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Island, Islands, Islands of Scotland​
With the Islands of Mull Iona, Staffa, Lunga, South Uist, Benbecula, North Uist, Mingulay, Berneray, Harris, Lewis, Orkney with Hoy, Lamb Holm, Glimps Holm, Burray and South Ronaldsay and Shetland with Trondra, Burra, Yell and Unst.
May 26th - June 15th, 2026

21 days of exploring the Inner Hebrides, the Outer Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland. Nothing instills the imagination and will inspire you more than an adventure in the Scottish Islands. If you have never experienced the Isles of Scotland, I cannot do them justice in just a few words! If you love the sea, coastlines, beaches, fishing villages and seaside towns, then this is the tour for you!

This tour is limited to just 12 people for a more personal experience and to allow you to get the most of your Scottish holiday. Keeping the tour size small gives us the opportunity to veer from the beaten path and take advantage of accommodations, restaurants and sightseeing venues that would not be available to larger groups. You may find yourself staying in a delightful city guest house, a small country house hotel, a comfortable farmhouse and an old coaching Inn all in the same visit. We hope to show you the real Scots people and some of the wonderful sights to be seen all over this beautiful country. You will not feel rushed and we spend as little time on the bus as possible.

Tour price includes all accommodation in Scottish Tourist Board Approved accommodations. Full Scottish breakfast each morning and all meals listed in itinerary. Porterage of one suitcase per person. Minibus travel including tour guide. All ferry crossings including 2 overnight ferries in your own stateroom. Knowledgeable guide for all tourist venues. All sightseeing as indicated in itinerary including any entrance fees. All taxes and service charges.

 

Was $11,995 per person, now $10,995 per person.

3 doubles available.

$1795 single supplement. All singles filled.

$1000 per person deposit to reserve your spot.

Day 1 - May 26th - This morning we meet at our Edinburgh Airport accommodation and make our long drive towards the Western Islands. Our drive will take us through the Trossachs National Park with a few photo op stops along the way. We will also stop at St. Conan's Kirk, spectacularly sited over Loch Awe. You will fall in love with this wee Romanesque Church! Designed and built by Walter Douglas Campbell, the kirk is unique in having an example of almost every style of church architecture. Highlights include the Norman Doorway, the Gothic Flying Buttresses, a Celtic Cross, the Arts and Crafts Carvings, the Saxon Tower and even a Stone Circle. After some exploring we will stop for lunch and then visit Dunstaffnage Castle, one of Scotland’s Oldest Stone Castles. This mass of masonry guards the seaward approach from the Firth of Lorn to the Pass of Brander – and thereby the heart of Scotland and it still overawes everyone! The castle was built around 1240 by Duncan MacDougall, son of Dubhgall, Lord of Lorn, and grandson of the great Somerled, King of the Isles. The King of Scots won control of the region in 1266, but Dunstaffnage continued to see plenty of action during the Wars of Independence (1296–1356). King Robert the Bruce famously besieged the mighty fortress around 1308, after his victory over the MacDougalls at the Pass of Brander.We then get settled into our accommodation just a few miles up the read before our Welcoming Dinner. Overnight near Oban. (B,L,D)

Day 2 - May 27th - This morning we will take a Treshnish Isles Cruise from Oban. The journey around Mull's West Coast affords an abundance of wildlife and stunning views on a comfortable journey to enjoy the dramatic surroundings. At Lunga, we spend time ashore with the Huge Colonies of Puffins and other sea birds. This is an experience you will never forget and will delight in every moment! Then we are at sea again as we go in search of Dolphins, Eagles, Whales and Basking Sharks, the perfect mix of wildlife and scenery. From Lunga we cruise to the Isle of Staffa, the most dramatic of all the Scottish islands with the geological splendour of its Hexagonal Pillars and Fingal's Cave. While on our way to Staffa we will have our Packed Picnic Lunch and keep an eye out for Dolphins, Porpoises and Minke Whales which are often seen during the warmer months. Once back in Oban you will have some time on your own to explore this lovely seaside town that is known as the "Gateway to the Isles"and find some dinner on your own. Oban has a lovely seafront with great shops and lovely walks and an amazing chocolate shop. Overnight near Oban. (B,L)

Day 3 - May 28th -  This morning we take the ferry across to the Isle of Mull. Once on Mull we make our way to the Ferry Terminal at Fionnphort on the other end of the island. Here we catch the Wee Passenger Ferry across to the small and very beautiful Isle of Iona where we will explore the 800 year Old Iona Abbey where St. Columba began his crusade in the year 563. It is said that 48 Scottish Kings are buried in the abbey graveyard. While here you will also want to visit the Nunnery and St. Oran's Chapel. Iona is very small but has an abundance of shops that offer Genuine Artisan Crafts and Eclectic Gifts along with numerous Iona produced items in the island’s stores as well as a great selection of books and literature. We then Lunch on Iona before taking the ferry back to Mull to visit Duart Castle, home of the Clan Chief of the Macleans. Standing proudly on a cliff top guarding the Sound of Mull, Duart enjoys one of the most spectacular and unique positions on the west coast of Scotland. For over 700 years, Duart Castle has dominated the view to the Sound of Mull and Loch Linnhe with its huge curtain walls and solid keep and for over 400 years this has been the base of the Clan Maclean's sea-born power. You will have some time to wander the grounds and you may want to also visit the Castle Shop before taking the ferry back across the water to Oban where you can find some dinner on your own. Dinner and Overnight near Oban. (B,L,D)

Day 4 - May 29th - This morning we start our journey to the Mallaig with a stop at Glencoe where we visit the site of the 1692 Massacre of the McDonalds. Against a backdrop of craggy peaks and the tumbling River Coe, the Glen offers some of Scotland's most spectacular scenery. We then travel north to Fort William and then along the 'Road to the Isles' with a stop at Glenfinnan which sits at the head of mysterious and beautiful Loch Shiel and is at the crossroads of four steep sided Glens. It was here that Prince Charles Edward Stuart or 'Bonnie Prince Charlie' as he came to be known, called for the local clansmen to assemble in August 1745 and raised the standard proclaiming the throne of Great Britain to rightfully belong to his family, the Stuarts. We will make a few more stops along the way at the picturesque Lochailort, Arisaig and Morar before ending up in Mallaig for Afternoon Tea. Mallaig is a busy fishing port and ferry terminal with services to Skye and the Small Isles. The town is a fascinating place where visitors can soak up the atmosphere of a working fishing port. After some time to walk around and explore, we get checked into our accommodation. Dinner and Overnight Mallaig. B.L.D)

Day 5 - May 30th - This morning we depart Mallaig by ferry to Lochboisdale on South Uist to start our Hebridian Adventure. You will be able to find some lunch onboard before we arrive into South Uist. This afternoon we make our way to to the Kildonan Museum Centre on South Uist. The centre is a heritage and cultural amenity which includes a museum, a craft shop, a Fèis room for ceilidhs, music and dance, a café and an archaeology room where finds can be cleaned and examined by visiting archaeology groups. We will also stop at the house in Milton where Flora MacDonald was born in 1722. Flora, a Jacobite heroine, assisted Bonnie Prince Charlie and helped him escape the government army in 1746, after he fled the mainland following the Jacobite defeat at Culloden. She was later arrested and taken to the Tower of London, but was released after the Act of Indemnity was passed in 1747.We will continue on to our accommodation traversing the islands of Benbecula, Grimsay and North Uist and then get settled in before dinner. Dinner and Overnight North Uist. (B,D)

Day 6 - May 31st - This morning we make a sea journey to Mingulay, sometimes referred to as the "Near St Kilda" due to it's accessibility from neighbouring islands. Discover the untamed beauty and rich history of this island that was once inhabited but now reclaimed by nature, this remote island offers breathtaking landscapes and a wealth of sightseeing opportunities that make it an essential destination for any visitor to the Outer Hebrides. It was abandoned in 1912, but Mingulay still provides a rich habitat for birdlife, with the towering 250 metre Carnan Cliffs providing protected breeding grounds for Fulmars, Guillemots, Kittiwakes, Oystercatchers, Puffins, Razor Bills and Terns that nest in their thousands on sea cliffs that are amongst the highest in the British Isles. The waters around Mingulay and the other Bishops Isles are teaming with wildlife and Basking Shark sightings are not uncommon. Join Uist Sea Tours as we visit this spectacular island, sweeping down through the amazing blue waters of the Minch to encounter the Puffins of Mingulay. This is a full day journey with 3 hours in Mingulay to explore and have your packed lunch. We then return home to get settled in before dinner. Dinner and Overnight North Uist. (B,L,D)

Day 7 - June 1st - This morning we will explore North Uist with its mazing landscapes and seascapes. North Uist is a stunning blend of beaches, machair lands and freshwater lochs interrupted by rolling dark moorland hills. The island is home to thousands of migrating birds on the marshy grassland. We will take in Balranald Nature Reserve. In spring, there is nowhere else like Balranald. Sitting outside the visitor centre offers a wonderful viewpoint of many rare species. As you sit, a Corncrake may start to call while Corn Buntings may arrive on the fence, singing to heart's content. A flock of black-tailed Godwits may rise from the wetland, and Lapwings may fly up and call their 'peewit' alarm in response to the arrival of a Peregrine. We will stop for lunch and then visit North Uist Distillery on the Island of Benbecula. This family run distillery in the Outer Hebrides produces some of Scotland’s very finest artisan spirits including the multi award winning Downpour Gin range and their soon to launch Nunton Whisky. We will have a tasting tour and then make our way to the Island of Grimsay to visit Uist Wool. From the mesmerising opening shots of waves breaking on the shoreline we follow the journey of wool making from the croft to the mill for their classic light grey yarn, Siaban. Enjoy a glimpse of what it takes to create yarn on a Hebridean island, with a touch of intangible culture and wildness blended into each strand. We will see their natural undyed yarns and beautiful wool products produced here at the modern mill and inspired by the stunning surroundings of the Outer Hebrides. We then make our way back to North Uist and to our accommodation. Dinner and Overnight North Uist. (B,L,D)

Day 8 - June 2nd - This morning we are up early as we traverse across the land bridge from North Uist to Berneray and to the ferry dock where the ferry will take us across to Leverburgh on the Isle of Harris. Once on Harris we make our way to Rodel where we visit St. Clements Church. The church was built in the late 15th century for the Chiefs of the MacLeods of Harris and in 1528, Alasdair Crotach MacLeod, 8th Chief, prepared for himself a magnificent wall tomb on the south side of the choir - possibly the finest medieval wall tomb in Scotland, being crowned by an arch and with ornate carvings of biblical design. We will spend the rest of the morning taking in all of the delights the Isle of Harris. We will stop for lunch along the way and then explore more of this amazing island before we make our way to Tarbert where we get checked into our accommodation before we meet up for dinner. Dinner and Overnight Harris. (B,L,D)

Day 9 - June 3rd - This morning you will have some free time in Tarbert, nestled in a valley where North and South Harris meet, and set against a backdrop of rugged mountain peaks, the island’s main settlement serves as focal point and transport hub for the area. In Tarbert you will find the Harris Tweed Shop and Warehouse of Family Weavers before taking the ferry to the Isle of Skye. The shop an Aladdin's cave of Harris Tweed and Hebridean Wool items, from tea cosies to beautifully tailored Harris Tweed Jackets, iPad covers to hand knitted Hebridean Wool socks. Across from the shop is the warehouse where you will find the largest choice of Harris Tweed available. A rainbow of colours and designs stretch from floor to ceiling. There are Checks and Tartans, Plain, Herringbone and Overchecks, Houndstooth and the Kaona Collection all on show for you to browse through. We will have lunch and then visit Harris Distillery. We will go behind the scenes to witness the heart of the whisky and gin distilling operation at this working distillery here in the Isle of Harris. Our knowledgeable local tour hosts love to share a dram and a story or two with guests. We will discover the stories surrounding The Hearach single malt whisky, sample their award-winning whisky and gin, and even enjoy a jellybean or three! Dinner and Overnight Harris.(B,L,D)

Day 10 - June 4th - This morning we cross the land bridge onto the Isle of Lewis where we make our way to the Callanish Standing Stones. Dating back over 4000 years, ranks second in terms of importance only to Stonehenge and is older. The main monument is an extraordinary cross-shaped setting of stones, centred on a circle of tall stones. At its heart stands a solitary monolith 15 feet high. Lines of smaller stones radiate from the circle to east, west and south. From the north runs an avenue 175 feet long, formed by two lines of stones that narrow as they approach the circle. Within the circle is a chambered tomb. We will also visit Dun Carloway Broch, the best preserved broch in the Outer Hebrides! We then make our way into Stornoway which is the capitol of the island. Here you can find some lunch, do some shopping and take a wee wander before we take the afternoon ferry from Stornoway across to Ullapool on the mainland. We will spend a short time in Ullapool before making our way further north to our accommodation and dinner. Dinner and Overnight Ullapool. (B,D)

Day 11 - June 5th - As we are halfway through the tour the entire day will be spent at your leisure in Ullapool, a picturesque fishing town nestled on the shores of Lochbroom and the gateway to the Northern Highlands.Situated in one of the most unspoilt natural environments in the UK, the town boasts a wealth of things to see and do. There is a great choice of varied walks in the area including mountains, rocky coasts and long inland footpaths with a good portion of the finest summits in the north west Highlands too. The harbour is filled with fishing boats of all sizes and time can be spent watching the fishermen at work sorting out their catch for the day. Based right next to the sea, you can walk through the town to the sound of sea birds and smell the salty sea air. The beach is only a 5 minute walk from the high street and is the perfect spot to sit and take in the views and birdwatch amongst the pebbles. There are many cafes, restaurants and shops to explore as well as a lovely museum. Enjoy your day and get rested up for the second half of the tour.

Overnight Ullapool. (B)

Day 12 - June 6th - This morning we start our drive north toward Scrabster where we take the ferry across to the Orkneys. I love the drive through the Assynt Mountains and Loch Assynt with its spectacular viewpoint. We continue through the mountains before we travel the Scenic Coastal Route to Thurso with some of the most spectacular scenery to be found anywhere in Scotland. Have your cameras ready as there will be several wonderful photo ops. On this coastline you will see some of the most amazing Beaches and Cliffs you have ever seen! We will make several stops along the way to explore a few beaches and take in the sights before we find a cozy place to stop for lunch. Much of the coastline is composed of sea lochs and kyles and including Loch Laxford, Kyle of Durness, Loch Eriboil, Loch Hope and the Kyle of Tongue. Our journey will eventually end up at the ferry terminal in Scrabster and you will be able to get some dinner onboard after we get under way on the short crossing to Stromness on Orkney. We then make our way to our accommodation. Overnight Kirkwall. (B,L)

Day 13 - June 7th - This morning we you will have some free time in Kirkwall, the largest city on the islands. While here you will want to visit St. Magnus Cathedral. Begun in 1137 this cathedral built from alternating bands of local red and yellow sandstone is one of the finest and best preserved medieval cathedrals in Scotland. It is dedicated to St Magnus, Earl of Orkney in the 12th century, at a time when Orkney was part of the Kingdom of Norway. He was killed on the orders of his cousin and rival Hakon, and many miracles were reported after this death. In 1137 Magnus’s nephew Rognvald began construction of the ‘fine minster’ in honour of his saintly uncle and Magnus’s relics remain interred in the pillars of the choir. You can find some lunch here in Kirkwall before we make our way just up the road to the Highland Park Distillery for a Distillery Tour. This whisky is made with the same enduring belief and integrity, to the same exacting standards, as it has been since 1798. We will have a tour of the distillery followed by a wee dram before returning to our accommodation before dinner. Dinner and Overnight Kirkwall. (B,D)

Day 14 - June 8th - This morning we will take the short journey to the Isle of Hoy. Synonymous with the world famous sea stack the Old Man of Hoy, Orkney's second largest island rises dramatically from the sea. With mountainous moorland and glacial valleys, you will encounter a dramatic highland landscape. Hoy is unlike anywhere else in Orkney. Once on Hoy we visit Dwarfie Stane, a huge block of sandstone in which a Neolithic Burial Chamber has been cut. It is believed to date from around 3000 BC and the tomb was formerly sealed by the blocking stone which now lies in front of the entrance. Hoy is also famous for its birdlife, including the much loved Puffin! We will have a Packed Lunch Picnic before we visit Hackness Martello Tower and Battery, part of the extensive military remains on the island. The tower and battery were built in the early 19th century to provide defence for British convoys at the height of the Napoleonic War. Barrack room furniture and other military memorabilia give an idea of life at the barracks and you can stand on the tower and take in the view towards Scapa Flow. Then back to the mainland for dinner. Dinner and Overnight Kirkwall. (B,L,D)

Day 15 - June 9th -Our first stop this morning on Orkney mainland is the Ring of Brodgar, a stone ring built in a true circle originally containing 60 megaliths. Next we visit the Standing Stones of Stenness dating from 3,100BC making the stones complex one of the earliest stone circles in Britain. Then we make our way to Maeshowe, the finest chambered tomb in Western Europe. Built before 2700 BC, it was raided by the Vikings in the mid- 12th century and plundered of its 'treasures'. Maeshowe is interesting because of the various runic inscriptions carved into the walls. This is one of the best known collections and includes the Maeshowe Dragon - a very well known Orkney icon. This afternoon we visit Skara Brae a neolithic village dating from 2,500 BC which has been hidden under sand dunes, perfectly preserved, for thousands of years and was only rediscovered 150 years ago. We will also visit the Broch of Gurness, one of the most outstanding surviving examples of a later prehistoric settlement that is unique to northern Scotland. The Vikings who settled in Orkney from around 800 often used the mounds of earlier settlement sites as burial places, and this was the case at Gurness. We will have a late dinner in Kirkwall before we board a ferry that will take us on an Overnight Voyage to Shetland. Overnight At Sea. (B,L,D)

Day 16 - June 10th - This morning we arrive into Lerwick, Shetland, a natural world where wildlife is truly wild and where you can watch otters and seals at play and where the air is filled with the sound of seabirds crowding extraordinary cliffs in huge, noisy colonies. We will make our way out of Lerwick to Eshaness and the Eshaness Lighthouse in the area of Northmavine. Eshaness boasts one of the highest energy coastlines in the world. Blasted by the full force of the North Atlantic it displays a stunning array of stacks, blowholes and geos (narrow inlets). The area of Northmavine boasts a wonderful range of wildlife and habitats. Seals, Otters, Porpoises and occasionally Dolphins and Whales can be seen from the shore. Inland expanses of peat and heather are home to Mountain Hares, Rabbits, Polecats and a multitude of birds, including the elegant Red-throated Diver which can be seen on many lochs. The lighthouse, which is visible for miles, is perched on the rim of fabulous volcanic cliffs where the full Atlantic fury has shaped some of Shetland's most dramatic cliff scenery. You can walk along to the head of Calder's Geo, where the sea has gouged out a deep inlet along a line of weakness in the rock. Fulmars float on air currents above the surging waves and nest among the crannies of the vertical rock faces, which are transformed into hanging gardens. We then get settled into our home for the next 3 nights before we meet up for dinner. Dinner and Overnight Shetland. (B,L,D)

Day 17 - June 11th - Today we make our way to Lerwick where we join a Seabirds-and-Seals Boat Trip around Bressay and Noss National Nature Reserve, where you will get to enjoy Shetland's abundant Seabirds and Seals. The views are awesome, giving us photographic opportunities with the awesome Noss Cliffs in the background. You won't believe how close they'll take us to the 25,000 Gannets, thousands of Guillemots and Hundreds of Puffins, Razorbills, Black Guillemots, Gulls, Shags and Skuas! We sometimes even meet Porpoises and occasionally Whales, Otters and Dolphins! We’ll sail through the magnificent rock of the Giant’s Leg and then into the beautiful Orkneyman’s Cave. Once back in Lerwick we will visit the Shetland Pony Experience. No visit to Shetland is complete without getting up close and personal with some more friendly Shetland ponies. The experience is very hands on and includes plenty of picture perfect photo opportunities while you lead the ponies through the idyllic, picturesque, rugged coastal fields to a secluded beach. Dinner and Overnight Shetland. (B,L,D)

Day 18 - June 12th - This morning after breakfast we grab our to go lunch bags from the hotel and then make our way to the very most Northerly Point in the Shetlands on the Island of Unst. Our journey will take us north on Mainland Shetland to Toft where we board a wee ferry to cross the Island of Yell. We will stop at the Shetland Gallery on Yell before traveling further northward to the top of yell to Gutcher where we board a wee ferry for the crossing to Unst. We will explore the wilds of the Shetlands and drive to the most northerly point of Unst where we can look out to Out Stack, and uninhabited island that is the last land mass before the North Pole! While here we will have our Picnic Lunch while we gaze upon the most Northerly House in the whole of the UK and then you can stand at the point where the Oceanic Crust meets with the Continental Crust. While here, We will visit the most Northerly Village as well as the most Northerly Church. After a lovely days outing of exploring and amazing photo ops we make our way to our accommodation back on Mainland Shetland where we get settled in before we meet for dinner. Dinner and Overnight Shetland. (B,L,D)

Day 19 - June 13th - This morning we take in the multi-period Jarlshof Prehistoric Norse Settlement. Jarlshof lies at the most southern tip of Mainland Shetlands and provides an insight into the way of life of the inhabitants at particularly interesting periods – the late Bronze Age, Iron Age, Pictish era, Norse era and the Middle Ages. It includes oval-shaped Bronze Age houses, Iron Age Broch and wheelhouses, Viking long houses, medieval farmstead and 16th century laird’s house. We will have a tour of the site before we make our way to Lerwick, the largest town in the Shetlands. After lunch we will visit the Clickimin Broch on Clickimin Loch, an outstanding example of a sophisticated type of stone-built round house found only in Scotland. Clickimin Broch has evidence of settlement spanning over a thousand years. You will then have some free time to wander around Lerwick where the harbour is an excellent location to seal watch and where we will board the overnight ferry back to the mainland at Aberdeen. After boarding the ferry you will be able to find some dinner. Overnight at Sea. (B,L)

Day 20 - June 14th - We dock this morning in Aberdeen and then make our way south to Arbroath and Arbroath Abbey, founded by William the Lion in 1178, in memory of martyr Thomas Becket. Here we explore the origins of the most famous document in Scottish history – the Declaration of Arbroath. Scotland’s nobles swore their independence from England in this letter to the Pope, sent from Arbroath Abbey in 1320. The abbey remained one of the nation’s grandest monasteries for almost 400 years and much later, the Stone of Destiny had a starring role in Arbroath Abbey’s story. We will stop for lunch in Perth before we make our way to Helix Park near Falkirk to see the Scottish Kelpies, the world's largest equine sculptures. We will have a Guided Walking Tour that takes us through the vision of artist Andy Scott and how history and industry impacted on his designing of these breath-taking sculptures. The pinnacle of the tour is that you get to experience a Kelpie from the inside, and see for yourself the breathtaking engineering and design of the Kelpies. Farewell Dinner and Overnight near Edinburgh. (B,L,D)

Day 21 - June 15th - We return you to Edinburgh Airport for the journey home.

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