Highlights of the Outer Hebrides - 5 day tour

Day 2 - Eriskay and Vatersay Excursion

After a leisurely breakfast, we join the rest of our party for a drive through South Uist and across the causeway to reach Eriskay. This little island is just three miles long and two miles wide and has a beautiful sandy beach known as Prince Charlie’s Bay. It was here that Bonnie Prince Charlie landed in July 1745 at the start of the ill-fated Jacobite Uprising.

From Eriskay we join a ferry for the short crossing to Barra. On arrival, we drive to Castlebay, the main village on the island, where we visit Kisimul Castle.

Kisimul is the only remaining medieval castle to be found in the Outer Hebrides and is the seat of the Clan MacNeil. It sits on a little islet in the middle of the bay so, just like the chieftains of old, we’ll take a boat to reach this ancient fortress where we’ll see the grand hall, kitchen, dungeon and tower.  

Later, we will travel to see Cockleshell Beach, which doubles as the runway for Barra Airport. Barra is served by a twice-daily service from Glasgow, to a timetable that is governed by the tides.

Overlooking the beach is the home of the famous author Sir Compton Mackenzie, who wrote ‘Whisky Galore’. The book is based on the true story of a shipwreck in 1941. The cargo included 260,000 bottles of whisky, much of which was “rescued” before the official salvage team arrived.  

The story was made into a classic film in 1949. Much of the filming took place on Vatersay, which is next on our island-hopping itinerary. This little island is famed for the many species of wildflower that can be found here.

Later we return to Eriskay by ferry and make our way back to our hotel in time for dinner.

Day 3 - Benbecula - Isle of Harris - Stornoway

After breakfast, it’s time to move on to explore Harris and Lewis. First, we make our way through the lochans of Benbecula and into North Uist. At Berneray we catch the ferry for Leverburgh of the Isle of Harris.

Our first stop is to the little village of Rodel, where we will visit St Clements Church. This 16th Century church was built on an earlier building by Alasdair Crotach, 8th Chief of the MacLeods of Harris. He died in 1547 and is buried here in an ornate tomb which is decorated with fine carvings.

Harris is famed for its beautiful beaches, and we’ll pass Horgabost, Borve and Scarasta, which have some of the finest sands to be found anywhere. Enjoy the views over the sound to the island of Taransay, which featured in the popular “Castaway” TV series.

We will make a stop in Tarbert, the main community on the island before travelling through the Harris mountains to reach the moors of Lewis and our home for the next two nights in Stornoway.

Overnight: Caberfeidh Hotel, Stornoway (or similar) (2 nights)

Day 4 - Exploring the Isle of Lewis

Today ancient history is on the itinerary as we explore the treasures of Isle of Lewis. First, we make for the west coast of the island to see the mysterious Standing Stones of Callanish. Thought to be 5,000 years old this collection of monoliths is believed to be older than Stonehenge or the Pyramids. The visitor centre contains interactive displays which investigate how the stones were built and what their purpose might have been.

Next, we move on to the Black Houses at Gearannan, to discover how islanders lived, not so very long ago, in these sturdy houses made of drystone walls and thatched roofs.

Our last visit of the day is to the Norse Mill at Shawbost. This reconstruction of an Iron Age grain mill is built on the site of the original mill used by Norsemen.

There are two buildings The Kiln, where grains was dried by a peat fire and The Corn Mill, which is powered by water from Loch Roinavat. The mill was in use up until the 1930s and provides a fascinating view of life on these islands.      

Day 5 - Stornoway - Inverness - Edinburgh/Glasgow

We catch the early morning ferry from Stornoway. Breakfast will be served on-board, and there will be time to head out on deck to enjoy the view as we pass the Summer isles and make our approach to Ullapool by sailing up Loch Broom.

Back on our coach, we make our way through the North West Highlands to reach the Black Isle then across the Moray Firth into Inverness. The tour will continue through the Cairngorms National Park then a descend through the Pass of Drumochter to reach Highland Perthshire, where there will be a stop.

The last part of our journey will be through the Kingdom of Fife, then across the Firth of Forth and into Edinburgh. The coach will continue to Glasgow, for those wishing to end the tour there.