2027 - Hop Around The Hebrides

Itinerary

Holiday Highlights

• Various hotels for 8 nights with breakfast and dinner 
• Porterage included (not at Dark Island)
• Tea /coffee after dinner
• Excursions as described
• Entrance to Dunvegan Castle
• Entrance to Gearrannan Blackhouse Village
• Packed lunch provided by hotel on Day 6
• Ferry crossings between Uig - Lochmaddy // Berneray - Leverburgh // Stornoway - Ullapool

Spectacular Hebrides (Inner & Outer)

Day 1 - To Gretna Green - After joining your holiday coach, travel north with suitable stops for lunch and refreshments. Arrive at your overnight hotel, 3* Gretna Hall Hotel in time for your evening meal. DBB

Day 2 - The Trossachs, Glencoe & Fort William So much to see today as you travel north through the lovely scenery of the Scottish borders and into the glorious Trossachs National Park along the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond. Drive across the wilderness of Rannoch Moor, to descend into the one of the most beautiful places in Scotland, Glencoe, where the deep valley and towering mountains were carved out centuries ago by icy glaciers and volcanic explosions. Along the banks of Loch Linnhe to Fort William for your overnight stay at the 3* Caledonian Hotel. DBB

Day 3 - Fort William to Skye - After breakfast, enjoy some free time to explore popular Fort William with its enviable setting on the loch shores amid magnificent mountain scenery. Alternatively, you may like to join the optional excursion (weather permitting) to the Nevis Range Mountain Gondola, the only one of its kind in Britain, reaching a height of 650m. It is built on the north face of Aonach Mòr, the 8th highest mountain in Britain from where you have stunning views of Ben Nevis (details and price available from your driver locally). Continue your journey to the isles by way of Spean Bridge and the unforgettable 17ft high Commando Memorial dedicated to the gallant men of the British Commando Forces in WWII. Another photo stop at most recognisable castle in Scotland, 13th century Eilean Donan before crossing the Skye Road Bridge at the Kyle of Lochalsh. Onto Broadford to check into the 3* Dunollie Hotel for 2 nights DBB

Day 4 - A Day on Skye - A full day to explore the magical Misty Isle with a local guide and capture the best views of The Cullin Mountains. Entrance is included to the excellent Dunvegan Castle and Gardens in the north of the island. Dunvegan is Skye's most famous historic building and is the seat of the chief of Clan MacLeod. There are some interesting artefacts including Bonnie Prince Charlie's waistcoat and a lock of his hair, donated by Flora MacDonald's granddaughter. Return to the hotel for dinner this evening 

Day 5 - Portree to Benbecula - Depart the hotel this morning and head to Uig by way of Portree, Skye's main town, for some time to look around. Set around a natural harbour with its colourful waterfront, Portree is fringed by high ground, hills and cliffs, the town is a popular spot used by fishing boats as well as pleasure craft. Board the afternoon ferry for the 1hr 45m crossing from Uig to Lochmaddy on the island of North Uist and then continue to Benbecula and your overnight at 3* Dark Island Hotel, a real 'getaway from it all' retreat. DBB

Day 6 - Island Hopping to Harris & Lewis - Check out of the hotel today with a packed lunch provided. Cross the causeway for a look at South Uist, an island of the Outer Hebrides with crystal clear water and white powder beaches. Then re-trace your steps to travel across North Uist alongside 13 miles of stunning sandy beaches, freshwater lochs and rolling moorland hills before reaching Berneray, reputedly one of King Charles' III favourite destinations. From here you board the lunchtime ferry for the one hour crossing to Leverburgh on Harris. En-route to your hotel in Stornoway, take a scenic drive to the West Coast of South Harris with views of Luskentyre Sands, one of the largest and most spectacular beaches in the Outer Hebrides. Lyskentyre boasts miles of white sand, wonderful sand dunes and stunning green-blue water. Continue by way of Tarbert, the main port of Harris which sits on a narrow strip of land connecting North and South Harris, to arrive in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. Here you will find a host of traditional pubs and a harbour with a couple of resident seals. Check in for 2 nights in 3* Caladh Inn Hotel, just a short walk from Stornoway town centre. 2 nights DBB (Dinner is carvery/buffet style)

Day 7 - Exploring the Isle of Lewis - Lewis is the largest of the Western Isles but remains refreshingly unspoilt and uncrowded. It is home to some of the most important seabird colonies in the UK as well as some intriguing heritage and archaeological sites.  During the included scenic tour of Lewis, together with a local guide, you will visit the ancient Iron Age fortification of Carloway Broch and the Gearrannan Blackhouse Village, where you experience the way of life of a typical 19th century crofting community. Return to Stornoway this afternoon. DBB

Day 8 - Stornoway to Newcastle Depart Stornoway early this morning for the crossing to Ullapool back on the mainland. Head south today passing by Inverness and the magnificent Cairngorms National Park which is twice the size of the Lake District and home to more mountains, forest paths, rivers, lochs and distilleries than imaginable. Continue via Pitlochry, with its timeless Victorian ambiance, back across the border for your final overnight at the excellent 4* Holiday Inn Newcastle Gosforth Park. DBB

Day 9 - Homeward bound - After breakfast, head back through Northern England, with ample stops for coffee and refreshments. Continue back to the local joining points via the fast motorway network arriving back mid/late evening.

CANCELLATION SCALE:
Before 72 days - Loss of deposit.
71 days to 8 days - 70% loss
7 days to departure day - 100% loss

Accommodation

Your Hotels

DUNOLLIE HOTEL, BROADFORD, SKYE - 2 nights
Set on the waterfront of Broadford Bay, this relaxed, low-rise 3* hotel is 7 minutes' walk from Broadford village and offers a good standard of en-suite guest accommodation featuring TV and tea / coffee making facilities. There is a restaurant and lounge bar. Please note there is no lift at the hotel. There are some internal steps at the hotel (7 steps to the restaurant) and ground floor rooms also have a couple of steps















DARK ISLAND HOTEL, BENBECULA - 1 night
The 3* Dark Island Hotel is located on the south island of Benbecula in a peaceful location near Liniclate Beach. There is plenty of space in which to relax, both in the bar and the quiet exterior courtyard, and there is a tranquil beach where rare wildlife can be seen just a short stroll from the hotel. Guestrooms are individually decorated and equipped with a TV, hairdryer and tea/coffee making facilities. The hotel does not have a lift but there are ground floor rooms. The new bar area is warm and stylish, and there is a spacious dining area. This is a real 'get away from it all' hotel that provides an opportunity to meet the island locals who frequent the bar and restaurant.















CALADH INN, STORNOWAY, LEWIS - 3 nights
This very friendly 3* hotel is located just a few minutes' walk from the town centre as well as the port. Owned by the same family for over 20 years, the Caladh Inn provides a warm welcome, 68 traditionally styled bedrooms, a light and airy restaurant specialising in local produce as well as a small, traditional bar. There is a lift as well as tea / coffee making facilities in the room.











*Please note - Single Rooms are true single rooms (not doubles for sole use) at all hotels unless confirmed otherwise.