The rich terrestrial tapestry of the British Isles is interwoven not only with history and heritage, but with traditional stories and secret sights.
We’ve introduced two new walking holidays here: one exploring Scotland’s famous Loch Ness scenery and the other discovering the lesser-known Isle of Man. Both are timeless landscapes, but each – in its own way – offers a unique experience that brims with culture, enduring natural beauty, and, intriguingly, elements of mystery.
We’ve introduced two new walking holidays here: one exploring Scotland’s famous Loch Ness scenery and the other discovering the lesser-known Isle of Man. Both are timeless landscapes, but each – in its own way – offers a unique experience that brims with culture, enduring natural beauty, and, intriguingly, elements of mystery.
Loch Ness & the Great Glen Way
Set along the prehistoric Great Glen Fault, Loch Ness and its dramatic surroundings manifest a powerful presence. The mountains rise all around like silent guardians and the weather casts a range of moods on the landscape.
Our recommended walks from your Fort Augustus base are ideal for travellers searching for the mystical. Of course, the best place to start is with a gentle hike to the Loch Ness Centre in Drumnadrochit, where you can delve into the infamous tales of ‘Nessie’ (the unknowable creature said to swim the depths of the Loch), ponder over evidence and artefacts, and make up your own mind as to her existence. You can also take to the water yourself, with an informative Loch cruise offered by the Centre (booking required).
Our recommended walks from your Fort Augustus base are ideal for travellers searching for the mystical. Of course, the best place to start is with a gentle hike to the Loch Ness Centre in Drumnadrochit, where you can delve into the infamous tales of ‘Nessie’ (the unknowable creature said to swim the depths of the Loch), ponder over evidence and artefacts, and make up your own mind as to her existence. You can also take to the water yourself, with an informative Loch cruise offered by the Centre (booking required).
But this is not the only fascinating stop on the route. Before you reach ‘Drum’ (as the locals fondly call Drumnadrochit), your path takes in the atmospheric ruins of Urquhart Castle – the medieval fortress overlooking the Loch, with a significant national history. The structure may have been blown apart by departing government troops during the 17th-century Jacobite Risings, but its story endures in the mysterious snippets proffered by its remains.
From the elusive red squirrels that scurry through the trees by the formidable Falls of Foyers – its pool described as a boiling ‘cauldron’ by the poet Robert Burns* – to the magic of taking a steam train over the 21-arch Glenfinnan Viaduct (you may recognise it from Harry Potter), the region is full of secrets to spark the imagination.
*‘Lines on the Fall of Fyers, near Loch Ness’, Robert Burns, 1787.
From the elusive red squirrels that scurry through the trees by the formidable Falls of Foyers – its pool described as a boiling ‘cauldron’ by the poet Robert Burns* – to the magic of taking a steam train over the 21-arch Glenfinnan Viaduct (you may recognise it from Harry Potter), the region is full of secrets to spark the imagination.
*‘Lines on the Fall of Fyers, near Loch Ness’, Robert Burns, 1787.
Highlights of the Isle of Man
One of our route note writers, Adam, recently described the Isle of Man as ‘an island of surprises’.
While history and folklore are abundant here – with its Celtic and Viking roots, and local traditions still observed today – the mystery of the Isle of Man lies in the unexpected nature of its hidden gems.
Stepping off the ferry into Douglas (the island’s capital) is like stepping back in time, as you’re immediately transported back to – as Adam puts it – the ‘golden age of seaside travel’ on the city’s Victorian promenade, complete with horse-drawn tram.
This sense of time travel continues across the island. Traditional steam and electric railways connect all the hotspots with superb efficiency, and residents cherish their Manx heritage. Our routes take in Peel Castle, the Great Laxey Wheel, and Cregneash village (the oldest open-air folk museum in the British Isles) among other historic sites, and the entire island has been awarded UNESCO Biosphere status for its culture, history, and scenery.
While history and folklore are abundant here – with its Celtic and Viking roots, and local traditions still observed today – the mystery of the Isle of Man lies in the unexpected nature of its hidden gems.
Stepping off the ferry into Douglas (the island’s capital) is like stepping back in time, as you’re immediately transported back to – as Adam puts it – the ‘golden age of seaside travel’ on the city’s Victorian promenade, complete with horse-drawn tram.
This sense of time travel continues across the island. Traditional steam and electric railways connect all the hotspots with superb efficiency, and residents cherish their Manx heritage. Our routes take in Peel Castle, the Great Laxey Wheel, and Cregneash village (the oldest open-air folk museum in the British Isles) among other historic sites, and the entire island has been awarded UNESCO Biosphere status for its culture, history, and scenery.
In fact, it’s a nation almost like the UK and Ireland in miniature, with landscapes reminiscent of the Yorkshire Dales, the Scottish Highlands, and both the Irish and Cornish coastlines. Even the grey seals often spotted along the shores of eastern England have a large colony here all year round.
With so much more to offer than the TT racing for which it’s usually known, it’s a real mystery as to why the Isle of Man has remained undiscovered by most travellers. Extraordinary, unexpected, and rewarding, it’s a quiet treasure trove waiting to be uncovered.
The walk around the Calf Sound was really the standout of the holiday in terms of the walking for me. Terrain that feels a bit wilder – and lovely, dramatic coastline – but very accessible and easy-going. It leads down to the seal colony on the Sound – it’s just gorgeous.
- Adam, route note writer, on the Isle of Man
With so much more to offer than the TT racing for which it’s usually known, it’s a real mystery as to why the Isle of Man has remained undiscovered by most travellers. Extraordinary, unexpected, and rewarding, it’s a quiet treasure trove waiting to be uncovered.
The walk around the Calf Sound was really the standout of the holiday in terms of the walking for me. Terrain that feels a bit wilder – and lovely, dramatic coastline – but very accessible and easy-going. It leads down to the seal colony on the Sound – it’s just gorgeous.
- Adam, route note writer, on the Isle of Man