Wilderness Walking View Trip Dates Outer Hebrides: Book Now The Uists, Barra & Mingulay Trip Grade: Green 2 Outer Hebrides: The Uists, Barra & Mingulay Join us as we embark on a journey through the southern Outer Hebrides. The curious traveller who ventures here will be rewarded by quiet islands, wonderfully scenic walks and welcoming accommodations, all the time accompanied by wild Atlantic vistas. A trip to Mingulay provides a fitting climax to the trip. Your knowledgeable guide will provide a fascinating insight into the complex tapestry of island life, history and geology. They can also help you spot wildlife, which may include golden eagles, white tailed sea eagles, basking sharks, whales and dolphins, as well helping you identify the rich flora of the islands found in the famous coastal ‘machairs’ or flower meadows. With charming accommodation and delicious food, this special trip provides a memorable insight into these wild and beautiful islands. Highlights • Visit seven islands on a spectacular journey through the southern Outer Hebrides, indulging in the wild scenery and rich history of the islands • Journey to the abandoned island of Mingulay on a privately chartered boat, relishing its wild beauty and abundant wildlife while learning about the hardships of life there • Enjoy exceptional island hospitality at our carefully selected guest houses, set in magnificent coastal locations Book with confidence • We guarantee this trip will run as soon as 2 people have booked • Maximum of 8 places available per departure PLEASE NOTE – The itinerary may be subject to change at the discretion of the Wilderness Scotland Guide with regard to weather conditions and other factors. Planned Itinerary Day 1 | Travel to the Outer Hebrides; Hike to Hut of The Shadows Day 2 | Beaches and Birdlife of North Uist Day 3 | Benbecula Vistas and Exploring South Uist Day 4 | Whisky Galore on the Isle of Eriskay Day 5 | The Isles of Barra and Vatersay Day 6 | Echoes of the Past on Mingulay Day 7 | Journey to Inverness Arrival Info • Your Guide will meet you at the centre of Inverness Railway Station by the fixed seating area • 9:00am on Day 1 of your trip Departure Info • You will be returned to Inverness Railway Station • 6:00pm on the final day of your trip PLEASE NOTE – The itinerary may be subject to change at the discretion of the Wilderness Scotland Guide with regard to weather conditions and other factors. Day 1 | Reaching North Uist Meeting in Inverness, we travel west through the mountainous region of Kintail before crossing the Skye Bridge. We then travel across Skye before arriving at the port of Uig on Skye’s west coast. The ferry crossing takes less than two hours, reaching the tiny port of Lochmaddy on the Isle of North Uist mid-afternoon. Once we arrive, we will go on a short walk before heading to our accommodation to settle in for the evening. (L, D) Walk details: 5km | approx. 1.5 hrs Day 2 | Beaches and Birdlife of North Uist We enjoy a morning walk, exploring one of North Uists most beautiful beaches. We hike a circular route through sand dunes to a raised headland called Aird a’ Mhorain. Although just 40m above sea level, it provides a fantastic vantage point with views north to the Isle of Harris. In the afternoon, we visit the nearby RSPB Reserve at Balranald. A trail takes us through the reserve, which is known as being a stronghold for the elusive Corncrake. (B, L) Walk details: 10km | approx. 3hrs - excluding the optional walk at Balranald Reserve Day 3 | Benbecula Vistas and Exploring South Uist Benbecula is the small island which links North and South Uist. Our morning hike takes us to the not-so-lofty summit of Rueval. Despite being just 127m above sea level, it offer fabulous views across the southern Hebrides. Indeed, it is said that you can see over 100 freshwater lochs from its summit! Continuing onto South Uist, the afternoon sees us enjoy a relaxing stroll on the machair at Howmore Beach, passing some traditional thatched cottages on the way. If time permits, we may visit the Bronze Age roundhouses at Cladh Hallan before arriving at the inn which will be our base for the next two nights. (B, L) Walk details: 4km | approx. 2 hrs for Rueval; plus an extra 4km for the walk at Howmore Beach Day 4 | Whisky Galore on the Isle of Eriskay We cross the causeway onto the Isle of Eriskay, a tiny island but one packed full of history and intrigue. Our circular hike starts by crossing Prince’s Beach, where Bonnie Prince Charlie first set foot on Scottish soil. This beach is also where the SS Politician ran aground in 1941. Much of its cargo of 264,000 bottles of whisky was ‘acquired’ by the locals - an event which inspired the classic Scottish novel, ‘Whisky Galore’. Leaving the beach, we hike across the moor to a small knoll with mountain and sea views. Before returning to the hotel, we will stop at the Am Politician bar and perhaps enjoy a dram of whisky - wherever it came from! (B, L) Walk details: 6km/ 4 miles | approx. 3 hrs Day 5 | The Isles of Barra and Vatersay Barra is a delightful island to explore and there are countless possible walks to explore its hills, machair and, of course, its beaches. Many of the walks are short, meaning we often enjoy a walk before lunch and another that afternoon. One possible option is a morning hike to the Iron Age fort of Dun Ban and Halaman beach. After lunch, we can enjoy a hike to the 105m summit of Beinn Eolaigearry which is a fantastic vantage point with 360 degree sea views - and a great spot for watching the small planes land on the beach runway at Traigh Mhor. Late afternoon or perhaps post-dinner, we can cross the causeway to Vatersay and enjoy a short walk on its beaches. (B, L) Walk details: Up to 13km/ 8 miles | approx. 5 hrs Day 6 | Echoes of the Past on Mingulay A privately chartered boat takes us south to the long-abandoned islands of Mingulay, Berneray and Pabbay, which boast some of the finest coastal landscapes in Scotland. The crossing to Mingulay takes just over an hour and provides wonderful opportunities for spotting marine life such as basking sharks or minke whales. We’ll aim to land on Mingulay and spend around 3 hours ashore, giving us time to explore the abandoned villages, stunning beaches and perhaps take a hike up MacPhee’s Hill. Back at our hotel that night, we’ll enjoy a final night dinner together overlooking Barra’s incredible beaches. (B, L, D) Walk details: 6 km/ 4 miles, approx. 3 hrs Day 7 | Journey to Inverness After breakfast we board the ferry bound for Oban. Once we’re back on the Mainland, we head north towards Port Appin where we’ll stop for lunch overlooking Loch Linnhe and Castle Stalker. We then drive east across the Highlands, arriving back in Inverness around 6pm. (B, L) Trip Grading | Green 2 | Green graded walking holidays are suitable for for active travellers who are reasonably fit and enjoy moderate hikes. We walk at a comfortable pace and you can expect to be out for 5-6 hours a day. The terrain will be mostly good paths and hill trails but these can still be muddy and rough in places. Some hikes may involve an ascent up to a max of approx 1,500 feet / 450m. Distances will be typically 8-10km but there may be the odd slightly longer day. Daily hike details are available in the itinerary. The weather in Scotland can be unpredictable and at times can make activities more challenging. Please do bear this in mind when thinking about what trip to join. If our guides feel that you are not able to complete a scheduled hike they may ask you not to join in that day. If you have any questions about the grading, then please do give our Adventure Consultants a call to chat through your experience and suitability for this trip. It is your responsibility to ensure you are appropriately fit and capable of doing the described hikes in the expected times. Please refer to the grading section on our website for more details. If you are unsure we encourage you to speak to us first. Accommodation and Meals This itinerary is based in three different locations, with two nights each on North Uist, South Uist and Barra. Each of the accommodations offer double and twin rooms, most with en-suite facilities. Most meals are included in the price of this holiday. Evening meals which are not included are taken in local pubs and restaurants which offer a wide choice of local dishes. Throughout the journey, varied island produce will be served up in hearty and imaginative meals. Seafood is a speciality with beef, lamb and venison also popular and of course, any special dietary requirements can be catered for. On this trip we generally eat dinner as a group however if you would like to make alternative arrangements you are free to do so. Your guide will have an evening off during this trip where they do not eat with the group. They will recommend options for dinner that evening and will help you make any necessary reservations. Single Rooms For solo travellers: Accommodation is based on sharing a twin room with another solo traveller of the same gender. A limited number of rooms for single occupancy are available on a first come first served basis, subject to a single supplement.