Hebridean Discovery Small Group Tour

Your journey will begin with a drive west from Inverness through Sutherland’s beautiful and remote scenery.

The fishing port of Ullapool sits on Loch Broom and is where we board our ferry for the sailing to the Western Isles. You can enjoy some great lunch options on the ferry as you sail past the Summer Isles and head out into The Minch for our crossing to the Outer Hebrides.

After arriving on the Isle of Lewis, we waste no time exploring our new surroundings. Our first stop will be a visit to Arnol Blackhouse, a traditional style of thatched house that provides a fascinating insight into how life was lived on these islands not that long ago.

The weaving of Harris Tweed cloth has, traditionally, been an important home-based industry for islanders.

Our last visit of the day will be to a local weaver to see the fabric being handwoven in the time-honoured fashion – a truly fascinating process.

After our afternoon visits, we travel to Stornoway, the largest community on the Isle of Lewis and our island base, for the next two nights. You will have a chance to explore the town and enjoy dinner after settling into your accommodation. 

Although they share the same landmass, Harris and Lewis are considered separate islands. Having been inhabited for over 6,000 years, there is a real sense of history here, as we will discover.

Today, we start our exploration by visiting Dun Carloway Broch, an Iron Age stone fort known to have been built more than 2,000 years ago. This is one of the best-preserved fortified towers in Scotland and has a beautiful location overlooking Loch Carloway and the sea beyond.

Our next visit* is to the astonishing Callanish Standing Stones. Archaeologists believe that Neolithic people placed these 5 metre (15 ft) stones here sometime between 3,000 and 1,000 BC. The site is rated second in importance only to Stonehenge. 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. 

After a break for lunch, we turn our attention to the island of Harris.

We’ll travel through the imposing hills of North Harris to reach the village of Tarbert, the island’s main port.

The tiny island of Taransay has found fame as the setting for the popular TV programme Castaway and the movie “Rocket Mail”. We’ll stop so you can admire the views and take a stroll along Luskentyre Beach, which appears never-ending.

Look out for the machairs which sit behind the beach - these green grassy plains are covered in a mass of wildflowers in the summer.

Our next destination is the village of Rodel, where we visit the ancient St Clements Church, where many influential members of the MacLeod clan rest in peace. The church is a marvel of medieval architecture and one of the most important buildings in the Outer Hebrides.

There will be time to visit the church and explore its tranquil graveyard before a scenic drive along the banks of Loch Harmasaig returns us to Stornoway.

After breakfast, we will make our way to the Butt of Lewis, where a lighthouse stands warning passing ships of the nearby rocks. This is the most northerly point of the Outer Hebrides, and due west, there is nothing but the North Atlantic until you reach Newfoundland, Canada!

Later, we return to Stornoway for some free time before we board the ferry for the return sailing to the mainland.

On arrival in Ullapool, board the coach for the last part of the journey through the Northwest Highlands to Inverness.