9 (or 12) Day Grand Scottish Islands Private Tour

Departing early from Inverness, we travel to the coastal village of Ullapool to board the ferry for a 2¾ hour crossing of the Minch. Arriving in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis (my home island), we spend the afternoon stepping back through millennia of Hebridean history. We explore the magnificent Neolithic Calanais Standing Stones, the formidable 2,000-year-old Dun Carloway Broch, and the traditional thatched blackhouses that once sheltered island families for generations. We conclude our first day at the secluded Atlantic beach of Dalbeg before returning to Stornoway for our overnight stay.

Heading south from Stornoway, we cross into the Isle of Harris. The drive along the Atlantic coastline reveals the breath-taking white sands and turquoise waters of Seilebost and Nisabost. At the southern tip of the island, we visit Rodel to explore the medieval St Clement’s Church – home to one of Scotland’s most remarkable 16th-century tomb carvings. After a late afternoon pause in the ferry port of Tarbert, we journey back through the rugged North Harris hills to Stornoway for our overnight stay.

After some morning free time to enjoy the island capital of Stornoway, we venture west into the remote parish of Uig. This is a landscape of dramatic coastal scenery, where we explore the stunning Atlantic beaches of Ardroil, Valtos, and Reef. After an afternoon immersed in the wild panoramas and history of the west coast, we return to Stornoway for our overnight stop.

We spend our final morning at the Butt of Lewis – the most northerly point of the Hebrides – where a lonely lighthouse stands guard over towering cliffs and the crashing Atlantic waves. Returning to Stornoway, we visit Museum nan Eilean within the gothic splendor of Lews Castle to see the world-famous Lewis Chessmen. The early afternoon ferry carries us back across the Minch to Ullapool, followed by a scenic drive through the mountainous scenery of the Northwest Highlands as we return to Inverness for our overnight stop.

We break our west and northern journeys with a relaxed day touring out of Inverness. In the morning we visit Culloden Battlefield to explore the dramatic history of the Highland clans and the Jacobite uprisings. After walking the battlefield where the 1745-6 Rising met its tragic end, we journey a short distance to the Bronze Age Clava Cairns. Dating back over 4000 years, these standing stones offer a fascinating glimpse into the ancient past of the Highlands. In the afternoon we follow the legendary banks of Loch Ness to explore the medieval ruins of Urquhart Castle, once one of the most formidable strongholds in the Highlands. We then return to Inverness for our final overnight stop.

Depart Inverness for a scenic three hour journey through the North Highlands to the ferry port of Scrabster. This coastal drive offers stunning views and a stop in the historic town of Dornoch. We then cross the Pentland Firth (1½ hour ferry sailing) passing the iconic Old Man of Hoy, before arriving in the picturesque port of Stromness. The late-afternoon is dedicated to a tour of Skara Brae, a remarkably preserved 5,000-year-old Neolithic village, before we settle into the historic capital of Kirkwall for our two night stay.

Our first full day on Orkney is spent uncovering the mysteries of the Orkney mainland. We explore the Neolithic standing stones of Stenness, the monumental Ring of Brodgar, and the 2,000-year-old Broch of Gurness. The journey includes a visit to the chambered tomb of Maeshowe and the poignant Italian Chapel, built during WWII. We conclude our day in Kirkwall with time to admire the red sandstone majesty of St Magnus Cathedral and the ruins of the Earl’s Palace.

Our second full day on Orkney provides the opportunity to venture beyond the main sites. We can focus on the dramatic Atlantic coastline, visiting the towering cliffs of Yesnaby and the tidal island of Birsay, along with free time in Kirkwall – or perhaps enjoy a tasting at the Highland Park or Scapa whisky distilleries. Alternatively, for those interested in Orkney's naval history, we can sail across Scapa Flow to the Isle of Hoy, visiting the acclaimed Scapa Flow Museum along with the secluded, towering cliffs of Rackwick Bay.

Departing from Kirkwall, we head to Stromness for the mid-morning ferry back to the Scottish mainland. Our return journey to Inverness follows a beautiful coastal route, featuring a mid-afternoon visit to the breathtaking Dunrobin Castle. With its towering spires and formal gardens overlooking the sea, the castle provides a beautiful finale to our exploration of the North before we arrive back in Inverness.

For those wishing to extend their journey to include Shetland, I offer a 12 Day Scottish Islands Tour from Inverness (May to September). This route follows the standard tour until the end of Day 8 – after an evening meal in Kirkwall we catch the late ferry (11.45pm) from Kirkwall for an overnight sailing to Lerwick in Shetland.

Day 9 – Shetland (South Mainland): Arriving in Lerwick harbour in the early morning (7.30am), we enjoy breakfast on the ferry before exploring the south mainland of Shetland. Sumburgh Head is our first stop – a haven for seabirds (including puffins from mid-May to July). Next is Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse settlement which spans over four thousand years. The afternoon takes us on a beautiful coastal drive to the breath-taking St Ninian's Isle where you can hike across the sands to the island before we return north to Lerwick for our overnight stay.

Day 10 — Shetland (Isle of Unst): A day to explore the most northernly inhabited island in Scotland – Unst. Departing from Lerwick we drive north to catch the 20-minute ferry crossing to Yell. After a scenic drive through Yell we take the short 10-minute ferry crossing to Unst. We spend the late morning and early afternoon exploring the island, with visits to Muness Castle, Haroldswick, Burra Firth and Saxa Vord, before our return to Lerwick in the late afternoon.

Day 11 — Shetland (North Mainland): Departing from Lerwick we head towards the north Shetland mainland. Arriving at Eshaness we savour the dramatic cliffs and sea stacks of Shetland’s stunning coastal landscape. We then enjoy a scenic drive around Scalloway and Burra before returning to Lerwick. The afternoon includes a visit the Shetland Museum and some free time to meander through Lerwick town and harbour. In the late afternoon we board the ferry from Lerwick for an overnight sailing to Aberdeen (departing at either 5.30pm or 7pm depending on travel dates).

Day 12 — Aberdeen to Inverness: Arriving in Aberdeen at dawn, we journey south to the formidable ruins of Dunnottar Castle, perched atop a sheer cliff overlooking the North Sea. This fortress once guarded the Scottish Crown Jewels and remains one of the most iconic sites in the country. Our return journey to the Highlands takes us through the heart of Speyside, where we enjoy a tour and tasting at a renowned malt whisky distillery, before concluding our tour in Inverness.