Outer Hebrides & St Kilda

Day 1 – Travel to the Hebrides

Meet your Wilderness guide in Inverness this morning and drive to Ullapool to catch the morning ferry to the Isle of Lewis – the largest island in the Outer Hebrides. The ferry journey takes us through well-known seabird and cetacean feeding areas, so keep your eyes peeled for dorsal fins cutting through the white-capped water. After arriving in Stornoway, a short drive north takes you to Tolsta Head, the perfect place to stretch your legs with beautiful views across the sea and down to stacks and natural arches. Later, enjoy a scenic drive south to arrive at your welcoming accommodation this evening. (L, D)

Walk details:  5 km/3 miles | approx. 2 hours

Day 2 – Voyage to St Kilda*

Located over 40 miles offshore, visiting the fantastic double World Heritage Site of St Kilda is an adventure that requires a 3-hour boat trip each way. The crossing provides an excellent opportunity to see marine wildlife, and as we approach the islands, we can hear, see and smell the vast seabird colonies. Home to some of the highest sea cliffs in Britain and globally important colonies of gannets, fulmars and puffins – it’s a truly incredible place. Once ashore, enjoy a few hours of exploring with your knowledgeable guide, taking the time to walk around the abandoned village and learning about the island’s haunting history. Wild, evocative and wind-swept, a visit to St. Kilda is sure to be an incredibly memorable experience. (B, L, D)

*Please note that the journey to St Kilda strongly depends on decent sea conditions. If it is not possible to visit on Day 2, your guide will try to reschedule for a different day during the trip. If the weather prevents this completely, a wonderful wildlife cruise will be arranged instead.

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Day 3 – The Isle of Harris

The Isle of Harris has a long and fascinating history. Today we’ll follow the Golden Road – so named because of the cost of building it through the rugged and rough terrain. We’ll also take the opportunity to visit St Clement’s Church – considered to be the grandest medieval building on the Western Isles. We’ll enjoy a walk across the vast expanses of moorland, which hold nationally important breeding populations of greenshank and dunlin, before exploring the white sands of Luskentyre – one of the most breathtaking beaches on Harris. (B, L, D)

Walk details: 8 km/5 miles | approx. 4 hours

Day 4 – In Search of Raptors

Today, spend the morning exploring the hills of Harris, which has one of Europe’s highest densities of golden eagles. Visit a purpose-built eagle hide (located in a dramatic glen) with the hope of spotting the majestic birds that call this wild island home. Sea eagles, also known as white-tailed eagles, are also frequently spotted in this area as they come in to feed on salmon and other prey. Other daytime hunters include the hen harrier and the furious-looking short-eared owl. This afternoon, we’ll take a ferry across to the islands of the southern Outer Hebrides. North & South Uist, Berneray and Benbecula are places of remote and windswept beauty, strung with pristine sandy beaches, intricate rocky shores and beautiful sunsets. (B, L, D)

Walk details: 6 km/3.75 miles | approx. 3 hours

Day 5 – South Uist Birds and Wildflowers

Waking up on Europe’s northwestern seaboard, there’s a landscape rich with ancient culture and rare wildlife to discover. Like much of the archipelago, South Uist is made up of quiet, sandy beaches, wildflower-rich machair meadows, rocky inlets and heather-covered hills. We’ll explore on foot today, taking a packed lunch with us as we walk along the enticing coastline. With otters, divers, wildflowers and wildfowl to spot, there will be plenty for us to enjoy. At migration times, these islands offer an important stopover for exotic and lost migrating birds from America, the Arctic, the Mediterranean and even the Far East, which makes for exciting twitching. (B, L, D)

Walk details: 8 km/5 miles | approx. 4 hours

Day 6 – North Uist Corncrakes

A key species in this region is the secretive corncrake, which skulks in the fertile machair meadows and ancient farmlands – a landscape once much more common on the mainland. The corncrake is often heard but rarely seen. The most common time to spot this elusive bird is in early summer. Enjoy visiting the RSPB reserve at Balranald, spotting rare species such as the great yellow bumblebee, corn bunting, golden ringed dragonfly and many scarce wildflowers. The heather moors of North Uist and Benbecula offer further good raptor-hunting habitats. We will spend time searching for these stunning birds of prey and returning summer migrants such as the wheatear and stonechat. (B, L, D)

Walk details: 8 km/5 miles | approx. 4 hours

Day 7 – Return to Inverness

While we begin our journey back to Inverness today, there are still good opportunities for some wonderful scenery and excellent wildlife sightings. After breakfast, enjoy a lovely short walk to the spectacular chambered cairn of Barpa Langass and the only stone circle on North Uist. We depart across the Minch again, this time on the late morning ferry heading for the Isle of Skye. From here, we journey across Skye and over the bridge to the mainland before winding our way along the shores of Loch Ness to arrive in Inverness by 5.30pm. (B, L)

Walk details: 3 km/2 miles | approx. 1 hours