Montgomery County Sierra Club

1. WEST HIGHLAND WAY
Scotland’s first official long-distance hiking route, the West Highland Way will captivate you with stunning scenery, unique to the diverse landscape of the Scottish Highlands. We’ll traverse its full 96 miles over 8 hiking days, from Glasgow to Fort William, staying in comfort at small-village inns, with our luggage transferred separately each day, allowing us to carry only a daypack. The “glamtrek” will take us past scenic lochs (lakes), through majestic glens (valleys) & monadhs (mountain pastures), & around Munros (mountains over 3K’). Everywhere you look, the views are spectacular.

Notable sites/sights include the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, Scotland’s largest lake, in Trossachs National Park; boggy Rannoch Moor; the Devil’s Staircase; Glencoe, site of the 1692 massacre; charming villages; nature reserves; Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the British Isles; & whisky distilleries & tastings. Throughout, we’ll be on the lookout for the distinctive Scottish fauna, especially the regal Red Deer (“monarch of the glen”), the Highland Cow, & the Golden Eagle; & flora, including the common purple heather, & the thistle, the national flower.

2. EDINBURGH (Optional)
Situated on the Firth of Forth estuary off the North Sea, Edinburgh (Ed’-n-bruh or, if tourist, Ed’-n-bur-uh; pop. ~500K) is Scotland’s capital, a major cultural & financial center. Human settlements there can be traced for ~10K years. It retains an old-world charm befitting its long history, including the medieval layout of its Old Town. Cultural attractions include several world-class museums, Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, monuments, cathedrals, & the Royal Yacht Britannia. Its outdoor attractions comprise many gardens & parks, including the Royal Botanic Garden, & Holyrood Park, with Arthur’s Seat, an extinct volcano that dominates the city’s central areas. (Photos.)

Our visit will coincide with two major happenings in town that draw attendees from all over the world:

• The Festival Fringe, a grand celebration of arts & culture, with thousands of performances in hundreds of venues, including many that are for free in the streets.
• The Royal Military Tattoo that showcases a series of tattoos, or performances by British and international military bands with lots of bagpipes, followed by fireworks.

Cost
The cost includes lodging at 3-star inns/hotels, entry fees & tickets as specified, transfer from Fort William to Edinburgh, all breakfasts, & four dinners. The cost does not include travel to & from the UK, or insurance.

The cost per person for only Part 1 (9 nights), based on double-occupancy, twin-bed rooms, is $1,980; a single supplement is $1,090, as available. The cost per person for Parts 1 & 2 (13 nights) is $3,380, with a single supplement of $1,990, as available.

Leader
Mike Darzi (Mike.Darzi@Gmail.com). Photo highlights of some of Mike's many adventure trips: Channel Islands & Iceland (2023), Hawaii & Rhine Valley (2022), Yosemite (2021), Southwest US & Bulgaria (2019), Dolomites & Alps (2018), Morocco (2017), Hudson Valley (2016), White Mtns & Delaware Water Gap (2015), Acadia (2014), Berkshires & Adirondacks (2013), & Delaware River (2011).

More Information
A detailed itinerary, forms, cost & payment details, cancellation policy, & other important information are posted.

Take the most charming towns and villages of the most charming province, add a lot of hiking and French food, and you have the trip of a lifetime! Seriously. Beautiful Provence is nestled in the southeastern corner of France, between Italy and the Mediterranean Sea. We will explore a mountainous area called Luberon, part of a large nature park on the western side of the province. This area distils the best of Provence in terms of nature, culture, history, and beauty. We will hike from town to town, staying comfortably in inns/small hotels. Our luggage will be transferred separately to each overnight stop, allowing us to carry only daypacks. It's a perfect mix of wilderness and "la bonne vie"! Please see the itinerary for details.

Towns/villages:
L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, Cabrières, Gordes, Roussillon, Bonnieux, Sivergues, Lourmarin, and Avignon.

Sights:
Plague Wall, Château de Cabrières, Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque, Village des Bories, Sentier des Ocres, Forêt des cèdres, Col du Pointu, Petit Luberon, Grand Luberon, Château de Buoux, Chapelle de Sainte-Marie, Vallon de l'Aigue Brun, Fort de Buoux, Avignon's walled city (World Heritage Site), Palais des Papes, Pont Saint-Bénézet, Parc de Rocher de Doms, and la Basilique Saint-Pierre.

Cost
The cost per person, based on double-occupancy, twin-bed rooms, is $2,850. That cost includes 9 nights' lodging at inns/hotels, luggage transfers, entry fees & tickets as specified, transfers to/from Roussillon and to Avignon, all breakfasts, and four dinners. The cost does not include travel to the start, and from the end, of the trip, or insurance.

Leader
Mike Darzi (Mike.Darzi@Gmail.com). Photo highlights of some of Mike's many adventure trips: Channel Islands & Iceland (2023), Hawaii & Rhine Valley (2022), Yosemite (2021), Southwest US & Bulgaria (2019), Dolomites & Alps (2018), Morocco (2017), Hudson Valley (2016), White Mtns & Delaware Water Gap (2015), Acadia (2014), Berkshires & Adirondacks (2013), & Delaware River (2011).

Participation
Candidates must be experienced hikers, in good physical shape, and have preferably participated on multiday group hiking trips. The total number of participants will be 10–12. To become a participant:

1. Email me (Mike.Darzi@Gmail.com) to see if spots are available.
2. Fill out and submit 3 forms: application, health, and waiver.
3. You and I will have a Zoom or phone chat.
4. If accepted, a $700 deposit is required to reserve.
5. Meetup RSVPs DO NOT imply a trip reservation.

Info:
A detailed itinerary, maps, forms, cost & payment details, cancellation policy, and other important information are posted. Questions? Email Mike.Darzi@Gmail.com.