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5 day tour
Highlights of the Outer Hebrides
From
£995.00
Tour Summary
Highlights of the Outer Hebrides
5 day/4 night
The idyllic Western Isles lie off the West Coast of Scotland and feature dazzlingly white beaches, loch-dotted landscapes, pre-historic sites and a fantastic array of wildlife. This comprehensive tour will introduce you to no less than eight different Hebridean islands, including Eriskay, Vatersay, Barra, North and South Uists, Benbecula, Harris and Lewis. If you are seeking an island adventure, then this is just the tour for you.
Eriskay – walk on the sands where Bonnie Prince Charlie stepped ashore in Scotland to launch the 1745 Jacobite Uprising
Barra - see the famous Cockleshell Beach, Barra Airport’s tidal runway and learn the beguiling story of Whisky Galore
North Uist - discover a natural landscape of beaches, peat bogs and lochans that provide a haven for all kinds of wildlife
Harris - explore stunning white sandy beaches that rival any found in Thailand or the Caribbean
Callanish Standing Stones - step back 5,000 years to visit these enigmatic standing stones thought older than Stonehenge or the Pyramids
Movie locations – Brave, 2001, A Space Odessey and Whisky Galore
Hotel accommodation included
Full Tour Itinerary
Select Day:
Day 1 - Edinburgh/Glasgow - Mallaig - Benbecula
From Edinburgh and Glasgow, we make our way into the beauty of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park and continue through the countryside to reach the remote wilderness of Rannoch Moor.
The haunting atmosphere persists to this day in magnificent Glen Coe, where the Campbells massacred the MacDonalds in 1692. From there we make for Fort William for close-up views of Ben Nevis, Britain’s tallest mountain.
From Fort William we make our way along the famed “Road to the Isles”, undoubtedly one of Scotland’s most scenic routes. Our journey will take us to Glenfinnan, where we will see the famous viaduct that stars in the Harry Potter movies. Next, we travel along the banks of Loch Eilt and see the beautiful sands of Morar.
At the historic fishing port of Mallaig, we join the ferry for the crossing to Lochboisdale on South Uist. Dinner will be served on-board, and when we arrive, it’s a short drive to our hotel on the neighbouring island of Benbecula.
The itinerary is subject to change due to ferry and hotel availability.
Overnight: Dark Island Hotel, Benbecula (or similar) (2 nights)
Day 2 - Eriskay and Vatersay Excursion
After a leisurely breakfast, we join the rest of our party for a drive through South Uist and across the causeway to reach Eriskay. This small island, just three miles long and two miles wide, boasts a beautiful sandy beach known as Prince Charlie’s Bay. It was here that Bonnie Prince Charlie landed in July 1745 at the start of the ill-fated Jacobite Uprising.
From Eriskay, we join a ferry for the short crossing to Barra. On arrival, we drive to Castlebay, the main village on the island, where we see Kisimul Castle.
Kisimul is the only remaining medieval castle in the Outer Hebrides and is the seat of the Clan MacNeil. It sits on a little islet in the middle of the bay, protected by its fifteenth-century walls. The castle is currently closed due to ongoing conservation work.
Later, we will travel to see Cockleshell Beach, which doubles as the runway for Barra Airport. Barra is served by a twice-daily service from Glasgow, with a timetable governed by the tides.
Overlooking the beach is the home of the famous author Sir Compton Mackenzie, who wrote ‘Whisky Galore’. The book is based on the true story of a 1941 shipwreck. The cargo included 260,000 bottles of whisky, much of which was “rescued” before the official salvage team arrived.
The story was made into a classic film in 1949. Much of the filming took place on Vatersay, which is next on our island-hopping itinerary. This small island is renowned for its diverse array of wildflowers.
Later, we return to Eriskay by ferry and make our way back to our hotel in time for dinner.
Day 3 - Benbecula - Isle of Harris - Stornoway
After breakfast, it’s time to move on to explore Harris and Lewis. First, we make our way through the lochans of Benbecula and into North Uist. At Berneray we catch the ferry for Leverburgh of the Isle of Harris.
Our first stop is to the little village of Rodel, where we will visit St Clements Church. This 16th Century church was built on an earlier building by Alasdair Crotach, 8th Chief of the MacLeods of Harris. He died in 1547 and is buried here in an ornate tomb which is decorated with fine carvings.
Harris is famed for its beautiful beaches, and we’ll pass Horgabost, Borve and Scarasta, which have some of the finest sands to be found anywhere. Enjoy the views over the sound to the island of Taransay, which featured in the popular “Castaway” TV series.
We will make a stop in Tarbert, the main community on the island before travelling through the Harris mountains to reach the moors of Lewis and our home for the next two nights in Stornoway.
Overnight: Caberfeidh Hotel, Stornoway (or similar) (2 nights)
Day 4 - Exploring the Isle of Lewis
Today, ancient history is on the itinerary as we explore the treasures of the Isle of Lewis. First, we make for the west coast of the island to see the mysterious Standing Stones of Callanish. Thought to be 5,000 years old, this collection of monoliths is believed to be older than Stonehenge or the Pyramids. The visitor centre features interactive displays that explore how the stones were constructed and what their intended purpose might have been.
Please note that due to refurbishment work taking place at the Visitor Centre, it will not be possible to visit the Standing Stones until work is completed in spring 2026.
Next, we move on to the Black Houses at Gearannan, to discover how islanders lived, not so very long ago, in these sturdy houses made of drystone walls and thatched roofs.
Our last visit of the day is to the Norse Mill at Shawbost. This reconstruction of an Iron Age grain mill is built on the site of the original mill used by Norsemen.
There are two buildings: The Kiln, where grains were dried by a peat fire and The Corn Mill, which is powered by water from Loch Roinavat. The mill was in use until the 1930s and provides a fascinating glimpse into life on these islands.
Day 5 - Stornoway - Inverness - Edinburgh/Glasgow
We catch the early morning ferry from Stornoway. Breakfast will be served on board, and there will be time to head out on deck to enjoy the view as we pass the Summer Isles and make our approach to Ullapool by sailing up Loch Broom.
Back on our coach, we make our way through the North West Highlands to reach the Black Isle, then across the Moray Firth into Inverness. The tour will continue through the Cairngorms National Park, then descend through the Pass of Drumochter to reach Highland Perthshire, where there will be a stop.
The final part of our journey will take us through the Kingdom of Fife, across the Firth of Forth, and into Edinburgh. The coach will continue to Glasgow for those wishing to end the tour there.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect on this Escorted Tour?
If you enjoy the art of first-class travel whilst enjoying amazing value then an Escorted Tour is just for you. These tours are carefully researched and combine quality hotels, luxury travel, informative visits and leisure time. You’ll find our Escorted Tours to be memorable - for all the right reasons!
You will travel aboard a state of the art motorcoach with air-conditioning, reclining seats, oversized windows and emergency washroom. Many coaches are equipped with WiFi too.
An experienced tour manager will lead the tour and your coach will be expertly driven by a professional driver. In certain locations you’ll may be joined by a local guide who will provide local insight and show you the highlights.
These tours are inclusive of superior tourist class accommodation, transportation, selected admission fees and many meals.
On many tours you’ll have the chance to personalise your touring experience by participating in some carefully planned optional excursions. These are at additional expense and, if available, details will be provided with your tour documentation.
What type of room should I choose?
Selecting the right sleeping arrangements can be a little bit confusing, so here is a description of what you can expect from the hotel accommodation offered as part of your tour:
Single room - this is a room for one person sleeping in a single bed.
Twin room - this is a room for two people sleeping in two separate beds.
Double room - this is a room for two people sharing one large bed.
Family room - this is a room for three people sleeping in one large bed (2 people) and one single bed (1 person).
Please note that a family room is normally a standard double or twin room with either a sofa bed or a rollaway bed.
All room types, other than twin rooms, are subject to availability.
Will I hear Gaelic being spoken?
The Outer Hebrides is the heartland of Gaelic culture and the majority of islanders will speak the Gaelic language, as well as English.
Of course, there is no need to learn Gaelic to enjoy your time in the Outer Hebrides, but if you would like to learn a few words why not try:
Hello - Halò
Goodbye - Mar sin leibh
My name is - Is mise
How are you? - Ciamar a tha sibh?
I’m fine thank you - Tha gu math tapadh leibh
Excuse me - Gabh mo leisgeul
Cheers! - Slàinte!
Can you give me advice on tipping?
It is customary to acknowledge excellent service by offering a tip.
We are often asked for guidance on the matter. It's such a difficult question to answer; however, we offer these suggestions as being a fair amount.
If your tour was operated by a driver/guide £7.00 per person per day.
If your tour was operated by a separate driver & guide £5.00 per person per day to each staff member.
Please bear in mind that these amounts are purely discretionary and it is customary to present tips on an individual basis at the end of the tour.
How many people will be on the tour?
The number of people travelling on an Escorted Tour will not normally be more than 50 passengers.
On a Premium Escorted Tour you will travel with around 38 fellow passengers.
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