Outer Hebrides

This morning we make the short journey south to the island of Vatersay to enjoy the magical Castlebay Beaches on a circular walk lasting just over 2 hours.  In the afternoon we make the climb to the top of Heaval a 400 m summit that overlooks Barra and Vatersay to the south. 

Combined Walk Distance 12km / 7.5 miles

Today we leave Castlebay behind and travel north to walk around the Eilogarry Peninsula on a circular walk that passes Barra Airport where snack lunches are available.

Later we make the sail from Ardmhor Ferry Point to the Island of Eriskay where we experience history at close hand by following in the footsteps of Bonnie Prince Charlie who landed here 1745 and the much later event of the grounding of the SS Politician that sank with over 250,000 bottles of whisky on board and inspired the novel by Compton Compton Mackenzie and the later Ealing comedy film, Whisky Galore.   We walk these same glorious beaches before travelling across the causeway bridge to South Uist and on to Benbecula for our next two overnight stays.

Combined Walk Distance 14km / 8.75 miles

The day begins with a retrace of our journey back to South Uist to visit the beaches, machair, thatched cottages and ancient chapel ruins at Howmore and further on Cladh Hallan roundhouses dating back to the Late Bronze Age.  We then return to Benbecula, for two short walks, the first to the highest point on the island, Rueval (Ruabhal), offering a fantastic 360 degree view of water, islands, beaches, and mountains.

On a clear day St Kilda can be seen to the West and Skye to the East.  We then continue on to to the Isle of Flodaigh where we explore an area of sea inlets where seals bask at low tide with a chance to linger on a fine day and watch for birds and sea otters.  Overnight Benbecula.

Combined Walk Distance 12km / 7.5 miles

Today we leave Benbecula and journey over the long sea causeway to North Uist for a busy day of walking and exploring the islands wonderful beaches at Tràigh Vallaigh and, dependant on time and weather conditions, the crofting land at Lochmaddy before a reaching Berneray to end with the mid-afternoon ferry crossing over the Sound of Harris to  Leverburgh. 

Our arrival on Harris provides us with two short walking experiences at Renish Point to visit the Church of St Clements and  Ceapabhal, which gains its name from the 16th century Chapel at its foot and where the steep ascent is rewarded with stunning views along the beaches of Harris and the many islands in the Sound.  Overnight Tarbert.

Combined Walk Distance 24.5km / 15.3 miles (Tràigh Vallaigh / Renish Point / Ceapabhal)

Still on Harris we walk the historic Coffin Road where,  in ancient times, pall-bearers would carry the dead from the west side of Harris for burial on the machair on the exposed east. This is a circular walk and if time permits we find time to fit in a short visit to the Harris Eagle Observatory where a number of pairs of these magnificent birds  are located. Overnight Tarbert.

Combined Walk Distance 24.5km / 15.3 miles (Coffin Road and Eagle Observatory)

The penultimate stage of our Hebridean Tour takes us on to Lewis where we take a morning drive to visit the Callanish Standing Stones one of the most impressive prehistoric sites in the UK dating back over 5,000 years  Our walk combines the main site with two further stone circles nearby. 

There is café facilities on the site for a lunch break and in the afternoon we complete two short walks on the western side of the island, the Dun Carloway Broch and Moorland and the Aird Laimisiadair Circuit, Na Gearrannan circuits before heading east to Stornoway, the main town in the Outer Hebrides.  Overnight Stornoway

Combined Walk Distance 17km / 10.7 miles

Our final day tour takes us to, The Butt of Lewis, the most northerly point on the Outer Hebridean Islands, where we experience this remote location of magnificent beaches and dramatic scenery framed by an isolated lighthouse.  We then trace our rote back to Stornoway and if time permits we visit the east side of the island and the beautiful beaches at Tolsta before we spend some time around Stornoway on a walk to appreciate the history and architecture of the town including Lews Castle, the home of the medieval Lewis Chessmen.  Overnight Stornoway

Combined Walk Distance 12.6km / 7.8 miles (Butt of Lewis and Stornoway)

This morning we travel across the North Minch stretch of water to the Scottish Mainland at Ullapool before journeying on to Inverness, Capital of the Highlands, and our hotel on the banks of the River Ness.   Overnight Inverness

A mid-morning departure to travel the A9 main road connecting the north to the south where we make a lunch stop at the lovely Highland town of Pitlochry, site of one of the first hydro-electric dams in the country and also home of the smallest distillery in Scotland at Edradour.  Here we take in a tasting tour to celebrate the end of our holiday before travelling the last few miles to arrive late afternoon at our end point once again, in Stirling.