1 night

  • Isle of Iona

    2 nights

  • Tobermory, Isle of Mull

    2 nights

  • Fort William

    1 night

  • Inverness

    2 nights

  • Edinburgh

Full itinerary

Journey
3hrs 3mins
Standard class
LondonManchester
Stay
1 night
Manchester

Manchester

Manchester
Abode Manchester

Where you could stay1 night

Abode Manchester

Byway favourite
Just a couple of minutes from Manchester Piccadilly Station, this contemporary stay is housed in a 19th-century building and is ideal for visiting the city's vibrant centre. The modern rooms are comfortable with retro and vintage design features. 

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Room details
Room: Comfortable double
Board: Breakfast included
Journey
3hrs 14mins
Standard class

ManchesterGlasgow

From Manchester Piccadilly, board the fast train to Glasgow.
Stay
1 night
Glasgow

Glasgow

Scotland's largest city, Glasgow has become a thriving cultural hub, known for its live music, comedy and innovative culinary scene as much as for its industrial heritage and important place in Scottish history. As the birthplace of Charles Rennie Mackintosh it's a magnet for architecture and design enthusiasts, but even beyond his creative constructions, the city's buildings are eye-catching. 

Abode Glasgow

Where you could stay1 night

Abode Glasgow

The very heart of the city houses this beautifully restored historic townhouse. The period features are remarkable: stained glass windows, stone staircases and walls etched in gold. The rooms are cosy with large, hand-built beds.

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Room details
Room: Comfortable double
Board: Breakfast included

Recommendations

  • Make the short bus ride to the Burrell Collection and uncover the art collection of Sir William Burrell and Constance, Lady Burrell, surrounded by the beautiful Pollok Country Park.
  • Visit Glasgow's Botanic Gardens, which since 1841 have flourished with exotic flora and fauna. The domed and teak glasshouses (open in the afternoons only) are impressive works of architecture filled with botanical history and tropical plants.

  • Enjoy the oasis of calm and quiet at Pollok Country Park. With immaculate manicured gardens, wide fields, a peaceful river and even Highland cows and Clydesdale horses, it's the perfect place to enjoy the countryside - you'd never guess the city centre was just 15 minutes away.

Journey
3hrs 1mins
Standard class

GlasgowOban

Join the West Highland Line heading west from Glasgow and alight at Arrochar and Tarbet to stop at Loch Lomond in the Trossachs National Park. Enjoy a wander, cycle or kayak around the Loch Lomond (we can tell you where to leave your bag), then rejoin the train and settle back to soak up incredible views along the West Highland Line onwards to the port of Oban - one of the most scenic rail routes in the world.
Stay
1 night
Oban
Photo by Timo Newton-Syms/CC BY-SA 2.0/Flickr

Oban

Often called the 'gateway to the Isles', Oban is a pretty west coast port town with excellent rail and ferry connections. The picturesque bay is lined with waterfront cafés and restaurants, overlooked by the circular McCaig's tower. 

Killorn Guest House

Where you could stay1 night

Killorn Guest House

Lovely, well-cared for guest house in central Oban. The rooms have been newly renovated, and most have a sea view.

Recommendations

  • Take a tour of Oban's whisky distillery for an insight into the wonders of traditional whisky production.

  • Walk up to McCaig's Tower, built in 1897 to provide work for local stonemasons and as a monument to the McCaig family. You can enjoy views out to sea from the top, and back at ground level, visit the lovely gardens within.

  • Take your time over an excellent meal; some of the UK's best seafood can be found here (Oban's been named the seafood capital of Scotland) and we'll recommend our favourite restaurants.
Journey
0hrs 46mins
Standard class

ObanCraignure

Catch the ferry from the port of Oban towards Craignure on the Isle of Mull, enjoying the sea breeze as you make your way across the water.
Journey
2hrs 0mins
Standard class
CraignureIsle of Iona
Stay
2 nights
Isle of Iona

Isle of Iona

The enchanting Isle of Iona is arguably one of the most beautiful lesser-known places in Scotland. It was a birthplace of Celtic Christianity and Iona Abbey remains a site for pilgrimage.
Iona Pods

Where you could stay2 nights

Iona Pods

Stay in these cosy, self-catering, glamping pods on the Isle of Iona. A short walk from both the ferry terminal and the famous Iona Abbey and Nunnery.

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Recommendations

  • Soak up walks and wildlife on foot or by bike (we'll tell you where to hire one from) - the two best (and only) ways to see the island.
Journey
2hrs 15mins
Standard class
Isle of IonaCraignure
Journey
1hrs 0mins
Standard class

CraignureTobermory

Join the West Coast Motors bus to travel along the beautiful coastline to Tobermory. Sit on the right hand side for the best views over the Sound of Mull (pay the driver on board).
Stay
2 nights
Tobermory, Isle of Mull

Tobermory, Isle of Mull

The Isle of Mull's pretty capital, Tobermory, is known for its wide harbour lined with colourful houses and surrounded by hills. You'll find cosy pubs, traditional cafés and restaurants serving local produce on your doorstep, and beautiful countryside to explore.

Tobermory Hotel

Where you could stay2 nights

Tobermory Hotel

Friendly hotel and inn in a wonderful spot on the harbour with easy access to local shops, activities and buses. The cosy rooms are decorated in a traditional style. Enjoy wonderful food, a relaxed atmosphere and fantastic sea views.

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Recommendations

  • Marvel at stunning seascapes and wildlife; keep your eyes open for otters, seals, dolphins and porpoises as you explore the Ross of Mull on a wildlife tour.

  • Several boat tours operate from Tobermory and you can visit the isles of Staffa (for Fingal's Cave) and Treshnish, spotting whales, dolphins and basking sharks on the way.

  • Settle down by a roaring fire for a drink with a view at the Mishnish, Tobermory.
Journey
3hrs 2mins
Standard class

TobermoryFort William

Take the first boat of the day from Tobermory to Kilchoan, where bus 506 waits for the onward journey to Fort William. It’s rated as one of Scotland’s finest bus routes, skirting the shores of Loch Sunart and Loch Linnhe (both services are 'turn up and go', so have your fare ready).
Stay
1 night
Fort William

Fort William

Known as the outdoor capital of Scotland, Fort William sits on the shores of Loch Linnhe and is surrounded by spectacular Highlands scenery. It's a fun, lively town, and with easy access to Ben Nevis and other Munros (Scottish mountains), it makes a great base for hiking or climbing.

MacLean Guest House

Where you could stay1 night

MacLean Guest House

This relaxed guest house is in the heart of Fort William, within a short walking distance to the local footpaths. It’s room only (we can recommend breakfast spots).

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Recommendations

  • Within easy reach of Fort William, Ben Nevis is the UK's highest peak. Take a full day to climb to the top of the mountain or walk half an hour up the hill to the Ben Nevis Visitor Centre for one of their shorter and more sedate suggested walks. You can also explore the area by mountain bike on a selection of dedicated trails.

  • Discover the history of the region at the West Highlands Museum. The collection contains artefacts relating to such luminaries as Bonnie Prince Charlie, and plenty of information about the Jacobite cause and campaign.

  • Explore the amazing landscape around you on foot or by bike – Fort William is known as the Outdoor Capital of Scotland for good reason. There are plenty of walks nearby that will take in the best sites of the town and the surrounding countryside. We recommend the walk to Inverlochy Castle and the Old Fort, or the Cow Hill circuit for beautiful views across Glen Nevis and Loch Linnhe. There are walks for all ability levels, many with starting points accessible on local bus routes.

Journey
2hrs 5mins
Standard class

Fort WilliamInverness

A fabulous bus journey running the length of Scotland’s Great Glen, paralleling Loch Ness for a good part of the way. Look out for Urquhart Castle, the perfect spot to break your journey and catch the spirit of these Highland landscapes.
Stay
2 nights
Inverness

Inverness

Inverness enjoys a fine setting by the River Ness, with Loch Ness and its alleged monster well away to the southwest. The graceful city is home to fine restaurants and museums and in 2019 it topped a list of the most cultured cities in the UK.

Kingsmills

Where you could stay2 nights

Kingsmills

This refined hotel is set in a mansion dating from 1786 within 4 acres of grounds, a ten minute walk from the centre of Inverness. Rooms are modern and comfortable, there’s a leisure club with indoor pool, hot tub, fitness room,  sauna, steam room and a spa, as well as a restaurant overlooking the gardens and whisky bar.

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Room details
Room: Standard room
Board: Breakfast included

Recommendations

  • The Culloden Battlefield is where the 1745 Jacobite Rising came to a tragic end. You can learn all about the battle from both the government and Jacobite perspectives in the museum, as well as see key markers of the battle on the field outside.

  • From Inverness, head out on foot to the ancient fort of Craig Phadrig for beautiful views of the Beauly Firth.

  • Housed in the old Gaelic Church, Leakey's Bookshop – Scotland's largest secondhand bookshop – is a paradise for book lovers (and Harry Potter fans). With over 100,000 books, old maps and rare prints, you can easily lose a few hours exploring the nooks and crannies in this Inverness gem. 

Journey
3hrs 50mins
Standard class
Photo by Brendan Campbell/CC BY-ND 2.0/Flickr

InvernessEdinburgh

Board the train for one of the finest mainline railway journeys in Britain past the wild terrain of the Grampian Mountains, before heading through pastoral valley landscapes as you head southward from Pitlochry to Perth. From there, you’ll route via Stirling or the spectacular Forth Bridge before pulling into Edinburgh.

Before you book

Please make sure that you're happy with your trip before booking, as fees apply to changes made after booking. Check our FAQs for more information. To make changes to this trip before you book, please email hello@byway.travel

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