Niel Gow’s Scotland Hike
Hiking Trip Details
- Location: Perthshire, Highlands and Central Lowlands
- Length: 9 days
- Grade: easy to moderate
- Accommodations: Hotels and guest houses
- Group size: 6 – 12
- Dates: July 17 – 25, 2012
- Land Cost (US$): $3,295
Hiking Trip Summary
Nothing tells a story of a country like its landscapes and its music. This year Distant Journeys, in collaboration with Scottish walking company C-N-DO Scotland and Scottish Life Magazine music columnist Edward Scott Pearlman, will be hosting a new cultural walking tour in Scotland. This will be an 9-day walking tour of Scotland’s wild and romantic countryside punctuated by special musical notes and events.
18th century fiddler and composer Niel Gow was probably one of the most sought after Scottish musicians of his day. Playing at balls, weddings and other events, he traveled widely throughout Scotland, almost always walking. Today much of traditional Scottish music and dance is infused with Niel Gow’s tunes, as well as those of his sons. During this week, we will travel Scotland the way Niel Gow traveled it, on foot. We’ll experience the music scene that reflects his influence and meet some Scotland’s finest musicians.
This year our trip begins near Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park with its deep lochs, rugged hills and dark forests. Home to the legendary 17th century outlaw, Rob Roy, the unspoiled beauty of this area has been inspiring imaginations for centuries. From here our journey takes us to famously beautiful Glen Coe in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, on to Great Glen, Loch Ness and Inverness the capitol of the Highlands. Continuing on to Perthshire we’ll stop for a walk in the mountains of Cairngorms National Park, and a visit to Blair Castle. Finally, we head to the village of Dunkeld. Know as “Big Tree Country”, this area of soft landscapes and stately old tree was once home to Niel Gow.
To this trip of scenic variety, our Scottish guide will bring a deep knowledge of Scotland’s colorful history, while Ed Pearlman will invite top Scottish musicians to join us and celebrate the link of the land with its vibrant musical traditions. Enjoy private performances, listen to or join in a session (you are welcome to bring an instrument), or learn a ceilidh dance. Plus, savor the rare opportunity of hearing the actual fiddle of Niel Gow’s played for you at Blair Castle. Among others, our musical guests will include such prominent performers as gold-medalist Gaelic singer Gillebride Macmillan and the great fiddler and BBC Radio host, Bruce MacGregor of Blazin Fiddles.
An unforgettable experience of vistas and music, this trip is about what is timeless, enduring, and unfailingly inspiring: our natural world and music. Come experience Niel Gow’s Scotland!
Itinerary
Day 1: Our pick up will be at Glasgow Airport. After gathering the group together, we will head for Trossachs National Park. After stopping for a short walk to stretch our legs, we’ll continue to our hotel in the pretty village of Drymen. Welcome dinner and area orientation. Driving Time: 1.5 hours; Walking Time: 1 – 2 hours; Meals: Dinner.
Day 2: Established as Scotland’s first national park in 2002, Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park covers 720 square miles of rugged hills, ancient forests, lochs and tumbling burns. The Trossachs, which means “bristly country”, is an area ringed by lakes and dominated by Ben Ledj, the highest mountain in the region. A great variety of walks are available in this area allowing some flexibility depending on the weather and people’s abilities. Options may include a short boat trip to Inchcailloch Nature Reserve or a visit to a local distillery. The evening will bring time for a fiddle/music session. Walking Time: 3 – 5 hours; Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner.
Day 3: Today we’re off to Glencoe via Rannoch Moor. We’ll take time for a short walk en route before reaching the Clachaig Inn, our destination. A traditional walking/climbing Inn in the heart of Glencoe, its spectacular mountain setting provides the perfect welcome to Scotland’s highlands and makes it an idea base for walking. Evening meal together and time for some music after. Driving Time: 2.5 – 3 hours; Walking Time: 1 – 2 hours; Meals: Breakfast, pack lunch.
Day 4: Considered one of the most spectacularly beautiful areas in Scotland, Glen Coe is one of the most popular of the Highland Glens. With its green valley and brooding mountains the area has long attracted walker and climbers. We’ll explore the protected area managed by the National Trust Centre, with the possibility of walking down the glen itself or over a bit of the well-known long distance footpath, the West Highland Way. The evening will bring time for a fiddle/music session. Walking Time: 3 – 5 hours; Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch.
Day 5: Heading toward Inverness we’ll journey across the Highlands through the dramatic Glen Sheil and on to Loch Ness, the most famous of the four lakes spanning the length of Great Glen. We’ll stop for a walk or possibly a sail, before following the shores of Loch Ness northward to Inverness, our base for the next two nights. If we’re in luck our evening will capped off by a ceilidh at Hootenannys, one Scotland’s foremost music venues. Driving Time: 3 hours; Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch.
Day 6: Situated on the banks of the inner Moray Firth, Inverness lies at the northeast end of the huge rift valley Great Glen. As well as going for a walk in the area and exploring the town, there may be opportunities to cycle along the Caledonian Canal or go for a boat ride on Loch Ness. Our dinner tonight may be followed by a rousing ceilidh at Bogbain Farm, hosted by fiddler Bruce MacGregor of Blazin’ Fiddles, who is also a radio host on BBC Scotland. Driving Time: 3 hours; Walking Time: 1 – 2 hours; Meals: Breakfast.
Day 7: Today we head south to the Dunkeld via the Cairngorms National Park. This is Britain’s largest national park, encompassing the most extensive mountainous area in the UK, along with nearly one-quarter of the native woodlands in Scotland, and 25% of all the threatened wildlife in the UK. We will stop to visit Blair Atholl and the Castle where Niel Gow played on many occasions and where we will have a rare opportunity to actually hear his fiddle played. There will be time for a walk enroute or possibly a visit of Edradour distillery.
A hotspot of traditional music, Dunkeld will be our base for the next two nights. The countryside surrounding this unspoiled village, with its enchanting woodlands, charming lochs and ancient dwellings, is some of the most beautiful in Perthshire. Driving Time: 3 hours; Walking Time: 2 hours; Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch.
Day 8: Today we take time to explore the area in and around Dunkeld, home of Neil Gow. A walking tour of the area will include Gow’s grave and cottage, as well as places that inspired some of his tunes and we’ll stop for a visit at the workshop of bagpipe makers Finn and Hamish Moore, including a demonstration of a variety of small-pipes. Farewell dinner and evening session. Walking Time: 2 – 3 hours: Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch and Farewell Dinner.
Day 9: After breakfast we will head first to Stirling for a visit of Stirling Castle. The trip will end with a transfer to Glasgow arriving around 4pm. Driving Time: 2 hours; Meals: Breakfast.
Please Note: All our itineraries are subject to change. Walks will be weather dependent and fiddle sessions, events and guests may be altered or added.
Additional Information
Included
Scottish walking guide/driver, Scottish fiddler, teacher and music columnist, Ed Pearlman, Specially arranged private performances by musical guests, Minibus transport as described in itinerary, 8 nights accommodation in hotels and guest houses, Meals (all breakfasts, 6 packed lunches, and 3 evening meals), any group safety gear required.
Not Included
Air fare, five dinners, optional/individual or individual excursions, items not on set dinner menus, beverages, insurance, tips to guides, items of a personal nature (phone calls, laundry, excess baggage charge, passport fees, etc.).
Luggage
During this hike, trip members’ luggage will be transported with the group between accommodations. You will need only carry a day pack for our walks.
Musical Instruments
Our Niel Gow’s Scotland trip is primarily a cultural walking tour, however there will be a number of opportunities for trip members to participate in musical sessions, either by playing or listening. Trip members are welcome to bring small easily transportable musical instruments, including fiddles.
Accommodations and Facilities
Eight nights will be spent in hotels and guest houses. Rooms will be double occupancy with facilities in the rooms.
Travel
It is easiest to fly to Glasgow, Scotland. However, there are frequent trains from Edinburgh and Manchester, England as well; just be sure to allow for extra travel time.
Who would like this trip?
Niel Gow’s Scotland is conducted in collaboration with C-N-DO Scotland, a leader in walking and hiking tours. Edward Scott Pearlman, well known fiddler and columnist for Scottish Life Magazine, with his knowledge of and insight into the Scottish Fiddle tradition, as well as his personal connections to some of Scotland’s finest musicians, will add a unique dimension to the trip.
As parts of this walking trip are new to the itinerary this year, this is a great trip for those who done this trip in the past as well as those who are excited about the opportunity to be part of an inaugural experience, who are flexible, and have a sense of humor and spirit of adventure.
This is a trip for lovers of Scottish music and culture who like to hike and who would like to experience some of the landscapes that have influenced the Scottish music tradition. And this is a trip for hikers who are interested in learning about Scottish culture through its music. Walks on any given day will be determined by the weather and the ability and interests of the group. Trip members should anticipate typical Scottish summer weather, which can change quickly from warm and sunny to cool and rainy.
What makes this trip different
This is a unique cultural walking trip that combines time spent walking some of Scotland’s wonderful countryside with experiencing its wonderful rich music tradition. With the exception of musical sessions at local pubs, all musical events are specially arranged expressly for our group.
Meeting point
The group will be met at Glasgow International Airport at 11:00 am on Day 1 for a transfer to our first night’s accommodation.
Ending Point
Our last day, Day 9, will include a visit to Stirling Castle and end at Glasgow International Airport around 4pm. For those wishing to arriving in Glasgow earlier, there are frequent trains from Stirling making it possible to reach Glasgow around 1pm.
Registration Deadline
Due to the nature of this trip and the need to commit to our special musical quests well in advance of the trip start date, this trip has a registration deadline of May 17, 2012.
For a additional information or to register please call.
