Description
Join us and make wonderful memories as we head north to Scotland for our Magical Hebridean Odyssey tour. This Ava Travel customer favourite is the ultimate island-hopping experience covering the islands of Skye, North Uist, Banbecula, South Uist, Barra (with the added bonus island of Vetersay if time allows on Barra), Bernaray, Lewis and Harris. Discover the Outer Hebrides, Scotland’s wild Atlantic islands, travel through areas of unspoilt, natural beauty offering spectacular scenery, impressive mountain ranges and miles of golden, sandy beaches, filled with Gaelic culture, renowned Hebridean hospitality and wonderful wildlife. This tour is very popular and won’t be available for long so book now, don’t miss out, discover your own magical haven of peace and tranquility in the magnificent surrounding of the Outer Hebrides.
Itinerary
Thursday
Depart Leyland at 08.00am for our journey north to Scotland, the first hotel is our overnight at the Onich Hotel in Fort William with a suitable lunch stop en-route, a great hotel to rest before beginning our wonderful Hebridean adventure, where you will be greeted by a warm welcome and tea/coffee on arrival.
Friday
Check out of our overnight hotel following breakfast. Today's island hopping begins with is crossing by road across the Kyle of Lochalsh to the Isle of Skye where we board a ferry from Uig to Lochmaddy, North Uist, a relatively flat island in the Outer Hebrides covered with peat bogs, low hills and lochans, travel via the Benbecula Causeway to the small island of Benbecula to check in at the Dark Island Hotel our home for the next two nights.
Saturday
Following breakfast we take the causeway to South Uist where the West Coast is a continuous sandy beach while the east is dominated by mountainous peaks, continue on via a further causeway to Eriskay, South Uist, famous for the real 'Whisky Galore' island and Eriskay ponies. It was just off Eriskay between Great Todday and Little Todday that the SS Politician ran aground in 1941 with 50,000 cases of Whisky on board. The locals managed to save several hundred cases before the ship sank, providing them with a good supply of their 'Water of Life'. From here enjoy the short ferry crossing to the Isle of Barra, considered by many to be the most beautiful, little island in Britain. It's tranquil beaches, distinctive culture, where Gaelic is widely spoken, and an ancient history makes a visit to Bara a memorable one. Time allowing travel across the causeway to stunning Vatersay, the most southerly inhabited island on the Hebrides, return to Barra to board the ferry back to Eriskay and return to the hotel.
Sunday
Check out of our hotel following a leisurely breakfast, a packed lunch will be provided today by the Dark Island Hotel to enjoy on our journey. Travel back to North Uist over the Bernaray Causeway to Bernaray where we will board the ferry across to Leverburgh on the Isle of Harris, continuing our journey to The Caladh Inn in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, our Hebridean home for the next two nights.
Monday
Today a local guide will join us on board the coach for a wonderful Island tour. Lewis has a history that dates back thousands of years and ancient stone circles and standing stone can be found everywhere. Visit the Calanais Standing Sones and Visitor Centre, overlooking the beautiful Loch Roag above the peaceful village of Calanais, enjoy the ancient beauty of the stones shrouded in thousands of years of mystery and island traditions. Other sights you will see on your excursion of the island include the moorland interior, where peat is still cut for fuel, traditional croft dwellings and Carloway Broch, one of Scotland's best preserved defence structures dating back 2,000 years.
Tuesday
Check out of our hotel following a leisurely breakfast spending free time in Stornoway before boarding our ferry back to Ullapool on the Scottish mainland. From Ullapool continue our journey to our overnight destination, The Ben Wyvis Hotel in Strathpeffer, arriving in time for our evening meal.
Wednesday
Check out of our overnight following breakfast as we continue south through Scotland, bis farewell to Bonnie Scotland as we continue our journey to home with a suitable lunch stop en-route.
Venue Information
The Onich Hotel, Fort William 12/13th September 2024 – 1 Night
Dark Island Hotel, Isle of Benbecula 13/15th September 2024 – 2 Nights
The Caladh Inn, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis 15/17th September 2024 – 2 Nights
Ben Wyvis Hotel, Strathpeffer 17/18th September 2024 – 1 Night