Skye & The Outer Hebrides Walking Holiday

8 Days & 7 Nights

4.5

Skye & The Outer Hebrides

Classic linear walks with surreal scenery on Skye and the Outer Hebrides
Skye’s brooding Cuillin Ridge and rocky Trotternish Peninsula
Luskentyre beach on the Isle of Harris - one of Scotland’s most beautiful
Traverse the 37 km long ‘Harris Walkway’ over remote moorland and machair
A warm island welcome at hand-picked B&B's and guesthouses

The Isles of Skye, Harris and Lewis combine on this week of classic point-to-point walks taking in some of the most dramatic scenery in Scotland. From the highland capital of Inverness, enjoy one of the country's most scenic rail journeys to the Isle of Skye where you will walk the highlights of the globally recognised Skye Trail to the colourful town of Portree and over the Trotternish ridge, passing the iconic Old Man of Storr. The adventure continues as you sail to the Outer Hebrides, basing yourself in Tarbert for two nights before spending your final night in historic Stornoway. Explore Harris and Lewis on foot; from the beautiful white sands and crystal clear waters of Luskentyre, to the solitude of windswept moorland and mountains on the Harris Walkway. Along the way, experience and sample the very best of Scottish hospitality through eating at restaurants serving the freshest local produce and staying in hand-picked B&B's and guesthouses with welcoming hosts ready to share their abundance of local knowledge.

From £1,320.00

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Itinerary

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Day 1 By train from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh, bus to Skye

Board your train in Inverness and settle into your seat as you depart on the Great Highland Railway Journey—the Kyle Line. Drink in the views of dramatic mountains and deep lochs on this scenic 2h30 train ride. Arrive at the coastal railway station of Kyle of Lochalsh then connect by bus across the Skye Bridge to the waterside village of Broadford (20-30 mins).

Settle into your cosy B&B for a 2 night stay and enjoy the sweeping views across Broadford Bay to the islands of Papay and Scalpay.

Overnight Broadford

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Broadford Hotel | Hotel

The Broadford is a 4* hotel that has been redecorated in contemporary style to offer a warm welcome and excellent service and food in beautiful settings.

Broadford House | Guest House

Independently owned and run, the proprietors pride themselves on the quality of service, food, high standards of cleanliness and the warmth of welcome! Each guest receives an individually tailored experience and you are assured a most comfortable and indeed very enjoyable stay at this splendid accommodation. Broadford House offers bed and breakfast accommodation in a selection of tastefully decorated rooms. The rooms all have television with tea and coffee making trays. The bed and breakfast cottage overlooks Broadford Bay with plenty of eating places nearby.

Hebridean Inn | Hotel

The Hebridean Inn is a simple small hotel with great views over Broadford Bay. Their comfortable en-suite rooms have all the amenities you require for a comfortable stay.

Day 2 Lost Villages walk to Broadford 11 miles / 17 km

Starting in the small village of Torrin, after a short transfer from Broadford, this walk follows a clear path that hugs the dramatic coastline. As the path rises to follow the clifftops the views to the right of the Cuillin Ridge, towering above the expanse of open sea, are imposing and impressive. You will then pass deserted crofters communities long since burnt out by landowners, dramatic sweeping cliffs, sheltered beaches and tumbling waterfalls. As the path heads north again towards Broadford, you will ascend to a moorland plateau, through a protected forest reservation, past an abandoned marble quarry and back into Broadford - a small town full of cosy pubs and homely guesthouses.

Overnight Broadford

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Broadford Hotel | Hotel

The Broadford is a 4* hotel that has been redecorated in contemporary style to offer a warm welcome and excellent service and food in beautiful settings.

Broadford House | Guest House

Hebridean Inn | Hotel

The Hebridean Inn is a simple small hotel with great views over Broadford Bay. Their comfortable en-suite rooms have all the amenities you require for a comfortable stay.

Day 3 Walk from Kilmarie to Sligachan 11 miles / 17 km

Your day begins with a taxi transfer to Kilmarie, from where you will walk to the iconic hotel at Sligachan via the shores of Camasunary Bay with stunning views of the Cuillin. This route is surely among one of the finest day walks in Scotland!

Quench your thirst at the Sligachan Hotel before taking a short taxi transfer to the colourful habour town of Portree (20 mins) for your overnight stay.

Overnight Portree

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Erisco B&B | Bed and breakfast

Erisco is a most relaxing accommodation on the Isle of Skye, very close to the town centre attractions of Portree. Recently refurbished and renovated, all rooms are en-suite, comfortably furnished and have all the amenities you require for a great overnight stay. Jessie and John will provide you with a very warm Skye welcome at this lovely property.

Creagory Skye | Bed and breakfast

Creagory Skye is a quality bed and breakfast located only 5 minutes from the centre of Portree, capital of the Isle of Skye. Ideally positioned to enjoy the local restaurants, the pretty harbour area, pubs and shops as well as a great set off point for visiting Skye’s famous landmarks like the Old Man of Storr and the Fairy Pools. The house has recently been completely refurbished and all bedrooms have luxury ensuite shower rooms.

Orchard House Bed and Breakfast | Bed and breakfast

The Orchard House Bed and Breakfast is a family run business in a quiet location in Portree. Just a short 1km walk into the town centre, Orchard House is the perfect base to get out and about and explore this unique island.

Day 4 The Storr, a choice of coastal walks to Portree or optional guided Skye tour 8 miles / 13 km

There are two excellent walks to choose from today, or you might like to join an full day guided tour of Skye (optional extra).

If you prefer a walk, then book a taxi or take the bus (payable locally) from Portree to the car park at the Old Man of Storr. It’s a 4.5 km walk, to get up close to the towering pinnacles. Alternatively, ask the taxi to stop at the The Storr lochs dam car park and follow a beautiful coastal route along the clifftops and across moorland to walk back to Portree (13 km).

Overnight Portree

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Erisco B&B | Bed and breakfast

Creagory Skye | Bed and breakfast

Orchard House Bed and Breakfast | Bed and breakfast

Day 5 Transfer to Uig, ferry to Tarbert (Harris), North Harris Eagle Observatory 3 miles / 5 km

Transfer to Uig and hop aboard the Calmac ferry for the crossing to Tarbert on the Isle of Harris (1h40, departure time dependent on day and season).

Harris is home to around 20 pairs of magnificent golden eagles, and if you have time, then take a bus/taxi (20 mins) to the start of the 2-mile walk to the North Harris Eagle Observatory, Scan the skyline of Glen Mevaig to spot these birds soaring above. In Tarbert you can visit to the island’s only whisky distillery, where you can warm yourself by the peat fire and take a tour (please note the distillery is closed on Sundays).

Overnight Tarbert

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Harris Hotel | Hotel

The Harris Hotel has been family-owned and run for over 100 years. The hotel has 23 en-suite bedrooms, most of which are quite different, in keeping with the character of the building, but all have undergone extensive refurbishment, some in a more modern style and others retaining the more traditional feel of the hotel. In the restaurant, their menus offer an extensive choice of only the best and freshest of local ingredients, including fresh fish, shellfish, lamb, beef and venison. Their food is traditional but with modern and contemporary flair.

Hotel Hebrides | Hotel

You will be guaranteed a warm welcome at this boutique hotel in Tarbet. All their guest rooms have been decorated and furnished to a high standard and you will find all the amenities you require for a great overnight stay.

Day 6 Luskentyre Beach & Harris Walkway to Tarbert 15 miles / 23.5 km

A short transfer takes you to Seilebost, boasting remarkable views of the iconic Luskentyre Beach and the rugged hills of Harris. Wind your way inland on the southern part of the 37 km ‘Harris Walkway’ established in 2001 to link up a network of old paths. Walk in the footsteps of hundreds of local folk as you follow a historic coffin road, as well as waymarked moorland paths back to Tarbert. As you meet the minor road, you can shorten your walk by taking the bus part of the way to return to Tarbert.

Overnight Tarbert

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Harris Hotel | Hotel

Hotel Hebrides | Hotel

Day 7 Harris Walkway to Scaladale, transfer to Stornoway 9 miles / 14.5 km

Set out from Tarbert on the northern section of the Harris Walkway, following the footpath along the waters of Lochannan Lacasdail - this is one of the remotest parts of the Islands, and you can revel in the sound of silence ringing in your ears - far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Reach Scaladale, and take a short transfer to Stornoway on the east coast of the Isle of Lewis.

Tonight you can reward yourself with a fine supper of hot, salty fish and chips, doused in steaming vinegar.

Overnight Stornoway

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Cabarfeidh Hotel | 3 Star | Hotel

The Caberfeidh Hotel is situated on the outskirts of town. The hotel has 46 bedrooms, all with bath and shower, lift access to all floors, free Wi-Fi and room service during lunch and dinner periods. Dining is a special pleasure in the highly praised Solas restaurant, where the award-winning chef’s Scottish contemporary cuisine accentuates flavours from the best of local produce. The reception lounge, with its cosy open fire, is a pleasant area for informal meetings or a drink from the cocktail bar – which has an excellent selection of Scotch malt whiskies.

Crown Hotel | Hotel

The Crown Hotel is moments away from all the attractions and amenities within Stornoway making this the ideal stopover for your time in Lewis. All guest rooms are en-suite have all the amenities you require for a lovely overnight stay. The hotel has a public bar, lounge area and restaurant.

Hebridean Guest House | Guest House

Hebridean Guest House is a modern, newly-refurbished guest house offering hotel accommodation in Stornoway. Rooms are individually furnished and have all the amenities you require.

Day 8 Onward travel

THIS TRIP'S CARBON SCORE

This trip has a carbon score of 12kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 12kg is equivalent to 5 bunches of flowers (grown in the Netherlands). Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information on how we've carbon counted our trips.

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Other Information

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Is it for me? Accommodation & Meals Navigation What's Included

Included

7 Nights in B&B’s and guesthouses
7 Breakfasts
Train travel from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh
Transfers as described in the itinerary
Ferry from Uig to Tarbert
Baggage transfers
Information pack, map, and access to route notes, GPX tracks and maps via the Macs Adventure smartphone app
24/7 Emergency telephone support from our office

Excluded

Travel to Inverness / from Stornoway
Optional guided tour of Skye (from Portree)
Local bus transportation mentioned in the itinerary (payable locally only)
Lunches, dinners, drinks & snacks
Personal equipment
Travel insurance (required)

Extras

Additional nights along the route
Optional guided tour of Skye (from Portree)

When to go Travel & Transfers

Getting to the Start

By Air: The closest airport to the start of this tour is Inverness. An airport shuttle bus operates regularly to the city centre (approx. 30 mins) or a taxi to Inverness train station is approx. 15 mins. Further information will be detailed in your pre-departure information pack.

By Train: Inverness has good rail links and you can travel by direct train from Glasgow (3h15) or Edinburgh (3h20) to Inverness.

Scottish Citylink also operates a bus service from Glasgow via Fort William to Broadford, or from Inverness via Loch Ness to Broadford.

Getting from the End

By Air: Loganair operates from Stornoway to various airports in the UK and Europe.

By Ferry and Bus: Alternatively, you can take the Calmac ferry across The Minch to Ullapool (2h30), then connect to enjoy a scenic bus journey (1h20) back to Inverness.

The website www.travelinescotland.com is fantastic for researching train and bus timetables throughout Scotland. Your pre-departure information pack will also have handy hints and tips about journeys and transport services.

Baggage Transfer

On Day 3 (Broadford to Portree) and Day 7 (Tarbert to Stornoway) your luggage will be transferred between accommodations. When travelling with public transport, you take your luggage with you. Please limit your baggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.

At Macs Adventure, we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase. Your booking includes transfer of 1 bag per person. It is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits, there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags or if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees), which we must respect.

Taxi Transfers

The Isle of Skye can get extremely busy over the peak summer months and there are only a few transfer companies available on the Island. At peak times, your taxi transfers as detailed in your itinerary may be shared with other Macs Adventure customers. This avoids long wait times in the morning and afternoons and ensures we are being as environmentally friendly as possible.

Info & FAQ

General Information

The distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the recommended routes. Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat, sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.

Local Transport

Buses and local transportation are used for access to/from some walks, alongside our pre-arranged taxi transfers. On Skye there are limited services on Saturdays, and often no service on Sundays (so a taxi will be needed—we can arrange this for you at a supplement). We give you information regarding the latest timetables but you should always check locally regarding the most current information.

Travel Insurance

It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.

How fit do I need to be? How far in advance do I need to book? What personal equipment do I need? When is the best time of year? What are the midges like? Am I able to take my dog? What happens if I can’t walk a stage?

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