7 Day Outer Hebrides, Isle of Skye, Mull and Iona Tour

Day 1 – An early start from Inverness to the coastal village of Ullapool where we board the ferry for a 2½ hour journey across the Minch to the Isle of Lewis and its main town of Stornoway (my native town). From there we spend the afternoon exploring the magnificent Neolithic Calanais Standing Stones, the 2000 year old Dun Carloway Broch and a traditional Hebridean blackhouse. We finish the day at the beautiful Atlantic coastal beach of Dalbeg before our return to Stornoway for our overnight stay.

Day 2 – With a full day in the Outer Hebrides we head south to the Isle of Harris. The drive along the Atlantic coastline of Harris includes the stunning beaches at Seilebost and Nisabost. We visit Rodel to explore the historic medieval St Clement’s church, home to one of Scotland's most remarkable 16th century tombs. The late afternoon takes us back to Tarbert before we return north to Stornoway for our overnight stop.

Day 3 – Departing from Stornoway we head north to the Butt of Lewis (the most northerly point in the Hebrides) for the dramatic views of the cliffs and the North Atlantic. We return to Stornoway where we explore Museum nan Eilean in Lews Castle and visit their collection of Lewis Chessmen. The afternoon takes us south to Tarbert where we take a 1¾ hour ferry across to the Isle of Skye before our slightly later arrival in Portree (approx. 7pm) for our overnight stay.

Day 4 – A full day on Isle of Skye begins with a tour around the stunning Trotternish peninsula including the Museum of Island Life, the Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock and the magnificent views from the Quiraing. The afternoon takes us across to Dunvegan Castle, home of the Clan Macleod, one of the Hebrides most powerful clans, before our return to Portree for our overnight stay.

Day 5 – Leaving from Portree we head south to Armadale where we take a 40 minute ferry journey across the Sound of Sleat to the West Highlands. We then travel south through the stunning landscape of Moidart with a visit to the ancient ruins of the fourteenth-century Castle Tioram. Located on a tidal island, it is possible to walk around the island at low tide. The afternoon takes us through the Morvern peninsula to Lochaline from where we take a 10 minute ferry across to the Isle of Mull, followed by a short drive to Tobermory for our overnight stop.

Day 6 – Departing from Tobermory we have a scenic two hour drive through the Isle of Mull to catch the ferry (15 minutes - pedestrian only) across to the beautiful Isle of Iona. We have around four hours on Iona where you can explore Iona Abbey, the museum and the ancient churchyard, along with time to enjoy the stunning scenery and coastline of this wonderful Hebridean island before we return on the afternoon ferry across to the Isle of Mull and back to Tobermory for our overnight stay.

Day 7 – Begins from Tobermory with a short drive south to visit the imposing Duart Castle, ancestral home of the Clan Maclean. After exploring this wonderfully restored thirteenth century Hebridean castle we take a short ferry across the Sound of Mull to Lochaline and then continue on towards Fort William. Our return drive north-east along the Great Glen to Inverness includes a visit to the medieval ruins of Inverlochy Castle along with the Caledonian Canal at Fort Augustus.