The Outer Hebrides: Scotland's Gaelic West

Included in this tour: 

• Learn about local gin and whisky production at the Isle of Harris Distillery
• Visit Luskentyre Beach, voted one of the best in Britain, with its white sands and clear blue water
• Marvel at the Neolithic Callanish Standing Stones on the Isle of Lewis
• Reserved seats for Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on August 3 and 10 departures
• All on-tour transportation including shuttles and ferries
• Welcome get-together drink with your group
• 8 dinners including a Scottish evening with live entertainment and traditional foods
• 10 nights in the hotels listed below
• Visits and admissions to Bosta Beach and the Iron Age House, Provands Lordship, oldest home in Glasgow, Oban Distillery tour and taste, Hebridean Smokehouse, Claddach Kirkibost Center, Taigh Chearsabagh Museum of Arts, Harris Tweed weaving demonstration, Inverness Walking Tour, Tour of Stornoway, Dun Carloway Broch, Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre, Edinburgh Castle, Gearannan Blackhouse Village, Inveraray Castle, Isle of Harris Distillery, Jacobite Steam Train and Scone Palace
• Free Wi-Fi on coaches so you can stay connected along the way
• Deluxe documents wallet and backpack to keep you organized
• All local taxes, hotel service charges & handling of one suitcase per person

Day 1: GLASGOW CITY TOUR
Tour begins 2:00 p.m. at your Glasgow hotel. Tour the highlights of Glasgow and discover its unique history with a visit to the oldest house in the city, Provand's Lordship. In the evening join your group for a welcome drink before dinner.
(D)

Day 2: INVERARAY CASTLE & OBAN DISTILLERY
Drive along the famous Loch Lomond, renowned for its unsurpassed beauty. Visit Inveraray Castle, home of the 12th Duke of Argyll. Tour the elaborately decorated castle containing an armory, many historic relics, and its portrait collection. In the seaside town of Oban, visit Oban Distillery, one of the few distilleries to be built before the town itself. Learn about whisky production and savor a sample of the finished product.
(B, D)

Day 3: JACOBITE STEAM TRAIN & ISLE OF BENBECULA
Drive along the scenic shores of Loch Linnhe to Fort William, the largest town in the Highlands. Board the Jacobite Steam Train and enjoy a spectacular railway journey across the Glenfinnan Viaduct, as featured in the Harry Potter movies, to the fishing port of Mallaig. Spend some free time exploring on your own, then embark on a scenic ferry ride to Lochboisdale on South Uist. Travel to your hotel on the Isle of Benbecula. Enjoy dinner in the hotel restaurant.
(B, D)

Day 4: TOUR TO THE ISLE OF BARRA
Drive through scenic South Uist and board the ferry to Ardmhòr on Barra to admire the beautiful white sand beaches. Stop in Castlebay, the main town of the isle, and browse independently before continuing to Vatersay, an island just south of Castlebay. After a drive around, take the return ferry to Eriskay. Enjoy a drink with your group at The Politician Bar before returning to your hotel.
(B, D)

Day 5: NORTH UIST & STORNOWAY
Explore the island of North Uist, a stunning landscape of miles of sandy beaches with fresh and saltwater lochs. Visit the Hebridean Smokehouse to see the island’s largest industry from smoking to packing and shipping, and enjoy a taste. Stop for tea at the Claddach Kirkibost Centre, a key community facility and favorite spot for visitors to the island, before heading to see work of local artists at Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum of Arts. Continue north to Berneray and board the ferry to Leverburgh on Harris. Travel on to tour Stornoway, the largest town in the Outer Hebrides.
(B, D)

Day 6: HARRIS TWEED & ISLE OF HARRIS DISTILLERY
Enjoy a scenic tour of Harris, which boasts a wide range of landscapes. Visit Horgabost and Luskentyre beaches, then head to Tarbert. Go behind the scenes at the Isle of Harris Distillery to witness the distilling operation and enjoy a sample. See a Harris Tweed weaving demonstration, and take a tour of Stornoway. Dinner is at your hotel in Stornoway.
(B, D)

Day 7: ISLE OF LEWIS SIGHTSEEING
Sightsee around the Isle of Lewis, a relatively flat island with many picturesque sandy beaches and rugged coastline. At Bosta Beach see the Iron Age House, a reconstructed Iron-Age dwelling. Located above Loch an Duin, visit Dun Carloway Broch, which dates back over 2000 years. Continue exploring with a stop to marvel at the ancient Callanish Standing Stones, which date from 2000 BC. Experience history and heritage at Gearannan Blackhouse Village, a former community converted to a museum and visitor center. Return to Stornoway for a free evening to dine and explore on your own.
(B)

Day 8: FERRY TO ULLAPOOL & INVERNESS
Take a panoramic drive and short walking tour around Stornoway, then enjoy some free time to explore independently. You may choose to visit An Lanntair, an arts and exhibition center, or Lews Castle, which boasts an interactive museum including the 900-year-old Lewis Chessmen. Or, visit the Lewis Loom Centre with demonstrations of spinning wheels, the hand loom, and a craft gift shop. In the afternoon board the ferry to Ullapool on the mainland. Travel to Inverness for dinner then join a local guide for a walking tour around the city.
(B, D)

Day 9: CULLODEN BATTLEFIELD & SCONE PALACE
Head to Culloden Battlefield to tour the Visitor Centre, where, on April 16, 1746, British Government forces defeated the army of Prince Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie). Visit Scone Palace and see the fine collections of antiques before heading to Edinburgh. Enjoy an evening of dinner and traditional Scottish song and dance. On August 3 and 10 departures enjoy the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo at the Castle esplanade.
(B, D)

Day 10: EDINBURGH CASTLE & CITY TOUR
Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Edinburgh, comparing the wide streets and elegant mansions of the Georgian 200-year-old “New Town” with the narrow lanes and medieval townhouses along the Royal Mile, the oldest part of the city. Tour Edinburgh Castle’s historic buildings with splendid views of Edinburgh. The rest of the day is free to explore, shop, and dine on your own.
(B)

Day 11: TOUR ENDS IN EDINBURGH
Your tour ends after breakfast.
(B)

B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner