Uniquely Scotland

HEBRIDEAN HOTSPOTS - 17 DAY TOUR

This 17-day (16 nights) self drive holiday is our “Hebridean Hotspots” itinerary and allows you to experience several of the most beautiful Western Isles including the Inner Hebridean islands of Skye, Mull and Islay, and the Outer Hebridean islands of Harris and Lewis. The itinerary will take you to some of the most remote and beautiful parts of Scotland with the opportunity to see a wide range of Scotland’s unique Highland landscapes, wildlife, and stunning white sand beaches on the Isles of Harris & Lewis. It will also give you the opportunity to explore the rich culture, history and heritage found throughout Scotland. This itinerary starts in Glasgow and ends in Edinburgh, but we can be flexible to suit. 

N.B. If you wish to add on extra Isles such as North & South Uist, Orkney (& the North Coast 500!) or even some of the smaller Isles, please let us know and we can explore the options available. 

Prices from: £5,938 GBP (£2,969 per person based on 2 sharing)

Price includes:

•   x16 nights in our carefully selected accommodation based on x1 double room (See below for more information on accommodation)

• Car Hire (Medium/ Large, manual transmission, 4/5 door)

• Breakfast every day 

• Car & passenger ferry tickets from Kennacraig to Port Ellen (Islay) and return, Oban to Craignure (Mull) and return, Mallaig to Armadale (Skye), Uig (Skye) to Tarbert (Harris) and Stornoway (Lewis) to Ullapool

•    Itinerary planning and consultation

•   Personalised information package for your tour, including your detailed itinerary and   what there is to see and do in each area, depending on your specific interests

•   A detailed map, with your route marked and places of interest highlighted, and    directions to each accommodation with their contact details

Highlights Include: 

• Glasgow

• Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

• Luss Conservation Village

• The spectacular “Rest and Be Thankful” mountain pass

• Loch Fyne

• Inveraray Castle & Gardens

• x1 night in Tarbert

• Ferry from Kennacraig to Port Ellen (Islay)

• x3 nights on Islay 

• Ardbeg Distillery

• Lagavulin Distillery

• Laphroaig Distillery

• Finlaggan Visitor Centre, home to the seat of the “Lord of the Isles” 

• Ferry from Port Ellen (Islay) to Kennacraig

• Kilmory Castle

• Lochgilphead

• Oban Distillery

• x1 night in the coastal town of Oban

• Ferry from Oban to Craignure (Mull) 

• x3 nights on Mull 

• Tobermory

• Tobermory Distillery

• Isle of Iona

• The historic Iona Abbey, original grave of Saint Columba

• Option to do wildlife watching tours to see Golden Eagles, Red Deer, Seals and Otters

• Ferry from Craignure (Mull) to Oban

• x1 night in the beautiful coastal town of Port Appin

• Glencoe

• Fort William, “the outdoor Capital of the UK”

• Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest mountain at 4,412ft

• Glenfinnan Monument and Glenfinnan Viaduct, as seen in the Harry Potter movies

• Camusdarach Beach and the Silver Sands of Morar

• Ferry from Mallaig to Armadale (Skye) 

• Cuillin Mountains

• x3 nights on the Isle of Skye, “the misty Isle” 

• Portree

• Old Man of Storr

• The Quirang

• Fairy Pools of Skye

• Ferry from Uig (Skye) to Tarbert (Harris) 

• x3 nights on the Isles of Harris & Lewis

• Stornoway 

• Calanais Standing Stones that pre-date Stonehenge 

• Luskentyre Sands, spectacular white sand beach with turquoise waters

• Golden Eagle observatory on Harris

• Ferry from Stornoway (Lewis) to Ullapool 

• Corrieshalloch Gorge, a lovely woodland walk with a magnificent lookout

• x1 night in Inverness, “the Capital of the Highlands” 

• Can finish Itinerary in Inverness or continue to Edinburgh

• Dalwhinnie Distillery

• House of Bruar, Scotland’s most prestigious shopping outlet

• Falls of Bruar, a short walk to these spectacular waterfalls

• Dunkeld

• Perthshire

• Forth Bridges

• Edinburgh

DAY 1 

Glasgow – Tarbert

Distance: 101.5 miles Travel Time: 2hrs 28 mins

You will head North from Glasgow and into the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. The drive will take you along the banks of Loch Lomond and then through one of the most beautiful mountain passes in Scotland. You will then head South from Inveraray, following the banks of Loch Fyne before reaching Tarbert for the night.  

Accommodation

Guest House, Tarbert - 1 night

Uniquely Scotland Suggests 

Loch Lomond is a beautiful setting and well worth stopping at one of the many lay-bys to enjoy the landscape. One of our favourite stops on the West banks of Loch Lomond is at the Luss Conservation Village. Later in the day, stop by Inveraray Castle & Gardens to explore the well-cared-for grounds and gothic revival styled architecture of the castle.  

DAY 2, 3 & 4

Tarbert – Islay

Distance: 50.7 miles Travel Time: 3hrs 02 mins

From Tarbert, you will travel a short distance South to Kennacraig where you will board the ferry to Islay. Upon arrival at Islay, you will then travel to your accommodation where you will spend the next 3 nights. 

Accommodation

Small, Luxury Hotel or Guest House, Islay - 3 nights

Uniquely Scotland Suggests 

If you enjoy whisky then we strongly recommend a visit to at least one of the distilleries on Islay with it being home to the “the holy trinity” of Ardbeg, Lagavulin and Laphroaig. We would also recommend visiting the historically important Finlaggan, home to the seat of the “Lord of the Isles”. 

DAY 5 

Islay - Oban

Distance: 100 miles Travel Time: 4hrs 21 mins

After you have explored Islay, it will be time to continue your journey as you board the return ferry to Kennacraig and make your way North, through Lochgilphead before arriving at your next accommodation in Oban.

Accommodation

Small, Luxury Hotel or Guest House, Oban - 1 night

Uniquely Scotland Suggests 

You will pass through Kilmartin Glen on your way north to Oban, The area spans 5,000 years with a multitude of cairns, standing stones, carved rock, stone circles, forts and castles. Kilmartin Glen is considered to have one of the most important concentrations of Neolithic and Bronze Age remains in Scotland. When you arrive in Oban, if there is time, we would also recommend a visit to the Oban Distillery, a short walk from the town centre and will enable you to try some of their whiskies without having to worry about the car. 

DAY 6, 7 & 8 

Oban – Isle of Mull

Distance: 31.9 miles Travel Time: 1hr 48 mins

After a night in Oban, you will then board the ferry to Craignure, Isle of Mull and make your way to your accommodation. You will have nearly 3 full days to explore the Isle of Mull, with the option to visit one or two of the neighbouring smaller Isles such as Iona, Coll or Tiree. 

Accommodation

Small, Luxury Hotel or Guest House, Isle of Mull - 3 nights

Uniquely Scotland Suggests 

The Isle of Mull is a fantastic location to spot several species of wildlife, including red deer, seals, otters and golden eagles with a number of wildlife watching tours or walks being available. Tobermory is one of the prettiest ports in Scotland, thanks to the colourful houses and a sheltered bay where legend has it one of the Spanish Armada ships sank in 1588 carrying gold bullion. We also recommend a visit to the Iona Abbey on the Isle of Iona, a short passenger only ferry away from Mull. The abbey is one of the oldest Christian religious centres in Western Europe and stands on the site of a monastery founded by St. Columba.  

DAY 9

Isle of Mull – Port Appin

Distance: 50.9 miles Travel Time: 2hrs 19 mins

After a few days of exploring the wild Isle of Mull, you will board the ferry and return to Oban before heading North, crossing the Connel Bridge, and continuing the journey to Port Appin. 

Accommodation

Small, Comfortable Hotel, Port Appin - 1 night

Uniquely Scotland Suggests 

On your way to Port Appin, we would recommend a visit to Dunstaffnage Castle and Chapel, a partially ruined castle that dates back to the 13th Century, making it one of Scotland’s oldest stone castles. We would also recommend stopping by for a photo of Castle Stalker which was built around 1320, to the North-East of Port Appin. 

DAY 10

Port Appin – Isle of Skye

Distance: 119 miles Travel Time: 3hrs 37 mins

From Port Appin, you will head North, passing the spectacular Glencoe and up to Fort William, the “outdoor Capital of the UK” and home to the UK’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis. You will then head West, passing Glenfinnan and on to Mallaig where you will board the ferry to Armadale, Isle of Skye and make your way to your accommodation. 

Accommodation

Small, Luxury Hotel or Guest House, Isle of Skye - 3 nights

Uniquely Scotland Suggests 

Take a slight detour to drive through the spectacular Glencoe, arguably one of Scotland’s most beautiful Glens. Enjoy the views and gaze in awe at the mountains that dominate much of the landscapes. We also recommend stopping in at Glenfinnan on your way from Fort William to Mallaig, the site where Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his standard to begin the Jacobite Uprising of 1745. It’s also home to the Glenfinnan Monument, as seen in the Harry Potter movies. 

DAYS 11 & 12

Isle of Skye

You will have 2 full days to explore the magical and misty Isle of Skye. 

Uniquely Scotland Suggests 

No trip to the Isle of Skye is complete without seeing the Old Man of Storr, a rocky pinnacle that formed from a massive landslip thousands of years ago. It’s a popular hotspot for photographers, hikers and hill walkers and was used as the backdrop to “Kaer Morhen” in the Witcher Season 2. We also recommend a trip to Neist Point, the most Westerly point of Skye. If you can visit in the evening, it is a spectacular location to watch the sun set. As you drive around the roads of Skye, keep your eyes peeled for a number of our wildlife species, including the white-tailed sea eagle and golden eagle. 

DAYS 13, 14 & 15

Isle of Skye – Isles of Harris & Lewis

Distance: 80.8 miles Travel Time: 3hrs 27 mins

Once you have explored the Isle of Skye, you will make your way to Uig to board the ferry to the Isles of Harris & Lewis. You will arrive in Tarbert and make your way North to your accommodation in Stornoway which is the biggest town on the two Isles. 

Accommodation

Small Bed & Breakfast or Guest House, Isle of Harris & Lewis - 3 nights

Uniquely Scotland Suggests 

If you are lucky enough to get the sunshine, visiting one of the many white sand beaches of Harris & Lewis is a must! Our favourite is Luskentyre Sands on Harris which could easily be mistaken for the Caribbean. If you are a keen wildlife watcher there is a golden eagle observatory nestled between two mountains which takes around 30-40 minutes to walk to. It’s a great opportunity to spot these magnificent raptors in their habitat. We also recommend a trip to the Calanais Standing Stones, the ancient stones that pre-date Stonehenge!  

DAY 16

Isles of Harris & Lewis – Inverness 

Distance: 111 miles Travel Time: 4hrs 26 mins

Departing from Stornoway, you will board the ferry to Ullapool on the mainland and make your way South-East through the beautiful Northern Highland landscape, to the capital of the Highlands, Inverness. 

Accommodation

Small, Luxury Hotel or Guest House, Inverness - 1 night

Uniquely Scotland Suggests 

About 5 minutes outside of Ullapool, there is a beautiful woodland walk at the Corrieshalloch Gorge which has a spectacular lookout point, looking over the Falls of Measach. In Inverness, a visit to Culloden Moor is a must. It was the site of the last pitched battle on UK soil, which brought a brutal end to the Jacobite Uprising of 1745.  

DAY 17

Inverness – Edinburgh 

Distance: 157 miles Travel Time: 3hrs 10 mins

The final day of the itinerary will take you South from Inverness to Edinburgh, travelling through the Cairngorms National Park and passing beautiful Highland towns like Aviemore and Pitlochry. You will pass through Perthshire as you continue heading South and through the Kingdom of Fife before crossing the Queensferry Crossing bridge and into Edinburgh. 

Uniquely Scotland Suggests 

We would suggest having a lovely lunch at the House of Bruar and have a browse through the prestigious shops. You can take a short walk behind the House of Bruar to a beautiful waterfall called the Falls of Bruar. The Pass of Killiecrankie is another spectacular gorge that is worth a visit where you can learn about “The Soldier’s Leap” and the Jacobite battle that took place here in 1689. 

Please note that our example itineraries only provide a basic summary of your proposal; there is a significant amount of work behind each proposal, with attention to detail being very important. Please let us know if you have any questions in relation to your proposal and we will do what we can to help. For further information or to book a holiday with Uniquely Scotland please contact us.

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