Duration
Meeting point
Day 1
Departing from your hotel we will travel North our first stop of the day will be the conservation village of Luss where we will walk around the village, admiring the pretty slate workers cottages, visit the church and viking hogback stones in the graveyard, and stop for refreshments before continuing our journey along the shores of loch lomond.
We will pass through the remote area of Rannoch Moor, stopping at Glencoe – to marvel at the dramatic mountains and the site of the Glencoe massacre before driving through Fort William along the ‘Road to the Isles’, stopping off at the Glenfinnan to view the viaduct and the Statue of ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’ and learn about the last Jacobite uprising in Scotland. We will continue our journey arriving in Mallaig for lunch before catching our ferry to South Uist. After a short drive we will arrive at our hotel where we will be staying for 2 nights.
Day 2
Today we are going to go to the airport! This is no ordinary airport, this Barra airport the only airport with scheduled flights that land on the beach Traigh Mhor. We will arrive in time for coffee and to watch one of the flights landing on the beach.
Our next stop is Vatersay, the most southerly inhabited island of the Outer Hebrides. Vatersay is an island of two halves, connected by a strip of land flanked with white sands and turquoise seas on each side. Take time to stroll along the beach, through the machair and admire the beauty of the island. We will visit the Annie Jane Monument and learn about the tragic loss of lives following a storm in 1853 and visit the crash site of RAF Catalina seaplane which highlights the exposed nature of the island.
Crossing the causeway we leave Vatersay behind and stop in Castlebay for lunch. Dishes to try are local seafood such as Barra Prawns, Hebridean Lamb or for the more adventurous Scallop Pakora are delicious. Admire the view out towards Kismul Castle, a 15th Century fortress located in the bay.
After lunch we will catch the ferry back to Eriskay, if we are lucky we will see some wild Eriskay ponies. We will have a chance to walk along Coilleag a’ Phrionnsa beach where Bonnie Prince Charlie landed in 1745 to raise troops for the Jacobite cause.
No visit would be complete without visiting the AM Politician named after the SS Politican the cargo ship which sank off the coast of Eriskay in 1941 with thousands of bottles of whisky on board – the inspiration for Compton Mckenzie’, novel Whisky Galore!.
Day 3
This morning we are going to drive to North Uist. Our first stop will be to visit ‘Dun an Sticer’ an Iron age broch dating back to between 2000 – 2500 years ago. After we explored the ruin we will have the option to visit the local Arts centre and the Hebridean Smokehouse, before heading north to Berneray to catch the ferry to Harris.
We will arrive in Harris just in time for lunch at the Anchor Restaurant. After lunch we will visit St Clements Church which was built for the McLeods of Harris in the 16th Century, before heading to the pristine white sands of Luskentyre beach. After a stroll along the bay and perhaps even a paddle we will continue to Tarbet where you will have the option to take a tour of the Harris Gin Distillery and see some Harris Tweed.
We will continue our journey over the mountains and into the Isle of Lewis which will be our base for 2 nights.
Day 4
After a hearty breakfast we will drive to the north of the island to visit the Butt of Lewis lighthouse which was engineered by David Stevenson in 1862. Here we can admire the brick lighthouse and take a walk along the dramatic coastline before we make our way to the restored Gearrannan Blackhouse Village which gives us an insight of how the islanders used to live in the 1800s.
After lunch our next stop takes us back 5000 years – we are going to visit the Calanais Stones, older than the pyramids, these standing stones form a circle with a burial tomb at the centre and have attracted visitors for thousands of years. Walk amongst the stones and marvel at their sheer size and experience the atmosphere of this special place before we return to Stornoway in the late afternoon.
Day 5
This morning we are going to catch the early morning ferry to Ullapool, if we are lucky we might spot dolphins on the way. After a walk around this pretty seaside town, we will stop at Corrieshalloch Gorge, a mile long box canyon with spectacular waterfalls. We will then continue our journey to Inverness. After lunch there is the option to visit the site of Culloden, where the last battle on British soil was ever fought, take a cruise on Loch Ness, visit Cawdor or Urquhart castle or simply enjoy some free time exploring the town.
Day 6
Today is our final day where we will wind our way southwards back to Edinburgh or Glasgow. There are several options for stops along the way – perhaps you would like to see some sheepdogs in action, visit a whisky distillery, stop off at the Victorian town of Pitlochry or go for a riverside walk at the Hermitage before arriving at your hotel in the early evening.
What type of clothing and footwear should I take?
Scotland’s weather is very changeable, we can have 4 seasons in one day! It is important to bring plenty of layers, a waterproof jacket and sturdy footwear.
Remember to bring your camera, binoculars are useful too.
