OUTER HEBRIDES ISLAND HOPSCOTCH SELF DRIVE WALKING HOLIDAY EXPLORE THE OUTER HEBRIDES - SELF DRIVE AND WALKING HOLIDAY A relaxed self guided walking and driving holiday through spectacular scenery of Barra, the Uists, SUMMARY Harris and Lewis. Enjoy the mixture of the varied landscapes on the Western Isles of Scotland. On this self guided walking and driving holiday explore the 130 mile chain of Islands that stretch along the North Western Coast of Scotland and enjoy the almost tangible qualities of remoteness and beauty. Follow the route by car and ferry with daily walks through a mosaic of differing landscapes. The trip comprises 6 full days and 7 nights travelling from rugged compact Barra in the far South through to the exposed ’Butt of Lewis’ jutting out into the North Atlantic. There is no set itinerary, you may choose where and when you walk, but we provide you with suggested options for each day. This trip is suitable for those with use of a car as there is little public transport and many of the walks are remote. You will pass through changing scenery as you move through the islands and each day allows you to enjoy the indigenous flora and fauna perfectly adapted to this wild and beautiful region of Scotland. Glorious white sand beaches border the dramatic hills and moorlands providing the ultimate in solitude and tranquillity for the discerning walker. This natural splendour is in perfect harmony with the ancient historical wonders that adorn the islands, affording opportunities to explore the awe inspiring heritage that abounds The trip includes your ferry crossings from Oban on the Scottish mainland to the Isle of Barra, your ferries Tour: Outer Hebrides Hopscotch as per itinerary through the Islands to Lewis and also back to Ullapool on the mainland. Each night you will Code: WSSOH be accommodated in guest house accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis. Car hire is not included Type: Self-Guided Walking Holiday but if you wish we can book as an additional option Price: see website Single Supplement: see website Dates: March—October Days: 6 HIGHLIGHTS Nights: 7 IS IT FOR ME? The stunning white sand beaches of Barra This holiday allows you to travel though out The ‘sea of land and land of lochs’ that is Uist the Western Isles staying in the comfortable accommodation on offer. Each day you Peace and tranquillity in this less travelled area of Scotland choose your own walks and undertake them The almost Lunar landscape of rugged Harris your own pace. This allows you to enjoy the The timeless prehistory of Lewis wildlife and spectacular landscapes that make this area so special. WHY CHOOSE A SELF GUIDED WALKING HOLIDAY WITH US? WHAT’S INCLUDED? Macs Adventure is a small, energetic company dedicated to delivering adventure excellence. We have Ferry crossings: From Oban to Barra on- hand picked the best possible accommodation in order to make sure that you experience the best the ward to Uist, Harris and Lewis to Ullapool. Islands have to offer. We are passionate about delivering outstanding walking holidays where every last Accommodation: 3 star Guesthouses. detail is taken care of. Each holiday we offer is unique, tailor made to meet your requirements. From your Meals: A hearty breakfast included. Lunch first contact with Macs Adventure you will deal with a local specialist who knows the region intimately. and dinner not included but always available at accommodation or nearby. Information Pack: Guide Book as well as a detailed pre-departure information pack. OUTER HEBRIDES ISLAND HOPSCOTCH SELF DRIVE WALKING HOLIDAY Description: Explore the wilds of the Western surrounded by beautiful white sand beaches is a Walking on South Uist Isles at your own pace. We will suggest our site to behold. Indeed Barra recently came first favourite relaxed walks to make sure you get the place in a ‘Most Beautiful Island’ competition. Once again you may explore the area as you best out of your trip. Following your first night in your hand picked wish though we suggest the following walk: Walking Days: 6 accommodation you will be ready to enjoy the Isle of Eriskay Nights: 7 delights of this most attractive little Island. Evidently not on South Uist proper it would be a Average Daily Distance: Your choice: approx Overnight: Barra shame to miss this beautiful walk as you will 3-5 miles per day but longer walks are available. have a chance to savour stunning views of the Grade: Moderate DAY 2 Island from the slopes of Ben Scrien and Ben Walking on Barra Stack . Further it was on Eriskay that the famous cargo of 20,000 cases of Whisky were liberated Day Route While you are free to explore at your leisure we from the sunken ‘Politician’ in 1914 and suggest the following walk: immortalized in Compton Mackenzie’s ‘Whisky 1 Depart Oban by Ferry for Galore’. On a natural note you may be lucky to Barra - Overnight Barra Isle of Vatersay spot a white tailed sea eagle and enjoy a vista of Up to At only 3 miles in both length and width, the 2 Walk on Barra - Overnight 5 Skye and the small Isles. This 3 mile walk is a island is a mix of moorland machair squeezed Barra miles great way to enjoy the region. per together in the middle by glorious beaches. Even 3 Depart Barra by Ferry for day with ease of access by causeway the quiet and Overnight: South Uist South Uist - Overnight peaceful nature prevails. South Bay is a delight DAY 4 South Uist and the views across the Sound of Sandray are superb. 4 Walk on South and North Walking on North Uist Uist - Overnight North Uist Overnight: Barra Driving North from South Uist you cross the causeway that takes you through the flat peat Depart North Uist by Ferry DAY 3 moors of the Island of Benbecula and out along a 5 for Harris - Overight Har- ris Travel to South Uist further causeway to your next stopping point, North Uist. While the east of the Island is Walk on Harris/Lewis - Following breakfast in Barra you are ready to indented with rocky bays the east is blessed with 6 Overnight Lewis travel Northward to the next Island in the chain, glorious beaches. We suggest the following walk: South Uist. From the ferry port of Ard Mhor a 40 Walk on Lewis - Overnight minute journey takes you to the port of Eriskay Balranard RSPB Nature Reserve 7 Lewis actually a small island itself now connected to This area designated to preserve the natural South Uist. You will make your way to your Depart Lewis by Ferry for environment is also an area given over to accommodation for 1 night and if time allows you 8 Ullapool and onward Trav- traditional crofting methods. The walk affords are well placed to take in a lovely walk on your el perfect opportunities to encounter wildlife from arrival day. Alternatively you can relax in your dramatic birds of prey to the inquisitive seals that accommodation until the following morning when breed on nearby islands. DAY 1 the many options to explore both South and Ferry from Oban to Barra North Uist and the interlinked islands of Eriskay Overnight: North Uist and Benbecula are open to you. This region is a You will arrive in Barra via the Calmac ferry at land of moors and lochs overlooked by peaks the port of Castlebay. You will make your way to jutting from a mountainous spine. The beaches your accommodation for 2 nights. At only 8 miles of the west are strands of silver sand washed by long by 4 miles wide the rugged beauty of the crystal clear water and rolling surf. interior with the 383 metre peak of Heaval OUTER HEBRIDES ISLAND HOPSCOTCH SELF DRIVE WALKING HOLIDAY DAY 5 of the Western Isles is absolutely full of world Meals famous archaeological sites sited in a landscape Travel to Harris of wild moorland and magnificent coastal A hearty breakfast is included each morning. Lunch and dinner are not included so you are After your second night on the Uists you will headlands and beaches. With so many walks to free to choose from the available options. Many travel by ferry to the Isle of Harris via the take in we suggest the following options: of your accommodations will more than happy to Berneray to Leverburgh crossing. Following the 1 Callanish Stones provide a packed lunch on request and this can hour ferry journey you may now travel to your be booked on arrival. Dinner is available either at next nights accommodation or if time allows take Perhaps one of the most iconic symbols of the your accommodation or nearby pubs. in a walk. incredible array of archaeological sites that abound are the Callanish stones and associated Navigation Walking on Harris stone circles. A 2.5 mile walk in the area allows The walks on the Outer Hebrides are NOT way The landscape is one of mountains with rugged to travel back in time to a Neolithic age and is marked and some degree of navigational skill is terrain. In fact the name comes from the old highly recommended. required. We provide a guidebook and general Norse ‘Na Hearadh’ meaning ‘high land’. On the Butt of Lewis map however should you wish to back this up west coast are some of the most wonderful then we would recommend purchasing OS beaches in the British Isles which stretch out in The most northerly point of Lewis, this 4 mile Landranger maps 31, 22,18, 14,13 and 8.