The Outer Hebrides & The Highlands

Arrive in Glasgow

You arrive in Glasgow today to meet your fellow travellers and Tour Manager. This lovely and industrial city has become one of Scotland's best tourist highlights, with amazing architecture delightfully representing the old beauty of the city, and combining with the more modern pieces that showcase the more modern wonderland that this revived city has become. You overnight here, with our first dinner served at the hotel this evening.

West Highland Line

Enjoy a journey on the magnificent West Highland Line from Glasgow to Fort William today. This spectacular rail journey travels under the gaze of moody mountains and over stone bridges on a route which takes in the best of the wild and dramatic landscapes of the Scottish Highlands.

This rail journey is widely regarded as one of the finest in the world, and for very good reason. Few things can beat the stunning and moody drama of the glorious Scottish Highlands, with purple heather running rampant over the moorlands and breathtaking mountain scenery.

We arrive in Fort William, where we transfer to our hotel. This evening, we enjoy dinner and a welcome drink.

Onwards to Outer Hebrides

We continue on the West Highland Line from Fort William to Mallaig today. From the beginning, this is an incredible stretch of one of the most beautiful railway lines in the world. Beginning with a journey along the brooding banks of Loch Eil we continue on to one of the highlights of this journey, the magnificent Glenfinnan Viaduct.

Built by Robert McAlpine, whose use of concrete earned him the nickname 'Concrete Bob', this famous example of Victorian architecture is truly a wonderful feat of engineering. This viaduct has also become well-known for its inclusion in Hollywood, being used in films such as 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets'. This stunning section also provides astonishing views of the brooding forests and ancient glens of central Scotland as it passes by Ben Nevis, the tallest mountain in the UK.

As we draw nearer to Mallaig, we begin to catch sight of the beautiful coast of Scotland, and on a clear day, it is even possible to see across to the Isle of Skye, one of the islands of the Outer Hebrides.

On arrival in Mallaig, we continue by coach through Skye. From here, we travel by ferry to the Outer Hebrides and Stornoway.

The Outer Hebrides

We take a full-day coach excursion today visiting many of the attractions that the Outer Hebrides has to offer. We begin with the Butt of Lewis, an atmospheric and desolate area that is the most northerly point of Lewis. We then head to the Port of Ness, a pretty little fishing village, where we have some time at leisure.

Next we adjourn to the Callanish Standing Stones and the accompanying visitor centre. The stones were erected in the late Neolithic period and were used for rituals during the Bronze Age, and is surrounded by local legends. We are accompanied by our specialist local guide, who is full of fascinating insights about this wonderful island.

Through Uists

We travel by coach through Uists today, stopping at the Kildonnan Museum, which showcases the history of Uists, as well as being the home to the Clan Ranald Stone. This stone was carved in the late 1500s, and after going missing in 1990, was eventually discovered in a flat in London, and now resides in its homeland. We break for lunch before visiting Flora McDonald's birthplace, a Jacobite heroine who is said to have smuggled Bonnie Prince Charlie to the Isle of Skye, inspiring the traditional 'Skye Boat Song'.

After some time at leisure, we transfer back to the ferry terminal, where we sail back to Leverburgh and transfer to our hotel.

Stornoway to Inverness

We enjoy a morning sightseeing tour of Stornoway, the largest town in the Outer Hebrides. Some of the sights that can be seen around this area are the lovely turn-of-the-century Town Hall, and impressive Lews Castle, a beautiful crenellated Victorian-style fortress built in the 19th century for the man who'd bought the entire Isle of Lews, Sir James Matheson.

After time for lunch, we transfer to Ullapool on the mainland. We enjoy a coach journey through the awe-inspiring scenery of the northern Highlands of Scotland on our way to Inverness, an iconic city on the east coast of the country. We arrive into Inverness just in time for dinner, and we check into our overnight hotel here.

Inverness to Glasgow

Enjoy a morning at leisure in Inverness today, taking in some of the most delightful sights. You may like to walk by the banks of the River Ness, which feeds the famous Loch Ness, and enjoy the sights that line the banks. One of the delightful sights is Inverness Castle that overlooks the river. Although it is not possible to enter Inverness Castle, it is still an arrestingly delightful sight that is perfect for your last full day in Scotland.

You may also like to visit Inverness Cathedral, and delight in its beautiful nave. This afternoon, we take the train onwards to Glasgow, where we enjoy a final farewell meal at our hotel.

Departure day

Following breakfast this morning you are free to depart at your leisure.

Chris Ryan

The Outer Hebrides section of the tour is guided by a local specialist guide Chris Ryan. Chris came to live on the Isle of Lewis in 1993, taking up residence in his wife's croft which had been in her family for many generations. Chris was the first professional guide on the Isle of Lewis.

Recommended Airport

We recommend that for this tour you arrange flights to and from Glasgow Airport (MAN), which is approximately 14 miles from your base in Glasgow. 

Departure Times

You may check in at the first hotel on your itinerary anytime after 14:00; your Tour Manager will be available between 16:00 and 18:00. However, if you are arriving later, you can meet your Tour Manager before dinner from 19:00.