The Grand Highlands and Islands private tour
Standing among the ancient Calanais (Callanish) Stones on the Isle of Lewis, tracing the ridgeline of the Quiraing on Skye, stepping into the 5000-year-old homes of Skara Brae on Orkney, and finally reaching Jarlshof on Shetland — Scotland's most northerly archipelago — this is a comprehensive journey in one grand private tour.
What makes this the definitive Grand Highlands and Islands journey is what each region brings to the story:
- Outer Hebrides and the Isle of Skye (The West): Home to the Calanais Stones — a cross-shaped setting of ancient Lewisian gneiss erected over 5000 years ago on a ridge above a sea loch, in the landscape that shaped them. Skye then brings the drama of the Quiraing and Trotternish Peninsula, along with Dunvegan Castle, ancestral seat of Clan MacLeod.
- Orkney and Shetland (The North): Home to the UNESCO Heart of Neolithic Orkney, where Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar and Maeshowe form the most significant concentration of Neolithic monuments in Western Europe. Shetland then carries the story forward through four thousand years at Jarlshof, and out to Britain's most northerly inhabited island, Unst.
The complete journey
The Grand Highlands and Islands Tour is structured as two dedicated multi-day private tours with a mainland breather between them in Inverness — the most rewarding way to take in all four island groups without rushing any of them.
The West: Outer Hebrides and Isle of Skye
We begin by heading west from Inverness. The 5 Day Outer Hebrides and Isle of Skye Private Tour takes you across the Minch to delve into the rich archaeological and cultural landscapes of Lewis and Harris, before crossing to Skye to explore the Trotternish Peninsula, the Quiraing and Dunvegan Castle.
The pause: a free day in Inverness
After your return journey through the Highlands and arrival back in Inverness, we break the west and northern legs with a relaxed free day for yourself in the city. This gives you the ideal opportunity to rest, walk along the River Ness, explore the Highland capital at your own pace, and enjoy a peaceful day to yourselves before the second leg of your island adventure begins.
The North: Orkney and Shetland
Refreshed from your free day in Inverness, you head north through spectacular coastal scenery to catch the ferry to Orkney. The 7 Day Orkney, Shetland and Highlands Private Tour covers 5,000 years of history including Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar, Maeshowe and the Broch of Gurness on Orkney, before an overnight ferry to Shetland for Jarlshof, Sumburgh Head, St Ninian's Isle and the Isle of Unst.
Start dates and booking ahead
Because of the ferry connections that anchor both legs of the journey, the Grand Highlands and Islands Tour can only begin on a Monday. As the full route requires 13 consecutive days of availability on my calendar, this is the one itinerary where I'd strongly encourage booking well in advance — securing a 13-day block gets harder the closer you get to your travel dates, particularly across the busier summer months.
How do I enquire about the tour?
The first step is simply to email me directly at info@thehebrideanexplorer.com with your ideal travel dates. I will then reply with availability and a detailed tour quotation (with absolutely no obligation to proceed at this stage) — I usually reply to enquiries within 24 hours.
P.S. — I don't guide many of these in a season, so if it's on your list, an early enquiry gives us the best chance of finding you a Monday that works.