2021 Tour code: OHS21
About the tour
Soak up the spectacular natural majesty of some of Scotland's most scenic spots. We visit the idyllic Outer Hebrides and the ever-dramatic Highlands, and journey through some of the most spectacular Scottish scenery on the famous West Highland Line.
Highlights
What’s included
Itinerary
We meet in Glasgow, a city which has become one of Scotland's best tourist highlights. The striking architecture here delightfully represents the old beauty of the city, which contrasts against contemporary areas that showcase the modern-day revival of the industrial city. We spend the night here
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Reviews
4.1 / 5 · 79 reviews
P Moody
Submitted 4/Oct
Good experience
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Andy Bebington
Submitted 30/Sep
A full programme (with little free time) became hectic when the ferry terminal at Tarbert forced a change of plan (and of route to Lewis) - too much coach travel for our liking - some hotel bar prices are exorbitant; be careful - overall the hotels were comfortable - excellent local guide on Lewis added immensely to our enjoyment of the historic sights/sites - he gave us a strong understanding of current Hebridean life to contrast with our city life in the south-east - scenery on West Highland Line memorable - wildlife sightings disappointing despite white-tailed eagles, hooded crows, ravens, seals and gannets. We felt lucky to get away in these Covid times and were relieved to have GRJ running the show and taking control of unexpected issues (such as a closed hotel kitchen - chef Covid positive and the change of route to Lewis). We tacked a 3-day city break in Glasgow to the end of the trip and came back feeling we'd been away for far longer than ten days, tired but happy.
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MW Salisbury
Submitted 29/Sep
We are familiar with well-delivered GRJ package tours. Although we enjoyed our recent GRJ Outer Hebrides and The Islands holiday, it was not one of the better ones. Having previously lived on Benbecula, we can understand why the Uists' section of the tour was cancelled as other people may have found it boring. We were disappointed to receive the details of our tour electronically – not by hardcopy – and addressed to only to one - not both of us – barely ten days before the start of our tour. One of pleasures of touring is reading-up beforehand. Our GRJ Tour Manager, David Houghton, proved to be pleasant and conscientious; he dealt with Fort William chef being COVID-pinged and the long diversion to Ullapool caused by the closure of Tarbert ferry terminal with great tact and empathy. Our local guide, Chris Ryan, also gave us a fascinating and informative insight into life on Harris and Lewis. The GRJ concept of small group travel is well proven and thoroughly recommended. We remained to be convinced that Glasgow is sufficiently tourist-friendly city to while-away 0930 to 1130. We were offered a trip on the Glasgow Underground and a brief visit to a Botanic Garden. We chose a 90-minute City Bus-tour. I think we made the better choice as it was a pleasant sunny morning. However, the trip cost £14 each – could GRJ get a discounted ticket for their clients? We much appreciated not having our heavy luggage when boarding the train at Glasgow Queen St and Inverness. The inability to book reserve seats on ScotRail West Highland and Grampian line trains is a serious shortcoming to the enjoyment of what are potentially spectacular rail journeys. Much as we enjoyed our tour of Harris and Lewis, we thought it was a serious shortcoming to be on the island on Sunday without access to WC before midday as only seeing the exteriors of the black-houses. We strongly recommend the tour programme takes this factor into account. We were already vaguely familiar with Inverness, so opted to visit the Culloden Battlefield site instead of taking-part in an organised walking-tour around the city of Inverness. We very much enjoyed our morning at Culloden; we spent an hour wandering through well-designed display area before being given an excellent and entertaining 45-minute guided tour of the battlefield. I thoroughly recommend that Culloden should be included in the tour itinerary or at the very least the GRJ tour bus drops those that prefer to visit Culloden at the site on its way to the city centre. We think that it would be well worth considering including crossing the Forth Rail Bridge and the Ben Nevis Gondola ride as part of the tour itinerary if went anti-clockwise from Edinburgh instead of clockwise from Glasgow. If so, the tour would have to be undertaken in reverse order Day 1: 0836 Glasgow – Inverness; lunch or sandwiches in Inverness; afternoon Culloden. Day 2: Inverness to Stornoway via Ullapool. Day 3: Harris. Day 4: Lewis. Day 5: To Fort William via Tarbert-Uig ferry and Mallaig train; 1610 Mallaig – Fort William. Day 6: 0930 – 1030 Ben Nevis Gondola; 1140 Fort William – Arrochar &Tarbert*; then bus to Edinburgh. * Bus beside Loch Lomond rather than indifferent train journey through the Clydeside suburbs Helensburgh to Glasgow Queen St.
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Jeremy Williams
Submitted 29/Sep
The Stornaway hotel room no. 9 was jaded and tired. View of large flat roof and industrial building was most disappointing. Maybe block book the even numbered rooms with better views? Their breakfast was poor with cold plates and lukewarm uncovered food at the start of service. Carolyn our tour guide was excellent and so helpful and well organised. The local guide on Lewis was amazing and so knowledgeable it really made the trips informative and enjoyable.
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Carolyn Goodhew
Submitted 28/Sep
This is a great tour but very dependent on the weather. Fortunately for me the weather was glorious. The landscape on Lewis and Harris is wild and the beaches are just stunning.
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R Mauchline
Submitted 28/Sep
hotels good and tour manager very helpful. Guide on Islands very interesting and informative
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