Scotland: Ancient Stones of the Outer Hebrides2nd Sep 2025

Scotland: Ancient Stones of the Outer Hebrides

From:£1,520

Summary

In about 1800 BC, at around the time that the Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt was flourishing, an equally vigorous civilisation was leaving its mark on the far flung islands of the Outer Hebrides. The Standing Stones at Callanish, tall and slender slabs of silvery Lewisian gneiss, are the enduring testament to the skill and knowledge of a long-vanished and mysterious community, who laid out these stones according to precise astronomical observations, lining up the main avenue with the point at which the full moon of midsummer sets. Later settlers have left their mark too, and the tranquil islands of Lewis and Harris are blessed with an abundance of archaeological remains. Neolithic cairns, Bronze Age standing stones, Iron Age houses, Norse mills and Blackhouses from a couple of centuries ago – the islands are a living time-line and a paradise for the amateur archaeologist.

In the company of a local specialist guide we will tour a succession of sites, from the rolling moorlands and sweeping beaches of Lewis in the north to the dramatic mountains of Harris in the south.

Our four nights in Stornoway will also provide an insight to modern island life, where the ancient Gaelic culture is as vibrant as ever and celebrated in music and song.

NC500: Please note that this itinerary features part of the North Coast 500, the highly scenic coastal route which begins and ends in Inverness.

Scottish Islands

5 Days

Moderate

Deposit£175

Full Price£1595

Today's Price£1,520

Saving£75

(excludes flights)

departure:

Benefit from this limited time offer:
  • Save £75 on this tour with our current offers.
  • Save 10% on this tour with our pay in full discount.
  • £1,520

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    What to Expect

    • Bosta Iron Village, the Outer Hebrides’ version of Skara Brae
    • The remarkable and mysterious standing stones of Callanish
    • Glimpses into a not-so-distant past at the Blackhouses of Gearrannan and Arnol
    • Echoes of vanished lives at the Genealogy Centre
    • The incomparable scenery of the Western Isles
    Callanish I at Hebrides

    Departure Routes

    LocationPickup TimeDropoff Time
    To be advised00:0000:00
    Glasgow - bus stop on North Hanover Street, opposite Queens Street Station09:1516:45
    Edinburgh - outside reception of the Delta by Marriott Hotel, Glasgow Road10:3015:30
    Dunfermline - Halbeath Park & Ride, Jct 3, M9011:0015:10
    Dundee - outside Discovery Point, Riverside Drive (subject to minimum numbers)11:0015:10
    Kinross - Moto Services on M9011:2514:50
    Perth - Broxden Park & Ride, A9311:4514:30
    Inverness - outside the Leonardo Hotel (formerly Jurys Inn), Millburn Road15:0011:30

    ** Please note that all timings are approximate and subject to change. Final timings and pick-up points will be confirmed with your joining instructions approximately 10 days prior to departure. **

    Day by Day Itinerary

    We depart from our designated pick-up points and head north, stopping en-route for refreshments.  We will continue to Ullapool in time to catch the early-evening Caledonian MacBrayne ferry to Stornoway, which takes approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes.  On arrival in Lewis we will transfer the short distance to our hotel, the 4-star Cabarfeidh Hotel.

    Meals includedDinner

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    Tour Enquiry

    The team is available Monday to Friday from 9am – 5pm (GMT)

    Call us: 01334 845 392