Known and loved for their varied wildlife, wonderful landscapes and distinctive whiskies, the Scottish Isles are a delight to explore, and this active six-day tour will show you the best of the Outer Hebrides. June is the perfect time to visit this Scottish archipelago with temperate weather, blooming wild flowers and the opportunity to see seals, as they often come ashore in the summer months.
You'll start your adventure in Mallaig, a thriving port town renowned for its fish, especially its smoked kippers, which are often on the menu in some of the excellent local restaurants. You will then travel by ferry to the Isle of Benbecula Hotel for a two-night stay. You will visit beautiful Barra, where you can taste some Hebridean toffee and learn more about the history of the isles, as well as the Isle of Harris, to visit one of the few Roman Catholic churches that survived being defaced during the 16th-century Protestant Reformation. On Harris you'll also get to stop at one of the isles' most beautiful white sand beaches, Luskentyre Beach.
Next, you will be driven to the Isle of Lewis, where you can explore at your own pace from your second hotel, the Caladh Inn in Stornoway, where local wildlife expert Dr Charlie Main will give a talk about the varied wildlife to be found on the islands. On the final day, you'll take a ferry from Stornoway to Ullapool and then transfer on to Edinburgh as your cultural exploration of the magical Hebrides draws to an end.
Please note, a good level of fitness is required for the trip as there are a number of walks included in the itinerary and you will need to be able to get on and off the boats.
Dr Charlie Main is an academic with expertise in conservation, as well as practical experience protecting wildlife in Scotland. Dr. Main originally moved to the Hebrides in 2015 to run a seabird island restoration project and she is now a lecturer in sustainable development at the University of the Highlands and Islands.
* From price is per person, based on two people sharing a room, subject to availability. Price and itinerary correct at time of print but may be subject to change. Single supplement £199. Deposit 20%. Local charges such as tourist tax may apply. Not suitable for those with mobility issues. In the case of unforeseen circumstances, expert(s) may be substituted, and any expert-led events may be subject to change. Expert(s) will not join you for your full trip duration unless otherwise stated. Travel insurance is not included and should be taken out at time of booking. Images used may not reflect your actual tour experience. This holiday may be sold through other selected brands. Tour is operated by and subject to the booking conditions of TS Travel Ltd.
This morning you'll arrive independently in central Edinburgh to meet your knowledgeable tour manager and board a coach to transfer to Mallaig. On arrival in Mallaig you'll have time to get lunch, perhaps in one of the many excellent seafood restaurants.
In the afternoon you'll rejoin the group and board the boat from Mallaig to Lochboisdale, where you'll transfer to the Isle of Benbecula Hotel on arrival - your comfortable base for the next two nights.
There'll be a group dinner tonight at the hotel, giving you a chance to get to know some of your fellow travellers.
Begin your day with a hearty breakfast at the hotel before travelling to Eriskay and boarding the ferry to Barra.
You will begin your exploration of the Island in Castlebay with visits to the Barra Culture and Heritage Museum, followed by a visit to Búth Bharragh, a social enterprise providing the residents of Barra with a means of selling their artisan produce and arts and crafts.
Next stop is the Hebridean Toffee shop, where there is also a café that overlooks the bay and Kisimul Castle - a great spot for a quick lunch.
After lunch you'll drive around the west coast of the island, soaking in the stunning views. You'll pass the Borve Standing Stones - three stones believed to have once been part of a larger circle that stand beside the road - and Traigh Mhor Beach, the only beach where scheduled flights regularly land. Known locally as the Cockle Strip, it's a beautiful location, and you might just be lucky enough to see a plane land or take off.
At the end of this visit you will return to the port for your return sailing to Eriskay, where you'll return to your hotel in time for dinner.
After breakfast you'll depart the hotel and head to Berneray where you'll board the ferry to Leverburgh on the Isle of Harris.
You'll start your visit with a trip to St Clements Church, one of the few examples of a Roman Catholic chapel in Scotland that escaped defacement during the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century.
At the end of the visit you will drive on to Luskentyre beach, considered to be the most beautiful beach on the isles of Harris and Lewis, before heading to the Isle of Harris distillery for a tour and tastings.
You will then drive on to your hotel, stopping briefly at the World War I memorial, erected to honour the dead from the Great War, before checking in at the Caladh Inn where you will be staying for the next three nights.
A presentation and a wildlife talk from local Stornoway resident, Dr Charlie Main, will be given at the hotel this evening.
Today you will explore Lewis, starting with a visit to Callanish Standing Stones, one of the UK's best-preserved prehistoric sites.
At the end of the visit, you will travel on to Garenin, to see the 'Blackhouses', traditional thatched stone-walled dwellings that served as home to both people and animals for hundreds of years. As you look inside and you will be able to imagine what life would have been like for the crofters and tradespeople that lived there
After lunch at leisure you will transfer to one of the more unusual sights on the island, the Whale Bone Arch. The two bones that comprise the arch are the lower jaw bones of a Blue Whale and were removed from a beached Whale that came ashore in 1920. They now form a unique gateway to two houses
You'll then continue to Comunn Eachdraidh Nis, a newly refurbished museum showcasing a past, rural, island community way of life. The artefacts on display have been donated by the community over many years.
Today you will explore Lewis further with a guided tour in the morning, starting with a visit to Lews Castle, followed by a visit to the Na Eilean Museum, which houses interesting artefacts to help you understand the history and heritage of the island.
After the museum visit you'll have free time to find lunch and to explore more of Stornoway at your own pace before returning to the hotel for dinner.
You'll depart the hotel this morning and meet your tour manager and the coach for the transfer to Stornoway Ferry Terminal, where you'll board the boat to Ullapool
On your way from Ullapool to Edinburgh you'll make a stop at Blair Castle for a visit and your guide will make some suggestions for stops along the way for lunch before your trip comes to an end.
The Isle of Benbecula House Hotel has a range of quality facilities and services to make a stay on the Isle of Benbecula both comfortable and memorable. The hotel offers comfortable rooms, equipped to suit the requirements of any traveller and guests can savour local cuisine in the restaurant, followed by a relaxing drink in the bar. In the local area there are plenty of opportunities for activities such as bird watching, walking and cycling.
The Caladh Inn is conveniently located a short walk from Stornoway town centre and is an ideal location for exploring both Lewis and Harris. The hotel offers 68 recently refurbished en-suite bedrooms, all equipped with coffee and tea making facilities and TV. The hotel’s popular restaurant, Eleven, offers a variety of dishes to suit all tastes in a bright and contemporary space.
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* From price is per person, based on two people sharing a room, subject to availability. Price and itinerary correct at time of print but may be subject to change. Single supplement £199. Deposit 20%. Local charges such as tourist tax may apply. Not suitable for those with mobility issues. In the case of unforeseen circumstances, expert(s) may be substituted, and any expert-led events may be subject to change. Expert(s) will not join you for your full trip duration unless otherwise stated. Travel insurance is not included and should be taken out at time of booking. Images used may not reflect your actual tour experience. This holiday may be sold through other selected brands. Tour is operated by and subject to the booking conditions of TS Travel Ltd.