Grand Tour of the Outer Hebrides - 6 day tour

Day 2 - Exploring Eriskay and Vatersay

After our first Hebridean breakfast, it’s time to board our coach and make our way through South Uist and across the causeway to reach the little island of Eriskay. Meaning “Eric’s Island” in Norse, this was where Bonnie Prince Charlie landed on 23 July 1745 to start his ultimately failed attempt to capture the British Crown for the Stuart Dynasty. We’ll see the beach where this critical event in Scottish history occurred. 

As we continue our drive, look out for an Eriskay Pony. They are unique to the island and only recently saved from extinction. We board the ferry bound for Barra, where, as we arrive in Castlebay, there are beautiful views of Kisimul Castle to enjoy. 

We’ll visit the castle, once a stronghold of the Clan MacNeil. It dates from the 11th Century and is the sole example of a medieval castle in the Western Isles. During our tour, we’ll see the great hall, kitchen, dungeon and the impressive 60-foot tower. 

Back on Barra, we’ll see Cockleshell Beach, the only airfield where the tides dictate the flight times. 

Look out for “Suidheachan”, the former home of the author Sir Compton MacKenzie, who wrote “Whisky Galore”, a tale that was based on an actual event that took place here in 1941. The book spawned two movies. The classic version dates from 1949 and was filmed mainly on the neighbouring island of Vatersay, our next destination. 

We’ll return to Eriskay by ferry and return to our hotel, where dinner awaits.

Day 3 - Benbecula - Isle of Harris - Stornoway

It’s time to bid farewell to Benbecula today as we travel northwards using the causeway to reach North Uist. The landscape is scattered with little lochans, while on the coast, there are beautiful sandy beaches to explore. At Berneray, we catch the ferry for the short crossing to the Isle of Harris.  

Our landfall is in Leverburgh, a little village renamed by Lord Leverhulme, who planned to turn the village into a major fishing port. His dream died with him in 1925, and the project was abandoned.   

We’ll stop in Rodel to visit St Clement’s Church, which dominates the village. Built for the Clan MacLeod, it dates from the 15th Century and was dedicated to Pope Clement I. The church tombs are amongst the most spectacular in Scotland.   

We take the coastal route to see the stunning beaches at Horgabost, Borve and Scarasta. There are also fantastic views over to the little island of Taransay, which found unlikely fame in the BBC programme “Castaway”. 

We’ll make a stop so you can enjoy some refreshments in Tarbert, the primary community on the Island of Harris. From here, we’ll travel through the mountainous scenery of North Harris and make our way into Lewis. Our home for the next three nights will be in Stornoway.

Overnight: Caberfeidh Hotel, Stornoway (or similar) (3 nights)

Day 4 - Excursion to Callanish Standing Stones and Norse Mill

After breakfast, we leave Stornoway behind and make our way to the wild west coast of Lewis to visit the Standing Stones of Callanish. Thought to be over 5,000 years old, there are some 50 stones, including 19 monoliths marking out a megalithic avenue and a circle of 13 stones, with a cairn in the middle. The purpose of the stones is lost in the mists of time. Some experts claim it was a place of ritual activity. Others suggest it was some form of astronomical observatory.

Later, we move on to visit the Black Houses at Gearrannan. These thatched houses were once a common sight throughout the Highlands and Islands until relatively recently. Housing livestock as well as people, they were built with double walls to give extra protection from the elements. Many had no chimney, so the smoke just escaped through the turf roof.

Our last visit today is to Shawbost, where we’ll visit the Norse Mill and Kiln, a well-preserved grain mill of a style used by the Vikings, who settled in Lewis around the 12th Century. This example was used by the islanders up until the 1930s. Enjoy the lovely ocean views as we explore these picturesque thatched buildings.

Day 5 - Butt of Lewis Excursion

This morning is spent in Stornoway. This bustling port is the island’s main town and developed from a Viking settlement around a sheltered bay.

Today, we visit Lews Castle, built as a country house that was gifted to the people of Stornoway in 1923. Today it’s a museum that contains six of the fascinating Lewis Chessmen, a collection of 12th Century chess pieces. You can also take a virtual journey through the islands in a series of wrap-around video presentations.

On the outskirts of Stornoway sits Eaglais-na h-Aoidhe, also known as St Columba’s Ui Church. This medieval building is one of the most significant archaeological sites on Lewis. It’s thought the main church dates from the 13th Century or even earlier. It became the burial site for the Macleod Chiefs of Lewis. During your visit look out for the two central carved stones, they are amongst the best examples to be found in Scotland.

Later, we travel to the northerly tip of the island, home to generations of hardy seafarers. We’ll visit the Port of Ness before moving on to the Butt of Lewis, where the Atlantic waves crash into the cliffs, guarded by a unique lighthouse designed by the prolific lighthouse engineer David Stevenson in 1862. 

Day 6 - Stornoway - Inverness – Edinburgh/Glasgow

We have an early start this morning as we head to the ferry terminal for our sailing back to the mainland. Crossing The Minch will take around 2 hours and 30 minutes, and breakfast will be served on board.

The sheltered waters of Loch Broom will guide us towards the picturesque town of Ullapool, where we disembark. Back on our coach, we’ll travel through the North West Highlands to reach Inverness, the Capital of the Highlands.

Our journey south will continue into the picturesque Cairngorms National Park, then through the Grampian Mountains to reach Highland Perthshire.

After a break, we’ll continue through the Kingdom of Fife, then across the Forth Estuary to reach Edinburgh, and then to Glasgow.