Explore Scotland’s remote westernmost islands
A fascinating adventure for women on the edge of Europe exploring the rugged, windswept landscapes of the Outer Hebrides interspersed with lovely green pastures, white sandy beaches, the turquoise waters of the Atlantic ocean – and the warmest hospitality!
*This women’s walking tour is scheduled on just one departure date this season. You may, however, be interested in our standard tour to the Outer Hebrides with the same itinerary departing in June and August.
This string of islands flung into the Atlantic ocean, on the edge of Europe conjures up remoteness, mystery and true wilderness. As different as the Outer Hebrides are from the mainland, they are even more surprisingly different from each other. The stark moorlands of Lewis give way to the rugged hills of Harris followed by the island-scattered Uists with their endless white sandy beaches and turquoise waters. The Isle of Barra, a small rocky outpost, is the most southerly of the inhabited islands.
and feel hugged by an ever present wind! Within the raw nature of these landscapes you find wilderness and wildlife but also ancient history, evident by the amazing collection of monuments such as the neolithic standing stones of Callanish and the Pictish Carloway Broch.
There are small but vibrant communities which form the last bastion of truly Gaelic culture. Here life happens at a refreshingly gentle pace with people eking a modest living from croft farming, fishing and the weaving of their famous cloth, Harris Tweed.
The hiking on this trip is easy to moderate, though rough, rocky and often wet underfoot. Generally, we will be hiking no more than 4 hours per day as this trip also requires a fair bit of travel and time to see some of the significant cultural and historic sites the islands offer.
Spotting seals, otters, eagles and a multitude of seabirds is very much part of any outdoor experience in Scotland as is strolling on a white beach, exploring a romantic castle and discovering evidence of past lives where sometimes you least expect. Unwind in the expanse of natural wilderness, enjoy delicious and scenic picnics and a ‘wee blether’ with the locals in the pub at the end of the day!
The archipelago is a natural paradise for birds such as eagles and harriers but also corncrakes, redshank and waders. Particularly stunning in early summer are the beautiful blooming machairs, flowering meadows along the sandy beaches. Offshore, and often visible from land, visitors can spot dolphins, basking sharks and even whales. A unique experience to remember from your trip to the Outer Hebrides.
A wonderful bonus of your holiday is travelling from and back to Stirling through some of Scotland’s most iconic landscapes: the rolling hills and big tree forests of Perthshire, the mountainous Cairngorms National Park, the impressive Moray Firth estuary near Inverness and finally the remote and wild western seaboard. En route we stop at the spectacular Corrieshalloch Gorge for a short walk before we board the ferry in Ullapool for our sailing to Stornoway.
*Journey time 5 hours; Walking: 1 hour, 1 km; Overnight Stornoway, Isle of Lewis
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Ness is the name of the northern tip of Lewis. A fabulous hike on top of spectacular cliffs and along sandy beaches, leaning into the wind, watching sea birds nesting in the cliffs and enjoying our first day in these wild Hebriden elements. The 35m Stevenson lighthouse at the end of our trail calls for admiration both for its brave architecture and Scotland’s most windy location. We find out about land use, crofting, the traditional black houses and we may even witness some traditional peat cutting underway.
En route south to the Isle of Harris we explore the famous Callanish Standing Stones. This 5000 year old UNESCO World Heritage site is an unusual assembly of remarkable menhirs with many unresolved mysteries surrounding this structure.
*Walking: 4 hours with breaks, 12 km, undulating; Overnight Isle of Harris
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An ancient route, this former ‘postman’s’ trail takes us across rocky hills and cliffs to the remote village of Rhenigadale and gives insight into past times and more difficult livelihoods. We pass the ruined houses of this settlement with a history to tell whilst enjoying sweeping views across the Minch to the Isle of Skye and the mainland beyond.
In the afternoon we’ll venture east to the small island of Scalpay. Although now linked to Harris by a bridge this island is another world apart. Our hike takes us to an impressive 19th century lighthouse Eilean Glass and along a rugged and beautiful coastline where we look out for an otter, seals and seabirds.
*Walking: 4 hours, 8 km, undulating; Overnight Isle of Harris
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One of Scotland’s most scenic roads is the Golden Road along the eastern rocky shoreline of Harris. Remote, rugged and wildly beautiful this is a difficult place for crofters to scrape a living and they turned to weaving the now world famous Harris Tweed cloth. We’ll visit a family owned small museum bearing witness to this history and the cloth’s ongoing success in tradition and fashion.
Turning west we find Scotland’s most beautiful and most renowned beach, Luskentyre. You’ll be mesmerised by turquoise waves rolling onto white sand and may be tempted to a brave dip but could you resist a breezy amble along this amazing beach with its unbeatable coastal setting?
*Walking: as you please; Overnight Isle of Harris
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Today we bid farewell to Harris and board the ferry for Berneray en route to North Uist – a wonderful sea journey meandering through a scattering of little islands to Berneray from where we drive across a causeway to North Uist and on to Benbecula.
It is time for a hill: Rueval, at its mere 130m hight offers superb views of a water infused landscape littered with hundreds of fresh water lochans meeting the Minch to the east and the Atlantic ocean in the west.
En route north we visit the ruin of the 13th century Augustinian nunnery Trinity Temple in its beautiful setting and imagine a different and much busier place in pre-reformation times.
*Ferry 1 hr, Driving 2.5 hrs, Walking: 2.5 hrs with breaks, 5 km, alt 130 m; Overnight North Uist
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Traigh an Iar’s beach lines the north of North Uist and its crescent of white sandy dunes and breathtakingly beautiful flower strewn machair is unmissable and we spend as much time walking and beach combing as our hearts desire.
In the afternoon we explore the local nature reserve at Balranald with its craggy foreshore and rockpools and wildflower-rich grassland.
Then the last walk to prehistoric Barpa Langass chambered cairn and the evocative Pobull Fhinn stone circle – the perfect finale to our week on the Outer Hebrides.
*Walking: 4 Hours plus breaks, 8km, alt 150m; Overnight North Uist
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This morning we catch the ferry from North Uist to the Isle of Skye (2 hrs) and continue our journey south taking in the very different beauty of the famous Isle of Skye, mainland lakes and forested mountains before we reach Stirling.
*Sea journey 2 hours, drive to Stirling 5 hrs. Arrival time around 17:00 – 18:00hrs.
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*Please note that this programme may be changed according to weather conditions and group ability.
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Enjoy comfortable, authentic and friendly hospitality in well chosen small hotels on the Isle of Lewis, Harris, North Uist and South Uist.
If you are a single traveller and happy to share a twin room, please let us know. For single accommodation a supplement applies depending on availability.
We think small is beautiful and therefore our groups have the personable size of no more than 8 persons. The group is accompanied throughout by an experienced and knowledgeable guide to make your holiday a wonderful and enjoyable experience.
Fitness
This holiday is designed for guests with a good general level of fitness, balance and mobility. We hike mostly on good paths which may, however, be narrow, rough, uneven, rocky and slippery when wet.
You should to be sure footed, have experience hiking on unpaved trails and be comfortable on hilly terrain and ascents of up to 250 metres.
Equipment & Clothing
Following your booking, we send you our recommended kit list which you may find helpful.
Travel Insurance
We also strongly advise that you take out a comprehensive travel insurance to provide cover in case of an accident, loss of luggage, cancellations, delays etc. It makes for an even more relaxed holiday.
