Visiting the exposed Western Isles of Scotland can be exhilarating and breath-taking, but it can also prove challenging from a logistical point of view.
However, The People’s Friend Travel can remove the stress of organising the trip to these islands, while offering readers the opportunity to experience some of their magic. Our Grand Tour of the Outer Hebrides package tour visits nine different islands, with four ferry trips included!
Here is a taste of the tour, and what you can expect when visiting each island…
Lewis
Lewis is home to the 5,000 year old Standing Stones of Callanish – a collection of almost 50 stones forming a well-marked megalithic avenue, comprising 19 monoliths, and ending in a circle of 13 stones with a great cairn at the centre.
Harris
Compared to Lewis, Harris offers a more mountainous vista. This is particularly apparent when travelling along the coast, with superb views to the island of Taransay, famous for hosting the BBC One television show “Castaway”.
North Uist
The highlight of North Uist is the RSPB reserve at Balranald. A circular walk of around 3 miles takes us through sandy dunes and flower-strewn machair – the low-lying coastal plain – which supports a wide range of birds such as turnstones, lapwings, corn buntings, and the rare corncrake.
Benbecula
The “stepping stone” between North & South Uist, the island features terrific sand dunes and has a population of around 1,300 residents. That’s 1,300 human residents – be sure to keep an eye out for otters and other local wildlife, too.
South Uist
The second largest island in the Western Isles, South Uist is also home to the Kildonan Museum, which houses an archaeology room where finds can be cleaned and examined by visiting groups.
Eriskay
The little island of Eriskay, just three miles long and two miles wide, boasts a great sandy beach known as Prince Charlie’s Bay – named after Bonnie Prince Charlie, who landed here in July 1745.
Vatersay
This is the westernmost permanently inhabited place in Scotland and Great Britain, home to Iron Age and Bronze Age remains, as well as otters, herons and seals, and it can be visited by means of the causeway linking it to Barra.
Barra
Barra, on the southern tip of the Outer Hebrides, is the location of the majestic medieval Kisimul Castle, and also the Cockleshell Beach, Traigh Mhor, which serves as the island’s airport.
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Skye
The Isle of Skye has a romantic history and a scenic beauty all of its own. It’s particularly famous for its mountain scenery, and although the peaks are often obscured by a veil of mist, the resulting magical, haunting effect stays long in the memory.
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The Holiday
Our 2017 packages for The Grand Tour of the Outer Hebrides are now available, but please remember, these tours can sell-out months in advance.
2017 Departure Dates:
- 26 March from £655 per person
- 7 & 28 May from £755 per person
- 18 June, 9 July, 6 August & 24 September from £785 per person
To receive a free fully details brochure, or if you are interested in booking, please call 01224 338004 and quote PF723 or visit our tour offer web page here.
For all of the holiday offers attributed with The People’s Friend magazine, click here.
Alex Corlett I am the "Friend's" Features Editor, working with the talented Features Team to bring you everything from cryptic crosswords to financial advice, knitting patterns to international travel and inspirational real life stories. Always on the hunt for a new feature idea, I also enjoy cycling and love a good tea room.
