Day 1 - Tuesday
We depart from our designated pick-up points and head north, stopping en-route for refreshments. We will cross over the Skye Bridge to catch the early afternoon ferry from Uig to Lochmaddy, where we shall then continue over a series of causeways to Benbecula, the ‘stepping stone’ between the Uists. On arrival we will transfer to our hotel, the Dark Island Hotel, Benbecula. Dinner will be served on arrival.
Day 2 – Wednesday
After breakfast, we depart for a tour of South Uist, which includes a visit to the Kildonan Museum. The museum has at its heart a collection of items from and about South Uist collected by a local Parish Priest, Father John Morrison, during the 1950s and 1960s. It also sets out the background to an island that is incredibly rich in archeological remains dating from the bronze age to the Viking era. Some of the exhibits are set out thematically: tools from a blacksmith's shop for example. Others are contained within the rooms of a recreated croft house. Nearby, we shall also see the birthplace of Flora MacDonald who famously assisted Bonnie Prince Charlie after the Battle of Culloden in 1746.
After an opportunity for lunch at Kildonan (not included) we will return to our hotel, where you may relax for the remainder of the afternoon. Alternatively, for the more energetic, join us as we return to North Uist for a visit to the RSPB reserve at Balranald. A circular trail of around 3 miles in length takes us through sandy dunes and flower-strewn machair which supports a wide range of birds such as turnstones, lapwings, corn buntings and the rare corncrake, whose rasping call should be a distinctive feature of our walk.
We return to our hotel for dinner.
Day 3 - Thursday
This morning, after breakfast, we check out of our hotel and travel to Berneray for our morning ferry to Leverburgh, Harris. Here at the southern end of Harris we visit St Clement’s Church at Rodel, built on top of an earlier structure in the 16th century by Alasdair Crotach, 8th chief of the Macleods of Harris and Dun Bheagan. The church tombs are among the most spectacular in Scotland. There are some outstanding views as we travel along the coast, including the island of Taransay of ‘Castaway’ fame, and a magnificent mountain vista to the left as the road climbs over the hills and north into the rolling moorland of Lewis. We continue to our hotel, the Cabarfeidh Hotel, Stornoway. Dinner will be served in the evening.
Day 4 – Friday
This morning after breakfast we will travel to the west coast of Lewis for a visit to the 5,000 year old Standing Stones of Callanish. Undoubtedly the most remarkable antiquity in the Western Isles, this collection of almost 50 stones forms a well-marked megalithic avenue, comprising 19 monoliths, ending in a circle of 13 stones, with a great cairn at the centre. Entry to the Visitor Centre is included.
From here we move on to the Black Houses at Gearannan, typical of the crofting settlements which until relatively recently were found throughout the Western Isles. A short distance further on we will take a detour down a narrow road to Dalmore, a wonderful sandy beach, where great waves roll in from the Atlantic and crash over the rocks. A delightful spot to enjoy our picnic lunch, weather permitting.
The final visit on our circular tour is the Norse Mill at Shawbost, where barley grain was ground into meal by Viking settlers. A short walk past a small lochan leads to two beautifully restored little thatched buildings with a fine view to the ocean beyond.
Dinner will be served back at our hotel in the evening.
Day 5 - Saturday
This morning we have an early start as following breakfast we catch the ferry from Stornoway to Ullapool. On arrival in Ullapool we continue to our original departure points.