Outer Hebrides & Skye Adventure 6 Day Tour

Day 1 Highlights include Dunkeld for a short forest walk to the Hermitage waterfalls, lunch in the Spey Valley overlooked by the Cairngorm Mountains, Loch Ness and the Corrieshalloch Gorge. Your overnight stop is the west coast fishing port of Ullapool.

Day 2 Your ferry will take you past the Summer Isles to the Isle of Lewis with opportunities to see dolphins, whales and seabirds. You are on the north west edge of Europe now and your afternoon is spent exploring historic blackhouses, crofting townships and the Butt of Lewis. 2 nights in Stornoway, capital of the Western Isles.

Day 3 Highlights include the pre-historic stone broch at Dun Carloway, Gearrannan blackhouse village, the famous Callanish stone circles and the remote beaches and communities of Great Bernera or Uig. This is the wilderness of the Western Isles at its finest.

Day 4 Today you explore the Isle of Harris, famous for its locally produced Harris Tweed, and home to the highest mountains in the Outer Hebrides and the stunning white sands of Luskentyre. Following a visit to the historic 16th century church at Rodel and lunch in nearby Leverburgh you travel over the sea to Skye, for your overnight stay in the picturesque town of Portree.

Day 5 Today is a very flexible day on Skye. You will discover the stunning Quiraing mountain pass and enjoy a spectacular walk through some of Skye’s extraordinary geological scenery. Neist Point for a walk out to the lighthouse at the most westerly point on Skye. We return you to your accommodation in Portree.

Day 6 Your return to Edinburgh has many highlights – the Cuillin Mountains of Skye, a visit to Eilean Donan Castle, Fort William, the dramatic scenery and dark history of Glencoe and the Falls of Dochart at Killin. An adventure to remember forever.

Departure Point
207 High St, Edinburgh. Click here to see map.

Return to Waverley Bridge opposite Waverley Train Station

Inclusions:
Transportation by top of the range Mercedes minicoach for a more personal experience with a maximum of 16 passengers on tour.
We believe a small group tour with a maximum of 16 passengers really does make a big difference to your trip. It allows us to give you a more personal service and remain the only 5 Star operator to offer this personal guarantee. Touring with a maximum of 16 passengers you get more for your money, more personal attention, more time with the locals, more time off the bus, more time on the back-roads and just more of an authentic, friendly experience. The smaller groups allow you to meet people from all over the world and make friends for life.
Air Conditioning as standard.
Services of a professional Rabbie's driver/guide
All ferry and bridge crossings.
Rabbie's Discount Card - money off restaurants, shopping and attractions.

Exclusions:
All meals and refreshments.
Entrance fees to all visitor attractions.

Accommodation
Your tour does not include accommodation in the price. By giving you a choice of accommodation it allows you to choose your budget, stay in smaller places and get closer to the local people. This also means you help to sustain the communities you visit in the long term. Choose a hotel, B&B or a hostel and we will book it for you.
For more information on accommodation and prices click here

*NB On occasions, when villages we stay in have events on, accommodation can be scarce and expensive so we may use other locations for your accommodation on the tour. We will always inform you of this when this is necessary.

Discount Price
Students, Seniors over 60 and Children between 5 and 16 (we regret we do not carry children under 5 years old)

Important Information
Because we believe in time off the bus and give you opportunities to take nature walks we recommend you bring suitable clothing and footwear for your tour. Scotland can be a wet place!!

Day 1 Departure point at 207 High Street, guests are requested to check in at least 15 minutes
before departure. Depart Edinburgh and travel north into the Highlands. First stop will be the historic village of
Dunkeld where you will take a short walk through the forest to some waterfalls. Continuing north the route passes through the Grampian Mountains to the Spey Valley where you will stop for lunch. In the afternoon you will visit the world famous Loch Ness. There will be time for a visit to the impressive waterfalls at Corrieshalloch Gorge before you arrive in the West Coast fishing port of Ullapool for your overnight stay.

Day 2 Catch the morning ferry from Ullapool for the 2 hour sail along Loch Broom, past the Summer Isles then out across the Minch to Stornoway – the main town on Lewis and capital of the Outer Hebrides. Look out for dolphins, whales and seabirds during the crossing. In the afternoon explore the North West coast from Arnol with its historic old “blackhouse”, through traditional crofting townships to Port of Ness and the very north tip of the island – the Butt of Lewis. From the lighthouse here there is nothing between you and the Americas! Overnight in Stornoway.

Day 3 Today will be spent exploring some of the prehistoric remains on the island as well as its finest beaches. The fascinating circular stone fort, or Broch, at Carloway will be your first stop followed by more traditional crofting communities such as Gearrannan and Shawbost. Then it’s on to Callanish with its mysterious ancient stone circle. In the afternoon you will head for the remote district of Uig with its fine, sandy beaches at Bhaltos, dramatic sea cliffs and rugged hills. This is the wilderness of the Western Isles at its finest. Overnight again in Stornoway.

Day 4 Travelling south today from the wild moorlands of Lewis to the more mountainous Harris – almost but not quite an island on its own. Famous for the locally produced cloth, Harris Tweed, it is also home to the highest mountains in the Outer Hebrides and the stunning white sands of Luskentyre. After a morning of exploring South Harris you will stop for lunch in the small port of Tarbet from where you will catch the late afternoon ferry to Skye. Once on Skye it is less than an hour to Portree, the island’s main town, and your overnight stay.

Day 5 Today is a very flexible day on Skye. There are many possibilities depending on the weather and your driver/guide’s knowledge will come to the fore in developing the best day out for you. For example you might travel north to the stunning Quiraing mountain pass and enjoy a spectacular walk through some of Skye’s extraordinary geological scenery or visit the Kilt Rock, composed of basalt columns (reminiscent of the pleats in a kilt) with its waterfall cascading over the cliffs and down into the sea below. After lunch you can travel to Neist Point for a walk out to the lighthouse at the most westerly point on Skye. Alternatively a visit to Dunvegan Castle, ancient ancestral seat of the Clan McLeod, may be possible. We return you to your accommodation in Portree in the late afternoon for you to enjoy a free evening in the village.

Day 6 Departing from Portree the return journey to Edinburgh has many highlights – the Cuillin Mountains, a visit to Eilean Donan Castle, Fort William and the dramatic scenery and dark history of Glencoe. Travelling back south through the Central Highlands the last stop of the day will be in Killin beside the Falls of Dochart before returning to Edinburgh.

Photography Credits: Visit Britain, Visit Scotland, Britainonview, Mike Hasted, Luke Sheppard, Ingrid Rasmussen, Pawel Libera, Tony Pleavin, Craig Easton, David Angel, Martin Brent, Bob Berry, Paul Watts