Grand Tour of the Outer Hebrides (PJ/EE)

1 departure

18 September 2023

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5 days

From £995

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Summary

Our extended tour of the Hebrides has proved extremely popular, offering as it does a unique opportunity to travel the length and breadth of the Western Isles, taking in all the beauty and diversity of this very special environment with ten different islands and four ferry trips included. Two comfortable hotels ensure that this holiday is as relaxing as possible while at the same time offering great variety and the sense of a true journey of discovery which will live long in the memory.

Our odyssey begins with a drive along the shore of Loch Ness and along the scenic route from Fort William to Mallaig before taking the ferry to Lochboisdale in South Uist and continuing to our hotel in Benbecula. From here we visit the islands of Eriskay; Vatersay with its fantastic sandy beaches, and Barra, including a visit Cockleshell Beach, used as the island’s airport. A captivating journey follows as we travel north by ferry from Berneray and on through the magnificent mountain scenery of Harris and the rolling moorland of Lewis to Stornoway, our base for the next two nights. We continue with visits to the remarkable Standing Stones of Callanish, the tranquil little Norse Mill at Shawbost and the distinctive Black Houses at Gearannan. Our return route takes us by ferry from Stornoway to Ullapool.

NO SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT IN MARCH

Tour highlights:

Callanish Standing Stone Circle, Isle of Lewis

A view of the mist-covered Cuillins as you sail past Skye
Blindingly white sandy beaches on South Uist and Vatersay
The unique airport at Cockleshell Beach
5000 year old standing stones
The tranquil location of the Norse Mill at Shawbost
Four scenic ferry crossings

Departure Routes

Location	Depart	Return
Aberdeen Opposite Denburn Car Park behind library where Spa Street meets Skene Street	06.00	20.45
Inverurie Burghmuir Drive (Gordon Road Bus Stop)	06.30	20.15
Elgin Outside the Town Hall	07.30	19.15
Forres High Street	07.45	18.45
Nairn Outside the Bus Station, King Street	08.00	18.30
Inverness Outside Leonardo Hotel, Milburn Road	09.30	18.00

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.

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Your itinerary

Day 1 -

We depart from our designated pick-up points, stopping en-route for refreshments (not included) and travel via Loch Ness and Glenfinnan to Mallaig. From here we take the afternoon ferry to Lochboisdale in South Uist. Look out for the Small Isles of Rum and Canna to port and the Cuillin Hills on the Isle of Skye to starboard.

On arrival we continue over causeways (keeping a careful eye out for otters) to Benbecula, the ‘stepping stone’ between the Uists, where we arrive in the later afternoon at our base for the next two nights. Dinner is served in the evening.

Hotel	Isle of Benbecula House Hotel

Day 2 -

After our full Scottish breakfast we will depart for Barra, travelling via the little island of Eriskay, just three miles long and two miles wide, with a great sandy beach known as Prince Charlie’s Bay – Bonnie Prince Charlie having landed here in July 1745. From Eriskay we make the short ferry crossing to Barra and have a tour of the island, including a visit to Castlebay with views of Kisimul Castle, the only surviving medieval castle in the Western Isles and the seat of the Clan MacNeil. We will also visit Cockleshell Beach, the unique runway whose use is governed by the tides. On approaching the airport keep an eye out to the left for the much loved former home of Sir Compton Mackenzie, the author of ‘Whisky Galore’, which is forever associated with the island. In fact, it was on the neighbouring island of Vatersay, which we will visit by means of the causeway linking the two islands, that the classic film adaptation was made. In the course of our tour today we also hope to see some of the hundreds of species of wild flowers that grow on the island, particularly on the machair, the fertile, grassy pastures that lie between the moorland and the sea.

We return via the Eriskay ferry to our hotel, where dinner is served in the evening.

Hotel	Isle of Benbecula House Hotel

Day 3 -

After breakfast we check out of the hotel and take the mid-morning ferry from Berneray to Leverburgh at the southern end of Harris and 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 outstanding views as we travel along the coast, including the island of Taransay of ‘Castaway’ fame, and the wonderful beaches at Horgabost, Borve and Scarasta. We will pause for refreshments (not included) in Tarbert, before continuing through the mountainous countryside of Harris which eventually gives way to the rolling moorland of Lewis. We continue to the island capital of Stornoway and check-in to our comfortable accommodation.

Dinner will be served in the evening.

Hotel	Caladh Inn, Stornoway

Day 4 -

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.

The final visit on our circular tour is the Norse Mill at Shawbost, a reconstruction of the type of grain mill used originally by Viking settlers and by islanders up until the 1930s. 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.

Hotel	Caladh Inn, Stornoway

Day 5 -

This morning we check out of the hotel and have some free time to relax in Stornoway. You may wish to visit the Lewis Loom Centre, which chronicles history of Harris Tweed, or Lews Castle and Museum, home to the famous Lewis Chessmen. We then take the afternoon Caledonian MacBrayne ferry from Stornoway to Ullapool and continue our homeward journey, arriving back at our original pick-up points during the evening.