7 Day Outer Hebrides, Isle of Skye, Orkney and Highlands Private Tour

A Grand Scottish Islands private tour from Inverness through the Highlands to the Outer Hebrides, the Isle of Skye and Orkney over seven days.

Day 1 – An early start from Inverness to the coastal village of Ullapool where we board the ferry for a 2¾ hour journey across the Minch to the Isle of Lewis (my native island) and its main town of Stornoway. From there we spend the afternoon exploring the magnificent Neolithic Calanais Standing Stones, the 2000 year old Dun Carloway Broch and a traditional Hebridean blackhouse. We finish the day at the beautiful beach at Dalbeg before our return to Stornoway for our overnight stay.

Day 2 – Departing from Stornoway we head south to the Isle of Harris. The drive along the Atlantic coastline of Harris includes the stunning beaches at Seilebost and Nisabost. We visit Rodel to explore the medieval St Clement’s church, home to one of Scotland's most remarkable 16th century tombs. The late afternoon takes us back to Tarbert before we return north to Stornoway for our overnight stay.

Day 3 – Departing from Stornoway we travel south to Tarbert where we take a 1¾ hour late morning ferry across the Little Minch to Uig on the Isle of Skye. The afternoon takes us around the stunning Trotternish peninsula including the Museum of Island Life, the Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock and the magnificent views from the Quiraing before our arrival in Portree for our overnight stay.

Day 4 – Leaving Portree we spend the morning at Dunvegan Castle, home of the clan Macleod, one of the Hebrides most powerful clans. After a visit to the old bridge at Sligachan with its great view of the peaks of the Black Cuillin, we cross the bridge to the mainland where we savour a distance view of Eilean Donan Castle before our return to Inverness for an overnight stay.

Day 5 – Departing Inverness with a morning drive to the far North of Scotland and the ferry port of Scrabster near Thurso. The drive north covers wonderful coastal scenery and normally takes around 3-4 hours including photo stops and a brief visit to the historic town of Dornoch. Our 1½ hour ferry journey includes a great view of the Old Man of Hoy before our arrival in Orkney where we visit Skara Brae, a 5000 year old Neolithic village settlement – one of the highlights of the tour – before heading for our overnight stay in Kirkwall.

Day 6 – A full day on the Orkney mainland that includes a visit to Maeshowe Neolithic chambered tomb. We also explore the Neolithic standing stones of Stenness, the Ring of Brodgar and the 2000 year old Broch of Gurness. After visiting the Italian Chapel and the Churchill Barriers, the late afternoon is spent in Kirkwall at St Magnus Cathedral and the Earl’s Palace before our overnight stay.

Day 7 – Leaving Kirkwall we visit Stromness where we have a little time to explore this picturesque fishing town before our mid-morning ferry across the Pentland Firth to Scrabster on the Scottish mainland. We then enjoy a beautiful coastal tour back towards Inverness including a mid-afternoon visit to explore the breath-taking Dunrobin Castle with its wonderful gardens.