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Highlights
This fantastic holiday takes in some of the many highlights of the Inner and Outer Hebrides. Celebrated in poetry and song, Skye is deservedly Scotland's most famous island. Its dramatic mountains, wild coastlines and traditional crofting landscapes have been attracting tourists for over 300 years. Despite its popularity it remains a fabulous and surprisingly little known walking destination. Away from the tourist crowds in Portree we won't see many other people as we explore some of the island's finest low-level walks. The second half of your holiday will be spent in the Outer Hebrides. Atlantic Scotland's last outpost (the next stop west of here is Nova Scotia) Harris and Lewis feel like a world apart. Here we are in the heartland of Gaelic speaking Scotland - it is not uncommon to overhear the language being spoken in shops and on buses. The Outer Hebrides have won countless accolades over the past few years and are regularly voted one of the world's most beautiful travel destinations by the likes of National Geographic, TripAdvisor, Lonely Planet and others. Join us as we explore the best walks on Harris and Lewis and you will soon see why... Staying at carefully selected B&Bs for three nights each on Skye and Lewis, our Skye & the Outer Hebrides holiday is the ideal introduction for the first time visitor to the Hebridean islands. |
2023 Dates:
Sat 20th - Fri 26th May 4 spaces left How long: 6 nights, 6 days walking Grade: Easy / Moderate (see our Grading Information page for more details on how we grade our tours) Start: Inverness Price: £1,585 (2022); £1,665 (2023). Single supplement £140. ***£50 discount for returning clients!*** |
Tour Details
(please note that this schedule may be subject to change depending on weather conditions during the trip).
DAY 1 - TRAVEL TO SKYE
After meeting at Inverness train station at 10.30am, we will have a spectacular drive to the Isle of Skye. On arrival at the island we will have lunch and then enjoy a stunning walk to the Point of Sleat, Skye's most southerly point.
Accommodation: Skye B&B
DAY 2 - BORERAIG & SUISNISH
Today we will visit the deserted townships of Boreraig and Suisnish in south west Skye. Beautiful and atmospheric, this walk will take us through gentle woodland, across lonely moorland and along spectacular coastal scenery, and will offer dramatic views across Loch Slappin to the mighty peaks of Blaven and Clach Glas.
Accommodation: Skye B&B
DAY 3 - QUIRANG & NORTH SKYE
There really is nowhere in Britain quite like the Quirang. These remarkable rock formations in the north of Skye provide spectacular walking, and are almost better on a misty day, where the huge cliffs and stone pillars loom out of the cloud like fossilised giants! In the afternoon we will walk out to the dramatic headland of Meall Tuath - one of the best places on Skye for spotting whales and dolphins.
Accommodation: Skye B&B
DAY 4 - THE BEACHES OF WEST HARRIS
On Tuesday morning we will drive up to Uig at the north end of Skye and take a beautiful ferry journey over to Tarbert, Harris's tiny capital. We will then spend the afternoon exploring the world-famous coastline and beaches of West Harris. At the end of the day we will have dinner in Harris before driving north into Lewis and our next B&B in Stornoway.
Accommodation: Lewis B&B
DAY 5 - UIG
We will spend today walking on the beautiful west coast of Lewis, home to the famous Lewis Chessmen and more sensational beaches! Considered by many to be the most beautiful part of the island, the remote Uig area is a wonderful combination of tiny crofting villages, rocky headlands, lonely off-shore islands and amazing beaches.
Accommodation: Lewis B&B
DAY 6 - CALLANISH, CARLOWAY & NESS
In the morning we will visit Lewis's two spectacular archaeological sites - the famous Callanish Stones and Carloway Broch, a magnificent 2,000 year old iron age fort. In the afternoon we travel to the northern most tip of the Hebrides, to the township of Ness and the dramatic Butt of Lewis lighthouse. We will visit the old fishing harbour at Port of Ness and walk along the tops of the sea cliffs on this wild section of coastline. This is a hotspot for corncrakes, so we will be listening out for their characteristic rasping call amongst the township's croft fields.
DAY 7 - DEPART
We will spend the morning exploring Stornoway, with its excellent museum and the fine woodland trails around Lews Castle, before catching the afternoon ferry to Ullapool and arriving back in Inverness by 6pm.
(please note that this schedule may be subject to change depending on weather conditions during the trip).
DAY 1 - TRAVEL TO SKYE
After meeting at Inverness train station at 10.30am, we will have a spectacular drive to the Isle of Skye. On arrival at the island we will have lunch and then enjoy a stunning walk to the Point of Sleat, Skye's most southerly point.
Accommodation: Skye B&B
DAY 2 - BORERAIG & SUISNISH
Today we will visit the deserted townships of Boreraig and Suisnish in south west Skye. Beautiful and atmospheric, this walk will take us through gentle woodland, across lonely moorland and along spectacular coastal scenery, and will offer dramatic views across Loch Slappin to the mighty peaks of Blaven and Clach Glas.
Accommodation: Skye B&B
DAY 3 - QUIRANG & NORTH SKYE
There really is nowhere in Britain quite like the Quirang. These remarkable rock formations in the north of Skye provide spectacular walking, and are almost better on a misty day, where the huge cliffs and stone pillars loom out of the cloud like fossilised giants! In the afternoon we will walk out to the dramatic headland of Meall Tuath - one of the best places on Skye for spotting whales and dolphins.
Accommodation: Skye B&B
DAY 4 - THE BEACHES OF WEST HARRIS
On Tuesday morning we will drive up to Uig at the north end of Skye and take a beautiful ferry journey over to Tarbert, Harris's tiny capital. We will then spend the afternoon exploring the world-famous coastline and beaches of West Harris. At the end of the day we will have dinner in Harris before driving north into Lewis and our next B&B in Stornoway.
Accommodation: Lewis B&B
DAY 5 - UIG
We will spend today walking on the beautiful west coast of Lewis, home to the famous Lewis Chessmen and more sensational beaches! Considered by many to be the most beautiful part of the island, the remote Uig area is a wonderful combination of tiny crofting villages, rocky headlands, lonely off-shore islands and amazing beaches.
Accommodation: Lewis B&B
DAY 6 - CALLANISH, CARLOWAY & NESS
In the morning we will visit Lewis's two spectacular archaeological sites - the famous Callanish Stones and Carloway Broch, a magnificent 2,000 year old iron age fort. In the afternoon we travel to the northern most tip of the Hebrides, to the township of Ness and the dramatic Butt of Lewis lighthouse. We will visit the old fishing harbour at Port of Ness and walk along the tops of the sea cliffs on this wild section of coastline. This is a hotspot for corncrakes, so we will be listening out for their characteristic rasping call amongst the township's croft fields.
DAY 7 - DEPART
We will spend the morning exploring Stornoway, with its excellent museum and the fine woodland trails around Lews Castle, before catching the afternoon ferry to Ullapool and arriving back in Inverness by 6pm.
The holiday starts and ends in Inverness. Your guide will meet you at the rear entrance to Inverness railway station at 10.30pm where you will join the rest of the group for the drive to Skye.
Inverness is easily accessible by plane, train and bus.
Flights
The following airlines offer direct flights to Inverness:
www.loganair.co.uk - Manchester, Birmingham, Belfast, Exeter, Glasgow, Newquay, Southampton.
www.easyjet.com - London Gatwick, London Luton, Bristol, Geneva.
www.britishairways.com - London Heathrow.
www.aerlingus.com - Dublin.
www.klm.com -Amsterdam
Trains
Inverness can be reached by train from Edinburgh, Glasgow and England. Travellers coming from London and the south of England can take advantage of the overnight Caledonian Sleeper service. For more information on train services see the following websites:
www.scotrail.co.uk
www.nationalrail.co.uk
www.thetrainline.com
www.sleeper.scot
Please note that all train tickets should be purchased in advance of travel. We recommend that you do this as soon as you book your holiday as advance tickets are always considerably cheaper than ones bought at the last minute.
Coaches
The following operator offers coach services from Glasgow and Edinburgh to Inverness:
www.citylink.co.uk
Please note that all coach tickets must be purchased in advance of travel. We recommend that you do this as soon as you book your holiday as coaches can get booked up. Advance tickets can also be considerably cheaper than ones bought at the last minute.
Cars
Driving to Inverness by car is straightforward - it is simply a case of heading for Perth then taking the A9 north. Approximate journey times (not including stops, road works or delays) are as follows:
Edinburgh: 3 hours
Glasgow: 3.5 hours
Newcastle: 5.5 hours
Manchester: 6.5 hours
Birmingham: 7.5 hours
Bristol: 8.5 hours
London: 9.5 hours
Inverness is easily accessible by plane, train and bus.
Flights
The following airlines offer direct flights to Inverness:
www.loganair.co.uk - Manchester, Birmingham, Belfast, Exeter, Glasgow, Newquay, Southampton.
www.easyjet.com - London Gatwick, London Luton, Bristol, Geneva.
www.britishairways.com - London Heathrow.
www.aerlingus.com - Dublin.
www.klm.com -Amsterdam
Trains
Inverness can be reached by train from Edinburgh, Glasgow and England. Travellers coming from London and the south of England can take advantage of the overnight Caledonian Sleeper service. For more information on train services see the following websites:
www.scotrail.co.uk
www.nationalrail.co.uk
www.thetrainline.com
www.sleeper.scot
Please note that all train tickets should be purchased in advance of travel. We recommend that you do this as soon as you book your holiday as advance tickets are always considerably cheaper than ones bought at the last minute.
Coaches
The following operator offers coach services from Glasgow and Edinburgh to Inverness:
www.citylink.co.uk
Please note that all coach tickets must be purchased in advance of travel. We recommend that you do this as soon as you book your holiday as coaches can get booked up. Advance tickets can also be considerably cheaper than ones bought at the last minute.
Cars
Driving to Inverness by car is straightforward - it is simply a case of heading for Perth then taking the A9 north. Approximate journey times (not including stops, road works or delays) are as follows:
Edinburgh: 3 hours
Glasgow: 3.5 hours
Newcastle: 5.5 hours
Manchester: 6.5 hours
Birmingham: 7.5 hours
Bristol: 8.5 hours
London: 9.5 hours
What's Included: 6 nights accommodation (3 nights on Skye, 3 nights on Lewis), 6 days walking. Accommodation at local quality guest houses*, with full Scottish or continental breakfasts; packed lunches; evening meals at local restaurants (note that lunch on the final day is not included).
All transport during the holiday, including collection and drop off in Inverness and all ferry crossings. The services of an experienced walk leader.
Transport is provided by our comfortable, modern minibus. On transfer days luggage is left in the minibus whilst we go for walks; whilst walking you will only need to bring a small daysack in which to carry your packed lunch, waterproofs, etc.
What's Not Included: Travel to and from Inverness. Food at any cafes we may visit. Entrance to any visitor attractions. Travel insurance.
*We will be staying in carefully selected guest houses. All rooms will have ensuite or private bathrooms. Single occupancy rooms are available at an additional cost of £120. Where possible we try and accommodate the group in the same guest house. However, this is not always possible and we may have to split the party up between several guest houses. However, we will be dining together each evening in local restaurants so there will be plenty of opportunities for socialising with the rest of the group.
All transport during the holiday, including collection and drop off in Inverness and all ferry crossings. The services of an experienced walk leader.
Transport is provided by our comfortable, modern minibus. On transfer days luggage is left in the minibus whilst we go for walks; whilst walking you will only need to bring a small daysack in which to carry your packed lunch, waterproofs, etc.
What's Not Included: Travel to and from Inverness. Food at any cafes we may visit. Entrance to any visitor attractions. Travel insurance.
*We will be staying in carefully selected guest houses. All rooms will have ensuite or private bathrooms. Single occupancy rooms are available at an additional cost of £120. Where possible we try and accommodate the group in the same guest house. However, this is not always possible and we may have to split the party up between several guest houses. However, we will be dining together each evening in local restaurants so there will be plenty of opportunities for socialising with the rest of the group.
Easy / Moderate.
These holidays go at a gentle pace, with plenty of time to stop, take pictures, soak up the atmosphere and watch the wildlife. However, they are still walking holidays, so you will need to be able to cope with a reasonable amount of hiking each day. As a guide, you should be able to manage small uphill sections, be comfortable walking for 4 - 5 hours and 7 - 8 miles or so each day, and be confident walking away from paths - for example over rough, grassy hillsides. Some days we may do two shorter walks instead of one longer hike.
We try to keep to easy ground as much as possible on these walks, but there will be some areas where the going can be a little rough and quite wet underfoot, so good hiking boots are essential. We don't tackle any hills on these walks but there are usually some modest uphill sections each day.
See our Grading Information page for more information about how we grade our holidays.
These holidays go at a gentle pace, with plenty of time to stop, take pictures, soak up the atmosphere and watch the wildlife. However, they are still walking holidays, so you will need to be able to cope with a reasonable amount of hiking each day. As a guide, you should be able to manage small uphill sections, be comfortable walking for 4 - 5 hours and 7 - 8 miles or so each day, and be confident walking away from paths - for example over rough, grassy hillsides. Some days we may do two shorter walks instead of one longer hike.
We try to keep to easy ground as much as possible on these walks, but there will be some areas where the going can be a little rough and quite wet underfoot, so good hiking boots are essential. We don't tackle any hills on these walks but there are usually some modest uphill sections each day.
See our Grading Information page for more information about how we grade our holidays.
This holiday is new for 2020 so there are no reviews yet.
However, the tour contains parts of our Skye, Raasay & Loch Coruisk trips, so you may wish to read reviews of these holidays:
www.hiddenhebrides.co.uk/isle-of-skye-raasay--loch-coruisk.html
www.hiddenhebrides.co.uk/harris-lewis--stkilda.html
However, the tour contains parts of our Skye, Raasay & Loch Coruisk trips, so you may wish to read reviews of these holidays:
www.hiddenhebrides.co.uk/isle-of-skye-raasay--loch-coruisk.html
www.hiddenhebrides.co.uk/harris-lewis--stkilda.html