6 Day Outer Hebrides & Isle of Skye Tour including 'Hogwarts Express' Ride
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Overview
Join us on an unforgettable journey across the Highlands and Islands, where we discover some of Scotland’s most iconic destinations, as well as the hidden gems; from the world-famous Loch Ness to the remote corners of the Hebrides. We explore by land and sea, from beach to battlefield, castle to coastal town; where stunning scenery, ancient monuments, and Scotch whisky are guaranteed. Capture treasured photographs of the magical Isle of Skye and Glencoe, while we keep you entertained with myths, legends, and tales from our rich history. Venture beyond the classic tourist trail on this extended adventure and prepare to fall in love with our beautiful country.
Inclusions
- Local Scottish English Speaking Guide
- 5 nights B&B Accommodation
- Gearrannan Blackhouse Village
- Harris Distillery
- All ferry's
- Jacobite Steam Train Trip
- Transport in an air conditioned midi-coach
- 5x Breakfast
- Accommodation included: 5 nights
- Entry/Admission - Gearannan Blackhouse Village
- Entry/Admission - Isle of Harris Distillery
What to expect
Itinerary
Day 1: Edinburgh to Inverness
Stop At: The Kelpies & The Helix, 4 Stadium Way The Helix, Falkirk FK2 9EE Scotland
We travel north stopping to marvel at the stunning Kelpies, the world’s largest equine sculptures dedicated to the horse-powered heritage of Central Scotland, designed by Andy Scott.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Tyndrum, Tyndrum, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, Scotland
Stop for lunch in a lovely Highland town.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Glencoe, Glencoe, Scottish Highlands, Scotland
Soak up the atmospheric scenery in Glencoe and hear the harrowing tale of the massacre of 1692 from your guide.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Loch Ness, Scotland
Learn about the legend of the ‘Nessie’, the Loch Ness monster, on our visit to the loch, before we continue onto Inverness.
Duration: 20 minutes
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at a 3* guesthouse in Inverness
Day 2: Inverness to Stornoway
Stop At: Black Water Falls, A835, Garve IV23 2PU Scotland
Start the day we as mean to continue, with fresh air and stunning scenery at Black Water Falls.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Ullapool, Ullapool, Scottish Highlands, Scotland
Explore Ullapool while waiting for our ferry to the Hebrides
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Stornoway, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Lewis and Harris, Outer Hebrides, The Hebrides, Scotland
Take to the water on the ferry from Ullapool to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis – keeping an eye out for dolphins along the way!
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Stop At: Isle of Harris, Isle of Harris, Lewis and Harris, Outer Hebrides, The Hebrides, Scotland
We marvel at a flawless Hebridean beach with turquoise sea and a backdrop of mountains on West Harris.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Golden Road, Scotland
Spend the rest of the day exploring the idyllic Isle of Harris and the sprawling Golden Road.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight at a 3* guesthouse in Stornoway
Day 3: Isle of Lewis
Stop At: Callanish Standing Stones, HS2 9DY Scotland
Go back to the Neolithic period on our visit to the mysterious 5000-year old Callanish Standing Stones.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Carloway Broch, Near Carloway Scotland
'Fast-forward' to the Iron Age at the broch of Dun Carloway
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Gearannan Blackhouse Village, 5a Gearrannan, Garenin HS2 9AL Scotland
Experience 17th century island life at the Gearrannan Blackhouse Village.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Butt of Lewis Lighthouse, Scotland
We explore the remote and rugged Atlantic coastline of Lewis and visit the Butt of Lewis – the most northerly point on the island – to see the isolated lighthouse and dramatic force of the sea against the cliffs.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight at a 3* guesthouse in Stornoway
Day 4: Stornoway to Isle of Skye
Stop At: Tarbert, Tarbert, Isle of Harris, Lewis and Harris, Outer Hebrides, The Hebrides, Scotland
We start the day with some free time to shop for Harris Tweed.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Isle of Harris Distillery, Harbour Street Nr Ferry Entrance, Tarbert HS3 3DG Scotland
We stop at the Isle of Harris distillery to unwind with a wee dram.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Uig, Uig, Isle of Skye, The Hebrides, Scotland
Enjoy a ferry over the sea to Skye.
Duration: 1 hour 40 minutes
Stop At: Trotternish Ridge, Scotland
Spend the afternoon exploring the Trotternish peninsula. Soak up the enchanting scenery and learn about the island’s myths and legends.
Duration: 3 hours 15 minutes
Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight at a 3* guesthouse in Portree
Day 5: Isle of Skye
Stop At: Isle of Skye, Isle of Skye, The Hebrides, Scotland
Enjoy a magical day of island exploration on the Isle of Skye.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Sligachan Old Bridge, A863/a87, Sligachan IV47 8SW Scotland
Hear about the island’s resident fairies on our stop at one of the famous Fairy Bridges. Visit the enchanted waters of the Sligachan River with views of the old bridge and the breathtaking Cuillin mountains.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Eilean Donan Castle, Kyle of Lochalsh IV40 8DX Scotland
We drive over the Skye bridge to the iconic – and absolutely beautiful – Eilean Donan Castle; used in the filming of Highlander and James Bond, The World is Not Enough.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight at a 3* guesthouse in Portree
Day 6: Isle of Skye to Edinburgh
Stop At: Armadale Castle, Gardens & Museum of the Isles, Armadale House Armadale Sleat Isle of Skye, Armadale IV45 8RS Scotland
Start the day by exploring Armadale Castle, once home to Clan MacDonald.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Armadale, Armadale, Isle of Skye, The Hebrides, Scotland
Next, we board the ferry from Armadale to Mallaig. Look out for sealife!
Duration: 25 minutes
Stop At: Mallaig, Mallaig, Lochaber, Scottish Highlands, Scotland
We arrive in Mallaig, where we stop for some lunch before boarding the world-famous Jacobite Steam Train.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Glenfinnan Viaduct, Glenfinnan Lodge A830 Rd, Glenfinnan PH37 4LT Scotland
Choose to ride the real-life Hogwarts Express, aka the Jacobite Steam Train (extra £57pp, pay on site). Enjoy breathtaking views of Highland landscapes and the world-famous Glenfinnan Viaduct
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Pitlochry, Pitlochry, Perth and Kinross, Scotland
Stop in a picturesque Highland village, Pitlochry, before concluding our tour back in Edinburgh.
Duration: 15 minutes
Meals included:
•
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 1: Edinburgh to Inverness
Stop At: The Kelpies & The Helix, 4 Stadium Way The Helix, Falkirk FK2 9EE Scotland
We travel north stopping to marvel at the stunning Kelpies, the world’s largest equine sculptures dedicated to the horse-powered heritage of Central Scotland, designed by Andy Scott.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Tyndrum, Tyndrum, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, Scotland
Stop for lunch in a lovely Highland town.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Glencoe, Glencoe, Scottish Highlands, Scotland
Soak up the atmospheric scenery in Glencoe and hear the harrowing tale of the massacre of 1692 from your guide.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Loch Ness, Scotland
Learn about the legend of the ‘Nessie’, the Loch Ness monster, on our visit to the loch, before we continue onto Inverness.
Duration: 20 minutes
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at a 3* guesthouse in Inverness
Day 2: Inverness to Stornoway
Stop At: Black Water Falls, A835, Garve IV23 2PU Scotland
Start the day we as mean to continue, with fresh air and stunning scenery at Black Water Falls.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Ullapool, Ullapool, Scottish Highlands, Scotland
Explore Ullapool while waiting for our ferry to the Hebrides
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Stornoway, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Lewis and Harris, Outer Hebrides, The Hebrides, Scotland
Take to the water on the ferry from Ullapool to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis – keeping an eye out for dolphins along the way!
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Stop At: Isle of Harris, Isle of Harris, Lewis and Harris, Outer Hebrides, The Hebrides, Scotland
We marvel at a flawless Hebridean beach with turquoise sea and a backdrop of mountains on West Harris.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Golden Road, Scotland
Spend the rest of the day exploring the idyllic Isle of Harris and the sprawling Golden Road.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight at a 3* guesthouse in Stornoway
Day 3: Isle of Lewis
Stop At: Callanish Standing Stones, HS2 9DY Scotland
Go back to the Neolithic period on our visit to the mysterious 5000-year old Callanish Standing Stones.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Carloway Broch, Near Carloway Scotland
'Fast-forward' to the Iron Age at the broch of Dun Carloway
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Gearannan Blackhouse Village, 5a Gearrannan, Garenin HS2 9AL Scotland
Experience 17th century island life at the Gearrannan Blackhouse Village.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Butt of Lewis Lighthouse, Scotland
We explore the remote and rugged Atlantic coastline of Lewis and visit the Butt of Lewis – the most northerly point on the island – to see the isolated lighthouse and dramatic force of the sea against the cliffs.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight at a 3* guesthouse in Stornoway
Day 4: Stornoway to Isle of Skye
Stop At: Tarbert, Tarbert, Isle of Harris, Lewis and Harris, Outer Hebrides, The Hebrides, Scotland
We start the day with some free time to shop for Harris Tweed.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Isle of Harris Distillery, Harbour Street Nr Ferry Entrance, Tarbert HS3 3DG Scotland
We stop at the Isle of Harris distillery to unwind with a wee dram.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Uig, Uig, Isle of Skye, The Hebrides, Scotland
Enjoy a ferry over the sea to Skye.
Duration: 1 hour 40 minutes
Stop At: Trotternish Ridge, Scotland
Spend the afternoon exploring the Trotternish peninsula. Soak up the enchanting scenery and learn about the island’s myths and legends.
Duration: 3 hours 15 minutes
Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight at a 3* guesthouse in Portree
Day 5: Isle of Skye
Stop At: Isle of Skye, Isle of Skye, The Hebrides, Scotland
Enjoy a magical day of island exploration on the Isle of Skye.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Sligachan Old Bridge, A863/a87, Sligachan IV47 8SW Scotland
Hear about the island’s resident fairies on our stop at one of the famous Fairy Bridges. Visit the enchanted waters of the Sligachan River with views of the old bridge and the breathtaking Cuillin mountains.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Eilean Donan Castle, Kyle of Lochalsh IV40 8DX Scotland
We drive over the Skye bridge to the iconic – and absolutely beautiful – Eilean Donan Castle; used in the filming of Highlander and James Bond, The World is Not Enough.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight at a 3* guesthouse in Portree
Day 6: Isle of Skye to Edinburgh
Stop At: Armadale Castle, Gardens & Museum of the Isles, Armadale House Armadale Sleat Isle of Skye, Armadale IV45 8RS Scotland
Start the day by exploring Armadale Castle, once home to Clan MacDonald.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Armadale, Armadale, Isle of Skye, The Hebrides, Scotland
Next, we board the ferry from Armadale to Mallaig. Look out for sealife!
Duration: 25 minutes
Stop At: Mallaig, Mallaig, Lochaber, Scottish Highlands, Scotland
We arrive in Mallaig, where we stop for some lunch before boarding the world-famous Jacobite Steam Train.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Glenfinnan Viaduct, Glenfinnan Lodge A830 Rd, Glenfinnan PH37 4LT Scotland
Choose to ride the real-life Hogwarts Express, aka the Jacobite Steam Train (extra £57pp, pay on site). Enjoy breathtaking views of Highland landscapes and the world-famous Glenfinnan Viaduct
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Pitlochry, Pitlochry, Perth and Kinross, Scotland
Stop in a picturesque Highland village, Pitlochry, before concluding our tour back in Edinburgh.
Duration: 15 minutes
Meals included:
•
No accommodation included on this day.
Additional information
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Minimum age is 5 years, we are unable to accommodate children under this age
- Each traveler is allowed a maximum of 1 suitcase weighing no more than 33lbs (15kg) and 1 carry-on bag
- Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them to board and disembark
- Near public transportation
- It is recommended to book transport to the departure point in advance. Please also allow extra time to get to the departure point for check-in. We advise you arrive at least 15 minutes before the tour departure to allow time to check-in for the tour. Unfortunately, we are unable to hold back the tour for late arrivals.
- Most travelers can participate
- Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
- Gear/equipment sanitized between use
- Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
- Guides required to regularly wash hands
- Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers
- Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
Ticket delivery
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
stevedP2695JC
October 2021
Fantastic tour. They were incredibly helpful and flexible. Accommodations were fantastic and the whole trip was lovey. Rich was our guide and made it easy, fun, and simple.
Fantastic tour. They were incredibly helpful and flexible. Accommodations were fantastic and the whole trip was lovey. Rich was our guide and made it easy, fun, and simple.SianRW
September 2021
Excellent well planned tour of the Scottish Highlands, Outer Hebrides and Isle of Skye! We originally booked a 10 day tour with Haggis Adventures in 2020 which couldn’t go ahead (courtesy of that little global pandemic) but was able to transfer the booking to Highland Explorer and was recommend...
Excellent well planned tour of the Scottish Highlands, Outer Hebrides and Isle of Skye! We originally booked a 10 day tour with Haggis Adventures in 2020 which couldn’t go ahead (courtesy of that little global pandemic) but was able to transfer the booking to Highland Explorer and was recommended this 6 day tour as the closest alternative. Despite being 4 days shorter I did not feel like we missed out on much as the tour fitted in such a broad range of sights, scenery and activities. However the credit for such a great experience goes to our guide Caitlin who was so passionate with her tales and commentary of Scotland’s history and culture there was never a dull moment despite sometimes quite long journeys travelling on the bus. She always kept us well informed with the days itinerary, toilet stops and recommendations where to eat ect, so felt very safe travelling with her! Also I have to mention all the ladies at the different B&B accommodations were so lovely and good vegetarian breakfasts were included at all of them. The only downside was that we couldn’t visit Armadale castle due to the timings with the ferry crossing on the last day and also the whiskey distillery didn’t actually have any whiskey. However this by no means affected our experience and would definitely recommend this tour 100%!davidhE157ZX
September 2021
The 6-day tour was awesome and it's all thanks to our tour guide Caitlin who made the experience amazing. The tour was packed with interesting features on a session by session basis with Caitlin's input truly invaluable. Her stories revealed true fact, all with an energy which couldn't be surpass...
The 6-day tour was awesome and it's all thanks to our tour guide Caitlin who made the experience amazing. The tour was packed with interesting features on a session by session basis with Caitlin's input truly invaluable. Her stories revealed true fact, all with an energy which couldn't be surpassed. She put her heart and soul into a tremendous effort to make the experience as perfect as possible for the group, and is such a safe driver too. Well done!!sarajean31
September 2021
This is the second time I’ve been on a highland explorer tour. Once was years ago and the expert was so good I knew that if I wanted to see more of the highlands they were the company I would use. We did the 6 day tour to the outer Hebrides and it was so much fun. The scenery is of course stunn...
This is the second time I’ve been on a highland explorer tour. Once was years ago and the expert was so good I knew that if I wanted to see more of the highlands they were the company I would use. We did the 6 day tour to the outer Hebrides and it was so much fun. The scenery is of course stunning and the company put together a rest itinerary where we got to see quite a bit. The lodgings were very nice and very hospitable. I will say one of the best things about the tour was our guide Caitlin. Sadly, she is moving soon and will no longer be with highland explorers but she is an example of the type of talent they retain. She was energetic and informative. She created an interactive experience and brought us all along with her. You can’t go wrong with this company and when I come back to Scotland in the future there will most likely be another tour in my future.JuliTatiHer
September 2021
I found this tour such an amazing and wonderful experience. The proficiency and outstanding job of our leader Caitlin was incredibly amazing, very passionate about what she does, in love with her country and its rich history . Honestly, it was the most lovely guide tour I have ever joined hands d...
I found this tour such an amazing and wonderful experience. The proficiency and outstanding job of our leader Caitlin was incredibly amazing, very passionate about what she does, in love with her country and its rich history . Honestly, it was the most lovely guide tour I have ever joined hands down . Highly recommended.SoGlobeTrotter
September 2021
I am just back from the 6 days tour of Isle of Skye and Outer Hebrides. I had an amazing and memorable experience visiting these places with Highland Explorer tours. I would rate this tour as 5/5 for my experience detailed below. 1. Highly recommend Highland Explorer tours for the great coverag...
I am just back from the 6 days tour of Isle of Skye and Outer Hebrides. I had an amazing and memorable experience visiting these places with Highland Explorer tours. I would rate this tour as 5/5 for my experience detailed below. 1. Highly recommend Highland Explorer tours for the great coverage of places and tourist spots over the 6 days journey. 2. They very well followed the social distancing guidelines. Everyday the driver used to check our temperature. 3. Rich has been a wonderful driver and tour leader. He entertained us with his talks, stories, jokes. He has a very good historical knowledge of all the places we visited as well as the places on the way. Rich is very friendly and accommodative with the group. He was very punctual and had a good planning for each of the day. 4. Coach was cleaned daily and disinfected. The seats were comfortable, spacious. 5. Accommodation at Stornoway and Portree was very good. The B&B house ladies were nice and helpful. Rooms were great. However the stay at Inverness could have been better. Would suggest Highland Explorer tours to provide a better B&B at Inverness. 6. Every corner of Scotland in itself is beautiful and Highland Explorer tours selected the best of the itinerary plan. 7. We were on time for ferries, Jacobite train and experienced the spectacular journey.