From Inverness: 3-Day Hebridean Escape Tour

Day 1

The journey north begins…

Your tour with us will begin with a journey west from Inverness. The drive will take you through through the beautiful and remote scenery of Sutherland as you make your way towards the morning ferry.  You will arrive in the beautiful seaside town of Ullapool, perched on the shores of Loch Broom. Known to be one of the gateways to the Northern Highlands, Ullapool is one of the least spoilt natural environments in the UK, making it a perfect base to explore from and also the perfect location to catch the ferry. There will be some great lunch options available on the ferry for you to enjoy as you sail out past the Summer Isles and onwards to the outer Hebrides.

Ancient history and traditional tweed…

After arriving on the Isle of Lewis, you will start exploring the island right away. Our first stop of the afternoon will be a visit to Arnol Black Houses, a traditional tweed weaver to find out more about Harris Tweed cloth. The cloth was manufactured entirely by hand for domestic and local use in the Western Isle of Scotland many years before the industrial revolution reached Scotland. Harris Tweed was one of the fabrics that were handcrafted by those who lived on the island, created with their own wool.

After your visit to Arnol, you will travel to the town of Stornoway, the largest on the Isle of Lewis, which will be your base to explore the islands from. After settling in to your accommodation, you will have a chance to explore the town.

Overnight: Stornoway

Day 2

A visit to the Iron Age Broch…

The second day of your tour would begin take you to Carloway Broch, the exceptionally well-preserved Iron Age structure located above Loch an Duin. This broch is one of the most well preserved in the Hebrides and is thought to be over 2000 years old. At nearly 9 metres high and 15 metres wide, a broch is a resilient structure often used as a method of defense and we definitely understand why!

The ancient standing stones and a bite to eat…

Our next historic stop of the day is the ancient Callanish Standing Stones**, one of the most iconic places on the island. Here you’ll have time to explore the stones and find out their full history in the visitor centre. The site of these impressive stones will also be our lunch stop for the day.

An afternoon of beauty and history…

Our afternoon will take us for a stroll along what is arguably Harris’ most beautiful beach, Luskentyre, the perfect setting of the BBC’s Castaway. From here, we’ll head to the most southerly point of the island and take a visit to the Rodel Church, the ancient burial ground of the MacLeod family. The Stunning St Clements Church has been praised as the grandest medieval building in the Western Isles, and it is very easy to see why. You’ll have plenty of time to explore the church and its grounds before we head around the Golden Road on our return to Stornoway.

Overnight: Stornoway

Day 3

Castaways and coastal splendour…

To begin our final day, we’ll head to the far north of the island to visit the Butt of Lewis lighthouse, the windiest place in the UK. Built in 1862 by the Stevenson brothers, the tower rises to an impressive 121 feet (37 metres). Built in red brick, this lighthouse is very different from most other lighthouses. We’ll head back to Stornoway for a bite to eat, boarding the ferry and making our way back to the mainland. Safely back onto the mainland, we’ll make our way back to Inverness.

*Optional attractions, separate entrance fees apply

**Due to planned facility closures, tours departing in September 2024 will be unable to visit Callanish Standing Stones

Q. How does our accommodation booking service work?

We can book your accommodation for you, or you can choose to book your own, as long as it is centrally located at the overnight stop location. We will send you a payment link before the tour departs so you don’t have to worry about carrying cash or paying when you arrive each night. Your driver-guide will drop you off and pick you up from the accommodation during the tour.

Q. How much will the accommodation cost?

Accommodation is not included in the tour price, below is an estimate of the costs per room per night.

• Bed & Breakfast Ensuite: From £100 – £150 per room per night
• Ensuite: This means you will have your own private bathroom/toilet/shower

Accommodation costs depend on availability and season – so it may be more or less than estimated above.

Q. If I wish to book my own accommodation is there anything I need to know?

Once you’ve booked your accommodation, you’ll need to contact us at reservations@highlandexperience.com and let us know where you have booked to stay. Please, only reserve accommodation within the overnight towns that your tour stops in. If you’re unsure, please check with us first.

• No matter when you visit, the weather in Scotland can be “changeable”, to say the least. We suggest that you bring suitable clothing for all conditions, including a waterproof jacket (it has been known to rain in Scotland), sunglasses and plenty of layers.
• Ensure you bring shoes suitable for short walks, on rough or uneven terrain.
• Although most attractions & eating establishments we visit accept card payments, we would also recommend bringing cash with you.
• Don’t forget a camera to snap the fantastic memories you’ll make on tour with us!
• Please limit your luggage to 1 x small/medium piece per person (no more than 15kg), along with 1 x small handbag or daypack.