Tiree

Day 1 - Arrive in Tiree

Meet your Wilderness Guide at Oban Railway Station this afternoon and take the ferry over to Tiree. As you sail through the stunning Sound of Mull, listen to the insistence of gannets as you look out across the waves for dolphins, porpoises and minke whales. On your crossing, chat with your guide about the week ahead. Arrive on Tiree in the early evening, and take some time to settle into your contemporary guesthouse. With its Scandi-Scottish paired-back style and long windows letting in the light, it’s easy to stay cosy while also feeling close to the island’s wild nature. Enjoy a fresh, seasonal dinner before catching an early night in anticipation of an exciting day of exploring tomorrow. (D)

Day 2 - Biking to Balephuil Bay

As seabirds whirl above your head and the morning breeze fills your lungs with fresh sea air, head out on two wheels for a lovely bicycle ride. Roughly 12 miles long, with seemingly never-ending views across the waving marram grass, the island is the perfect place to explore on two wheels. Take the time to stop and look for lapwing, sandpipers and oystercatchers, listening out for the distinctive, rasping call of the elusive corncrake – a protected species that now has a small stronghold on the island. On your ride, visit the Hynish Centre to learn about the building of Skerryvore Lighthouse. Afterwards, pedal out to one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. Relax your well-pedalled legs this evening as you enjoy a cool drink that clinks with ice or a hot mug of tea before dinner. (B, L, D)

Ride details: 32 km/20 miles | 162 m/530 ft elevation gain

Day 3 - Visiting Skerryvore Lighthouse and a Coastal walk

After breakfast, enjoy a boat tour that visits Skerryvore Lighthouse. As the tallest lighthouse in Scotland, not only is it an incredible feat of engineering, but it’s also a structure of great beauty, possessing a sort of captivating symmetry that both blends and contrasts against the tempestuous waves and ever-changing sky. Look out for the seal colony at Heanish while skimming over the blue water and learning about the lighthouse’s turbulent history. After lunch, join your guide for an afternoon walk that traverses the rugged Ceann a’Mhara headland on the southwest of the island. Stop to visit the bird hides before reaching the scant remnants of St. Patrick’s Chapel. Return across the dunes and buttercup-strewn slopes for a delicious and well-earned dinner this evening. (B, L, D)

Walk details: 5.5 km/3.5 miles | 123 m/403 ft ascent | approx. 2.5 hours

Day 4 - Stand-Up Paddleboarding

Spend the morning stand-up paddleboarding in turquoise water. Meet your friendly instructor, pull on your wetsuit and head out into the calm bay. Paddleboarding is a great sport that can be as exciting or peaceful as you like. Sit, kneel or stand, paddle fast or paddle slow, regardless – enjoy being out on the water and all the sights, sounds and smells that go with it. After a warming lunch and some time to relax, enjoy a visit to the engaging Iodhlann Historical Centre, learning more about this intriguing island and the history of the people that live here. Relax this evening, perhaps stepping outside to look up at an inky night sky awash with stars. (B, L, D)

Day 5 - Walking to the Ringing Stone and Dun Mòr Broch

This morning, head out for a beautiful circular walk which showcases some of the island’s most interesting features. Pass by the Ringing Stone, a prominent boulder on the edge of the shoreline which clangs eerily when stuck with a pebble, believed to have been carved over 4,500 years ago. Wind your way gradually higher to see the broch of Dun Mòr, which is perched on a rocky knoll and dates back to 60AD. After lunch, walk along a two-mile arc of white sand, looking toward the unmistakable silhouette of Skye’s dramatic Cuillin Ridge on the horizon. This evening, perhaps curl up with a good book or sit up and chat with your group as the moon grows large and yellow in the soft darkness outside the window. (B, L, D)

Walk details: 10 km/6 miles | 20 m/65 ft ascent | approx. 3 – 4 hours

Day 6 - Return to Oban

After a relaxed breakfast, board the ferry to sail back to the mainland. Turning your face to the salt-stained wind watch the gentle sloping sands of Tiree and the rugged landscape of Col fade into the hazy blue. Upon arrival in Oban, transfer to the station, bidding farewell to your travel companions and your guide before beginning your journey home. (B, L)