Wilderness Scotland is inviting travelers to explore the Highlands and islands of Scotland in winter. To that end, the tour operator has unveiled a collection of itineraries for 2024.
A sampling of the winter itineraries include:
A new addition to Wilderness Scotland’s 2024 portfolio, the five-day “Wilderness Retreat – Winter Highlands” trip (February 5–9, March 4–8, 2024) is the cold-weather version of the company’s women’s-only “The Highlands” summer retreat. While that tour is considered moderate to challenging, the “Winter Highlands” retreat is a relaxing affair with time spent with like-minded women hiking to hidden waterfalls and around lochans (lakes), learning about the biodiversity of the Highlands and the wildlife that call it home, enjoying a wild swim followed by a mobile sauna session, yoga classes, sound bathing, storytelling and more.
The five-day “Winter – The Orkney Isles” itinerary (February 2–6, February 16–20, March 1–5, March 15–19, March 22–26, 2024) offers visitors a chance to explore Orkney’s landscape while enjoying the company of locals. Each day on this hiking trip is spent breathing in the fresh sea air and marveling at the views. Highlights include a tour of a local distillery along with tasting, and visiting the shops of Kirkwall. Evenings are spent in front of a crackling fire with hearty food. The Orkney Isles is also one of the best places in the U.K. to see the “Mirrie Dancers” (Northern Lights).
The five-day “Winter Wildlife” trip (February 8–12, February 22–26, March 7–11, 2024) explores some of Scotland’s richest winter habitats, including the ancient Caledonian Pine Forest and the hills of the Cairngorms National Park. Each day, guests will set out on foot to explore a variety of habitats from snow-capped mountains to forests and frozen lochs, to learn more about the Highland wildlife and their ability to endure during the harsh winter conditions. Led by an expert guide, they will look for tracks, identify different species and interpret wildlife behaviors. They will also have a chance to discover how these vast areas of wilderness are managed and learn about various re-wilding programs.
The five-day “Winter – Mull & Iona” hiking trip (March 2–6, March 23–27, 2024) invites travelers to discover the islands of Mull and Iona. Based on the Isle of Mull, guests will traverse the diverse landscapes while immersing themselves in the island’s history, culture and traditions. A day will also be spent on Iona, home to hidden bays and rugged cliffs. With the shorter daylight hours and quieter coastlines that winter brings, they can look out for wildlife, including red deer, otters, sea eagles and owls. Evenings will be spent in a cozy winter hideaway, complete with a wood-fired hot tub, a crackling fire and stargazing.
The company also offers hiking and cycling itineraries in Ireland and England.
For more information, visit www.wildernessscotland.com.
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