Situated on Europe’s Atlantic edge, the Scottish Western Isles of the Outer Hebrides are a diverse chain of inter-connected islands with their own unique way of life. Join us for the ultimate island-hopping experience in the Outer Hebrides, an area of unspoilt natural beauty offering spectacular scenery, impressive mountain ranges and miles of golden beaches. We visit Barra, Eriskay, South Uist, Benbecula, North Uist, Harris and Lewis!
Day 1 After an early start, our tour coach travels northward to Lancashire and our overnight hotel.
Day 2 Leaving Lancashire behind we continue north firstly by motorway and cross the border into Scotland, visiting Moffat en route. At our hotel in Drymen we have a one-night stay.
Day 3 Enjoy a day of truly spectacular scenery as we pass Loch Lomond, Loch Awe, Glencoe, Fort William, Loch Lochy and the famous castle of Eilean Donan, before crossing the Skye Bridge. We drive through the remarkable landscape of the Isle of Skye, before reaching Uig, where we take the early evening crossing to North Uist, on which dinner has been included. We arrive at our hotel in Benbecula for a two-night stay.
Day 4 Today’s island hopping begins by taking the causeway across to South Uist, and then a further causeway to Eriskay, famous for the Eriskay ponies. A short ferry ride takes us to the Isle of Barra, considered by many to be the most beautiful little island in Britain. Its tranquil beaches, distinctive culture, where Gaelic is widely spoken, and an ancient history make any visit to Barra a memorable one. We are joined by a local guide for some insight into this glorious island.
Day 5 We depart our hotel and cross the Benbecula Causeway, which links to North Uist, a relatively flat island covered with peat bogs, low hills and lochans. More than half the land is covered by water, making North Uist a birdwatchers’ paradise. We board the morning ferry for the one-hour crossing to Harris. We then travel up the west coast, enjoying our packed lunch on the way, past numerous unspoilt, white sandy beaches and some of the most breathtakingly beautiful scenery in the Western Isles. The final leg of today’s journey is to Lewis and our hotel on the outskirts of Stornoway for a two-night stay.
Day 6 Today we have a local guide for our tour of Lewis, the most northerly island of the Hebrides and the largest of the Outer Hebrides. Lewis has a history that goes back thousands of years and ancient stone circles and standing stones can be found everywhere. On the west coast, at Callanish, stands the awesome collection of stone circles and rows of standing stones called the ‘Hebrides Stonehenge’. We also venture into the moorland interior, where peat is still cut for fuel and see traditional croft dwellings.
Day 7 We have a morning free in Stornoway. Originally a Viking settlement, the town now has a pretty harbour and some lovely walks. We have an afternoon crossing to Ullapool, which takes just under three hours, and our hotel is just a short distance from where we dock.
Day 8 After an early start, we travel down through Scotland, crossing the Forth Bridge to South Queensferry, with refreshment stops along the way. Our journey continues via Jedburgh to our overnight hotel in the Newcastle area.
Day 9 Leaving our hotel after breakfast, we travel down the country and home via the Dartford Crossing, reaching the local area in the evening.
A traditional hotel located on Benbecula, only a short walk from a secluded beach. Bedrooms have TV, telephone, WiFi and hospitality tray. There is no lift, but some ground floor rooms available.
This modern four-star hotel on the outskirts of Stornoway is the highest graded hotel on the Isle of Lewis and has pleasant gardens. Bedrooms have TV, telephone, hairdryer and hospitality tray. There is WiFi and a lift.
