Outer Hebrides & The Scottish Highlands

Travel by ferry through the Summer Isles Explore a lighthouse and the rugged coastline of Lewis Wake up, enjoy your breakfast, and look out over Loch Broom as it glistens under the morning sky. First on the agenda today is a ferry journey across the sea. This two and a half-hour boat trip takes you through the Summer Isles to Stornoway, the main town of the Western Isles. But don’t spend your time snoozing and reading as you sail across the ocean; because if you look out to sea, you may spot dolphins and whales. Once you’ve arrived on Lewis and Harris, you head to the North West coast. Your driver-guide will make the most of what weather you’ve been blessed with and take you through traditional crofting towns and seaside ports. You spend the evening in Stornoway; a bustling port town and the home of Scotland’s most delicious black pudding.

Admire the landscapes that inspired Harris Tweed Cast your eyes upon the slender, blonde curves of Luskentyre beach It’s time for something a little more dramatic. It’s time to enter the region of Harris. Harris boasts the highest mountains in the Outer Hebrides and one of the most beautiful white-sandy beaches in Britain, Luskentyre. The area is also famous for Harris Tweed and myths that are as strange as they are poignant. After a morning of exploring the dramatic landscapes, you stop for lunch. Depending on the weather, we may even go for a picnic on the beach – so don’t forget to pack your sunglasses. Back onto the Isle of Lewis, you visit the Callanish Stone Circle. This prehistoric sight still mystifies archeologists today. A little down the road, you visit the stone fort of Dun Carloway. This structure was built before 100AD and has experienced more battles than you’ve had hot dinners. It’s a wonderful location to ponder over the vast swathes of history that have come before you. You head back to Stornoway in the late afternoon.

Step inside an ancient Scottish home at Arnol Blackhouse Spend the evening in Inverness, the ‘Capital of the Highlands’ Today, you travel through a landscape littered with crofting villages to Arnol Blackhouse. Here, you can experience what traditional farming life was like in these remote reaches without getting your hands too dirty. Following lunch, you head back to Stornoway where we take the ferry back to the mainland. We head straight for Inverness, the Capital of the Highlands and our final overnight stop.

Savour whisky at Royal Lochnagar distillery Visit Scone Palace, the ancient crowning place of the Kings of Scots This morning we leave Inverness and head for Tominoul, the highest village in the Highlands. Sitting on north side of the Cairngorm National Park, with its central square and 18th century buildings, Tomintoul is a fine example of a planned village. Next we head into Royal Deeside, the great valley of the River Dee that runs all the way from the sweeping mountains to the Aberdeenshire coast. We pay a visit to the Royal Lochnagar Whisky Distillery, where you can witness the craftsmanship of the distillers who make one of Scotland’s finest 12 year old single malts. Following our distillery visit it’s time to relax over a leisurely lunch in the charming village of Braemar in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. This beautiful and remote village feels like the Highlands of a bygone era. Set amongst majestic mountains, peat coloured rivers and cool dark forests, it’s easy to see why the British Royal Family have made this area their favourite summer retreat. From here the route south passes over Scotland’s highest mountain pass, through Highland Perthshire before stopping at Scone Palace*, the home of Scotland’s legendary Coronation Stone, better known as the Stone of Destiny. From here it’s a short journey back to Edinburgh.