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Trip created by Stevie Christie
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Region: Outer Hebrides and St Kilda
Trip Type: Wildlife
Comfort: Classic
Max Group Size: 8
Confirmed: When 2 Traveller(s) Book
Deposit From N/A
£448.75
Difficulty:
All you need to know about your trip, this essential document is a must for all adventures.
Download ItineraryOn this trip we will explore the Outer Hebrides far off Scotland’s west coast, discovering its abundant wildlife, including some of the rarest wildlife to be found in Scotland.
Along the way, we’ll enjoy coastal and glen hikes and, weather permitting, a boat trip to the incredible archipelago of St Kilda. And on our May departure, we hope to see the spring migration of skuas to their summer breeding grounds – one of Scotland’s greatest nature events.
Your knowledgeable guide will help you spot wildlife, and provide a fascinating insight into the rich tapestry of island life. You’ll look out for eagles, basking sharks, whales and dolphins, as well the rich flora of the islands found in the famous coastal ‘machairs.’ Staying in a charming lodge accommodation with delicious food, this special trip provides a memorable insight into the wildlife of these wild and beautiful islands.
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.
We meet in Inverness and drive to Ullapool, where we catch the morning ferry across 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 we will hope for some sightings before we even arrive on the islands. Driving south we’ll admire the scenery on the islands and stop for a short hike to stretch our legs before reaching our accommodation this evening. (L, D)
Located over 40 miles offshore, visiting the amazing double World Heritage Site of St Kilda requires a boat crossing of 3 hours each way. Though challenging, it is a very rewarding day. The crossing provides a great opportunity to see marine life, and as we approach the islands we see, hear and smell the vast seabird colonies. We’ll have a few hours on land to explore this incredible island, home to some of the highest sea cliffs in Britain and globally-important colonies of gannets, fulmars and puffins. The incredible birdlife and the thought-provoking story of the islanders who once lived on this remote and unforgiving island will stay with you long after the cliffs become a mere dot on the horizon. St Kilda is a spectacular and very special place to visit. (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 weather prevents this altogether then a wildlife cruise in Loch Roag will be arranged instead.
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The Isle of Harris has a long and fascinating history. Today we’ll follow the Golden Road – so called because of the cost involved to build through the rough terrain. We’ll visit St Clement’s Church, thought to be the grandest medieval building on the western isles. We’ll take a walk across the vast expanses of moorland which hold nationally important breeding populations of greenshank and dunlin. This afternoon we’ll explore the white sands of Luskentyre, truly one of the most breath-taking beaches on the Isle of Harris. Keep your eyes peeled for marine and bird life and the mysterious white ponies that roam the dunes. (B, L, D)
Today we head into the hills of Harris, which has one of the highest density of golden eagles in Europe. Here we will visit a purpose-built eagle hide which is located in a dramatic glen in the hopes of spotting the eagles that call this glen 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 furious-looking short-eared owl, either of which could turn up almost anywhere during our time on the islands.
This evening, we’ll leave Harris and head to the Isle of Lewis where we’ll stay for the night, ready to explore this intricate coastline in the morning. (B, L, D)
This morning we’ll take a hike around the coast discovering the vibrant colours of the wildflowers found in the Machair plains. This rare habitat is only found on the exposed western coastline of Scotland and Ireland, and is always busy with different birds and insects. Keep a careful eye on the shoreline and the rocky outcrops for the sleek otters that inhabit this area. They can be elusive but it is a special experience when you see one. This afternoon, we’ll head to the famous Neolithic-era Callanish Standing Stones which you can explore freely. Placing your hands on the stones, you can reach back through time to the ancient islanders who walked the land 5,000 years ago. (B, L, D)
Today we’ll explore what is reputedly the windiest spot in Britain, a lighthouse perched on top of the impressive cliffs at the Butt of Lewis. We’ll hope for a calm day but it is always enjoyable to watch the sea crash dramatically on the rocks. These cliffs are home to many species of seabird including kittiwakes, shags, black guillemots and fulmar petrels. It’s a fantastic place to watch the birds hang suspended at eye level as they ride the thermals, giving you an up close look. On a calm day, spot whales, dolphins and porpoises feeding along the coast. Spending the day at the very top of the Hebrides is a wonderful way to end the trip. (B, L, D)
We begin our journey back to Inverness today, but there are still opportunities for some wonderful scenery and excellent wildlife sightings. We’ll travel to Stornoway where we’ll visit the museum in Lewis Castle and enjoy a walk in the grounds. We’ll then return to the mainland and journey back to Inverness, arriving at the train station by 8.00pm. (B, L)
To download a PDF copy of our Trip Itinerary, containing full details about this holiday, please complete the form below:
ACCOMMODATION
This itinerary is based in three different locations throughout the week, with 3 nights on Harris, one night on the West coast of Lewis and the final two nights at the atmospheric Northern tip of Lewis. Each welcoming accommodation offers double and single rooms with en-suite facilities.
SINGLE ROOMS
There is no supplement charged to solo travellers, however you will be required to share a room with another person of the same sex. If you require a single room please request this at the time of booking and we will check availability for you.
A single room supplement of £450 is charged if a single room is available.
Due to the small size of the accommodations we use, single supplements are limited and are allocated on a first come first served basis.
All meals from lunch on day 1 to lunch on day 7 are included on this trip.
During 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.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
You will be met by your Wilderness Scotland Guide in the centre of Inverness Railway Station at 7:30am on Day 1 of your trip. You will be returned to Inverness station by 8:00pm on the final day.
For advice on getting to and from Scotland please our travel advice page on our website: www.wildernessscotland.com/faq/travel-to-scotland/
If you would like to use your own vehicle on the trip please get in touch with our team to discuss.
21 People viewed this trip in the last week
| Trip Dates for 2021 | Availability | Status | Price | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8th May - 14th May 2021 | 1 place(s) left | CONFIRMED | £1,795 | Book Now |
| 15th May - 21st May 2021 | 3 place(s) left | CONFIRMED | £1,795 | Book Now |
| 12th Jun - 18th Jun 2021 | 2 place(s) left | CONFIRMED | £1,795 | Book Now |
| 3rd Jul - 9th Jul 2021 | 5 place(s) left | CONFIRMED | £1,795 | Book Now |
Fancy this trip just for your group? Get together with family and friends spend quality time exploring wild places. A private trip allows you to benefit from all the features of the group departure, including hand-picked accommodation and expert local guides but with the advantage of the flexibility to tailor the days to your group. Make the trip more or less challenging depending on your experience or choose to add in some optional extras like castle or distillery visits depending on your interests. The price of a private trip will depend on the number of travellers in your group. Let us know your prefered departure date and we'll take care of the rest.
As an avid adventurer, Stevie has life-long experience in Scotland’s outdoors. He’s Co-Owner and Head of Adventure with Wilderness and been with us for over 15 years in a variety of roles, with innovative trip design being both a passion and a speciality. In his spare time, Stevie runs the Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival, bringing the world’s most inspiring adventure filmmakers and athletes to an audience of over 1,500 each year. His love for adventure and knowledge of Scotland inspired him to design this exciting wildlife trip.
Ask Stevie a QuestionGreen Graded Wildlife Holidays 1-3
All of our wildlife trips are graded Green and involve straightforward hiking with no major ascents, as well as other activities which are pitched at novice level. You can expect to be active for around 5 hours each day so you will need a reasonable level of fitness. Please note that there may be some early starts and late nights as we seek to maximise our chances of finding wildlife, although you can always opt out of activities if you prefer an early night or long lie in the morning!
So to help you decide if you are fit enough for this kind of trip, ask yourself:
Rated 4.94 out of 5 based on 16 review(s) of Wildlife Adventures – Outer Hebrides & St Kilda
Every client receives a feedback survey when they return from their guided, self guided or tailor made holiday with us. Once completed the review is published on our website just as soon as our database updates. The little touches and details are important to us and where issues are raised we make positive changes to our trips to improve your experience.
That’s why we read each of our client’s reviews and although we don’t respond to all of them, if it’s glowing feedback then we get the satisfaction of helping to make your holidays truly memorable.
Sarah Bowman
Reviewed on 24/06/2019
Age: 70 - 80
Country: England
Trip Date: 15/06/2019
Trips Taken: 2
The Bottom Line
Ann Laughlin
Reviewed on 15/06/2019
Age: 70 - 80
Country: United States
Trip Date: 25/05/2019
Trips Taken: 1
The Bottom Line
I loved the trip. I hated the weather. The van was a little claustrophobic. People should be told to keep their spot for the day and then rotate so there's not so much yapping about who is going to sit where. :) I think WS did a great job.
Maureen McCallum
Reviewed on 07/06/2019
Age: 70 - 80
Trip Date: 25/05/2019
Trips Taken: 1
The Bottom Line
The experience was great. I'd book another trip with Wilderness Scotland.
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