
Grand Tour of the Inner Hebrides
From $2,485
Summary
Complementing our Grand Tour of the Outer Hebrides, this equally grand yet relaxing tour takes in the principal Inner Hebridean isles of Mull, Islay and Jura as well as the famous little island gems of Staffa and Iona.
We begin on the Isle of Mull, with a visit to the colorful ‘capital’ Tobermory, followed by an exciting boat trip to the tiny island of Staffa and its famous Fingal’s Cave, an amazing natural cathedral of basalt columns. A full day is given over to the wonderfully peaceful island of Iona, with its famous Abbey and beautiful beaches. We then continue to Islay, traveling via Oban and a scenic drive to Kennacraig where we take the ferry to Port Askaig. We will explore the island, with visits to historic Loch Finlaggan, the Bowmore Distillery and the Museum of Islay Life, and we will also visit Jura, Islay’s sparsely populated and rather mysterious neighbor.
Tour highlights:
- Wildlife cruise featuring dolphins, seals and basking sharks
- The amazing spectacle of Fingal’s Cave
- Moments of peaceful contemplation at Iona Abbey
- Peace and quiet on the island of Jura
- The pungent aroma of fermenting barley at Bowmore distillery
Departure Routes
Location | Depart | Return |
---|---|---|
Aberdeen Opposite Denburn Car Park behind library where Spa Street meets Skene Street |
06.00 | 21.45 |
Stonehaven Market Square |
06.30 | 21.15 |
Forfar Bus stop off the A90, near McDonalds |
07.10 | 20.35 |
Dundee Outside Discovery Point |
07.30 | 20.15 |
Perth Broxden Park & Ride, A93 |
08.00 | 19.45 |
Kinross Moto Services on M90 |
09.00 | 18.45 |
Dunfermline Halbeath Park & Ride, Jct 3, M90 |
09.15 | 18.30 |
Edinburgh Outside Reception at the Marriott Hotel, Glasgow Road |
09.30 | 18.15 |
Glasgow Bus stop on North Hanover Street, opposite Queens Street Station |
10.45 | 17.00 |
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.
Today's Price
$2,485
Deposit: $140 Single supplement: $555
Enhance your experience
Whether you want to add extra nights on either side of your tour, you want to upgrade your flight or hotel room, or you are hoping to enjoy a door-to-door airport transfer, we can help.
To add special extras to your tour, call our Specialist Sales Executives to discuss your needs on 1-800-782-0295.
Your itinerary
Day 1 -
We depart from our designated pick up points and head for the Western Highlands, stopping en route for refreshments (not included). On arrival in Oban we will board the late afternoon ferry for Craignure on Mull.

Hotel | Isle of Mull Hotel, Craignure |
---|---|
Meals included | Dinner |
Isle of Mull Hotel, Craignure
Situated on the crescent of Craignure Bay, The Isle of Mull Hotel and Spa has stunning views over to Morvern and the west coast. The main ferry terminal is just a few hundred yards away, with a shoreline path leading to the hotel.
Most of the rooms at The Isle of Mull Hotel and Spa have views of the scenic surroundings, and guests can also make use of the extensive leisure facilities and spa.
Within the spa is the Rasul mud room, a specialist full-body cleansing treatment. Other spa therapies and beauty treatments are available by appointment.
There is an indoor heated swimming pool, a children’s pool, foot spa, gym, sauna and steam room, all of which are free to hotel guests.
Day 2 -
This morning after breakfast we will depart for Tobermory, the island’s ‘capital’, whose multi-hued buildings lining the waterfront will be familiar from a hundred calendars. This is the starting point for our wildlife cruise to the Treshnish Isles and Staffa, during which we can expect sightings of Whales, Dolphins, Basking Sharks, Puffins and Sea Eagles. After a one-hour sail we land at the geological wonder of Staffa, which was formed by volcanic eruptions over 50 million years ago. As the basaltic lava cooled it formed an extraordinary pattern of predominantly hexagonal columns which form the faces and walls of the principal caves. We will have around an hour ashore to explore the island, in particular the massive natural cathedral known as Fingal’s Cave, following in the footsteps of illustrious tourists from Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson to Jules Verne and Queen Victoria.
We then take the short 15 minute crossing to the idyllic Isle of Lunga, the largest of the Treshnish Isles, where we will have two hours ashore to explore. Surrounded by wildflowers and stunning scenery, the main attraction that can be seen close up is the large Puffin colony nesting in burrows in the grassy hillside. These comical birds are incredibly inquisitive and will come within a few metres of you. Lunga is also a popular habitat to an ever increasing number of Guillemot, Razorbill, Kittiwake, Fulmar, Shag, Great Skua and a Seal colony.
(Please note a reasonable degree of mobility is required to go ashore but the less adventurous are welcome to stay on board. There is a toilet on board and a packed lunch is included. Visits ashore to Lunga end when the puffins and other seabirds migrate usually early in August. Instead we sail around the Treshnish Isles keeping a lookout for the wildlife usually seen near these islands).
We sail back to Tobermory and return by coach to our hotel in time for dinner.

Hotel | Isle of Mull Hotel, Craignure |
---|---|
Meals included | All meals included |
Isle of Mull Hotel, Craignure
Situated on the crescent of Craignure Bay, The Isle of Mull Hotel and Spa has stunning views over to Morvern and the west coast. The main ferry terminal is just a few hundred yards away, with a shoreline path leading to the hotel.
Most of the rooms at The Isle of Mull Hotel and Spa have views of the scenic surroundings, and guests can also make use of the extensive leisure facilities and spa.
Within the spa is the Rasul mud room, a specialist full-body cleansing treatment. Other spa therapies and beauty treatments are available by appointment.
There is an indoor heated swimming pool, a children’s pool, foot spa, gym, sauna and steam room, all of which are free to hotel guests.
Day 3 -
Today we will drive along the Ross of Mull to Fionnphort, where we cross as foot passengers to the ‘sacred isle’ of Iona. Here you have the opportunity to visit the Abbey and wander over the island, taking in the atmosphere of calm and contemplation which attracts visitors from all over the world.
This afternoon we visit Duart Castle, the 13th century home of the Chief of Clan MacLean. We can explore the dungeons, the state rooms and appreciate the strategic position of the castle from the top of the keep.

Hotel | Isle of Mull Hotel, Craignure |
---|---|
Meals included | Breakfast, Dinner |
Isle of Mull Hotel, Craignure
Situated on the crescent of Craignure Bay, The Isle of Mull Hotel and Spa has stunning views over to Morvern and the west coast. The main ferry terminal is just a few hundred yards away, with a shoreline path leading to the hotel.
Most of the rooms at The Isle of Mull Hotel and Spa have views of the scenic surroundings, and guests can also make use of the extensive leisure facilities and spa.
Within the spa is the Rasul mud room, a specialist full-body cleansing treatment. Other spa therapies and beauty treatments are available by appointment.
There is an indoor heated swimming pool, a children’s pool, foot spa, gym, sauna and steam room, all of which are free to hotel guests.
Day 4 -
Following breakfast we will check out of our hotel and take the morning ferry back to Oban, where we then take a scenic drive down to Kennacraig to catch the ferry to Port Askaig in Islay. Our hotel is conveniently situated next to the harbour and dinner will be served once we have checked in and freshened up.

Hotel | Port Askaig Hotel, Islay |
---|---|
Meals included | Breakfast, Dinner |
Port Askaig Hotel, Islay
Situated adjacent to the ferry terminal, the Port Askaig Hotel offers basic but comfortable accommodation in a historic property, parts of which date back to the 17th century.
All guest rooms in the hotel are equipped with tea and coffee making facilities and have a private bathroom fitted with a shower. Breakfast and dinner is served in the restaurant overlooking the harbour.
Day 5 -
This morning, following breakfast, our first visit will be to Loch Finlaggan which was once the centre of the ‘Lordship of the Isles’. It was here that the installation of the Lords of the Isles took place, and the western seaboard of Scotland was ruled.
We will then visit the Bowmore Distillery. This is the oldest distillery on the island and has stood on the shores of Loch Indaal since 1779. Here we will see how this unique whisky is produced by hand, by the Maltman, before maturing in Spanish and American oak casks which give it its unique flavours.
After an opportunity for lunch (not included) we will visit the Museum of Islay Life. Housed in a former church, there are over 1600 items in the main Museum collection, covering all ages from the Mesolithic (around 8000 BC) to the 1950s. The Victorian and Edwardian ages are especially well represented, with exhibits showing what it was like to live in a simple house as well as how the laird lived at the same time.

Hotel | Port Askaig Hotel, Islay |
---|---|
Meals included | Breakfast, Dinner |
Port Askaig Hotel, Islay
Situated adjacent to the ferry terminal, the Port Askaig Hotel offers basic but comfortable accommodation in a historic property, parts of which date back to the 17th century.
All guest rooms in the hotel are equipped with tea and coffee making facilities and have a private bathroom fitted with a shower. Breakfast and dinner is served in the restaurant overlooking the harbour.
Day 6 -
This morning, after breakfast, we travel to the neighbouring island of Jura, an island which has a record of habitation stretching back over 5000 years. The island, with approximately 200 inhabitants, is 30 miles long and 7 miles wide and is a naturalist’s paradise. It is dominated by the three mountains known as the “Paps of Jura”, the highest being 2576ft. The northern end of the island was home to George Orwell, who wrote his masterpiece 1984 while living here at Barnhill.
We will enjoy a scenic tour before having some free time in Craighouse, a lovely little village and the main settlement on the island with a shop, tearoom, and Jura's distillery.

Hotel | Port Askaig Hotel, Islay |
---|---|
Meals included | Breakfast, Dinner |
Port Askaig Hotel, Islay
Situated adjacent to the ferry terminal, the Port Askaig Hotel offers basic but comfortable accommodation in a historic property, parts of which date back to the 17th century.
All guest rooms in the hotel are equipped with tea and coffee making facilities and have a private bathroom fitted with a shower. Breakfast and dinner is served in the restaurant overlooking the harbour.
Day 7 -
After breakfast we check out of the hotel and take the morning ferry to Kennacraig on the mainland. We then continue our homeward journey, stopping for refreshments (not included) in Inveraray, arriving back at our original pick-up points during the evening.

Meals included | Breakfast |
---|

Tour dates & prices
Included in your cost:
- Accommodation
- Services of a professional tour manager
- Comfortable coach travel throughout
- Meals - as per the itinerary
- Ferry crossings
Tour Departure | Tour ID | Departure date | Return Date | Guided by | Price | Deposit | Single supplement | Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
30 June 2022 | BGIH220630 | 30 June 2022 (Thursday) | 6 July 2022 (Wednesday) | $2,515 (ex. flights) |
$140 | $555 | Book your trip | |
4 August 2022 | BGIH220804 | 4 August 2022 (Thursday) | 10 August 2022 (Wednesday) | Alastair Walker | $2,515 (ex. flights) |
$140 | $555 | Book your trip |
1 September 2022 | BGIH220901 | 1 September 2022 (Thursday) | 7 September 2022 (Wednesday) | $2,485 (ex. flights) |
$140 | $555 | Book your trip |
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