Hebridean Adventure - Birmingham

Sublimely secluded and utterly unique, the beautiful coast of Scotland is scattered with hundreds of islands and inlets, shaped by the ever-pounding wild seas. It's a magical place where rich heritage and wildlife combine with the rugged coastline, stunning mountains and unspoilt islands to create an enchanting place like no other. Our tour to the untouched Outer Hebrides is a never-to-be-forgotten experience and takes in this stunning Scottish scenery, including the enchanting isles of Lewis, Barra and more.Hebridean Adventure
IncludesReturn flights to GlasgowAirport taxes & luggage allowance (one piece of checked-in hold luggage per person)First & last night at the Holiday Inn, Glasgow Airport (JG3 rating) with breakfast2 nights at the Dark Island Hotel, Benbecula (JG2 rating) with breakfast plus 1 dinner2 nights at a selected hotel in Stornoway (JG3 rating) with dinner & breakfast1 night at the Highland Hotel, Strathpeffer (JG3 rating) with dinner & breakfast1 dinner on the ferry between Uig and Lochmaddy1 packed lunchIsland hopping excursionExcursion to the Isle of LewisEn-route visit to StirlingFerry faresEscorted by a tour manager in Scotland

Hotel
HotelsJG2 & JG3 ratedThe first and last night of our break is spent at the Holiday Inn Glasgow Airport. We also stay at the Dark Island Hotel on the Isle of Benbecula, the Cabarfeidh Hotel or Caladh Inn in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis and the Highlands Hotel in Strathpeffer. All hotels offer modern en-suite bedrooms with tea and coffee-making facilities.Hotel RatingJG2 ratingHotels with a JG2 rating are a mixture of larger hotels and privately owned properties. Décor and furnishings may be simple but are clean and well maintained. All bedrooms have en-suite facilities, TV and may have tea/coffee making facilities. Food may be buffet style in some of the larger hotels. Services may be limited but efficient.JG3 ratingHotels with a JG3 rating tend to be a more formal style of hotel, often part of a hotel chain, or are very-welcoming family-owned properties. Generally, they offer a greater range of facilities and services, and bedrooms tend to be a little more spacious with additional features. Public areas are larger and include lounge seating, bar and restaurant with good quality food served either buffet style or waiter service.

Itinerary
Day 1 - Flight to GlasgowWe fly to Glasgow airport and take a short walk to the Holiday Inn Glasgow Airport where we stay overnight on a bed and breakfast basis.Day 2 - Isle of Skye & Isle of BenbeculaA day of scenic beauty awaits. Leaving the hotel, we travel north to the pretty port of Mallaig and get a first glimpse of what Skye has to offer as we board a ferry for the short trip across to Armadale on the striking Sleat Peninsula. We make our way across the Isle of Skye, enjoying the stunning scenery and rugged landscapes to Uig, where we catch the ferry to Lochmaddy. We continue on to our hotel on the Isle of Benbecula, our base for the next two nights.Day 3 - Island hoppingToday's island hopping begins by taking the causeway across to South Uist, where the west coast boasts a beautifully unbroken sandy beach in contrast to the east, which is dominated by mountainous peaks. We then continue on to Eriskay, famous for its Eriskay Ponies and also for being the real 'Whisky Galore' island. 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 aboard. 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. Its tranquil beaches, distinctive culture, where Gaelic is widely spoken, and an ancient history make any visit to Barra a memorable one. If time allows, we also venture across the causeway to stunning Vatersay, the most southerly inhabited island in the Outer Hebrides.Day 4 - StornowayAfter a leisurely morning in Benbecula we collect a packed lunch and continue onwards to North Uist, via the Benbecula causeway. As a relatively flat island covered with peat bogs, low hills and lochans, North Uist is a birdwatchers' paradise. We board the afternoon ferry for the one-hour crossing to Harris before travelling up the west coast past numerous unspoilt, white sandy beaches and some of the most breathtaking scenery in the Western Isles. The final leg of today's journey is to lovely Lewis and our hotel in Stornoway, where we stay for two nights.Day 5 - Isle of LewisThe Isle of Lewis is the most northerly island in the Hebrides with a history that goes back thousands of years and where ancient standing stones can be found everywhere. We make the short journey over to the west coast and visit Callanish, home to an awesome collection of stone circles known as the Hebrides Stonehenge. Other sights on today's excursion include the moorland interior where peat is still cut for fuel, traditional croft dwellings and Dun Carloway Broch, one of Scotland's most well-preserved defensive structures dating back over 2,000 years.Day 6 - Stornoway to UllapoolEnjoy some time at leisure in Stornoway this morning, perhaps picking up some souvenirs, before we catch the ferry to Ullapool on the mainland and head to our overnight hotel.Day 7 - Return to Glasgow areaWe continue our journey, stopping in the historic city of Stirling, arriving back at the Holiday Inn Glasgow Airport where we stay overnight on a bed and breakfast basis.Day 8 - Journey homeAfter checking out of the hotel, we take a short walk to Glasgow airport for our return flight home.Please note: ferry times and sailings are subject to confirmation. Should our ferry timings change and cause delays to our itinerary, we may offer a meal voucher on the scheduled ferry crossing instead of dinner at our selected hotel.