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Scottish Island Holidays: Outer Hebrides

Itinerary IH-2: Outer Hebrides Hopscotch from GBP 485 per person for 6nts

Scattered in a 130-mile arc off the north-west coast of Scotland, the Outer Hebrides invariably seduce newcomers with their intoxicating blend of wild natural beauty, abundant wildlife, sparkling sandy beaches and stunning rocky landscapes. You'll be entranced by dramatically different landscapes, and enjoy unique sights - everything from unforgettable sunsets to mysterious stone circles.

Read about this holiday in The Independent.

Isle of Barra

Your first Hebridean destination is the Isle of Barra in the south. Your ferry departs from the port of Oban on the west coast. Look out for whales & dolphins as you cross the Sea of the Hebrides. A short drive takes you to your first small hotel.

Your hotel on Barra

Originally built as a church and mission house in the mid-nineteenth century, your whitewashed hotel enjoys a fine location overlooking the bay, with easy access to both the ferry port and Barra's unique beachfront airstrip at Cockle Strand. In its previous incarnation as a guest house, it played host to several cast members of the classic 1948 film Whisky Galore, before upgrading to hotel status in 1974, whereupon Northbay could boast its first licensed premises since the closure of the old inn decades earlier.

The hotel  has five comfortable en-suite bedrooms furnished in contemporary style, some with DVD. The cheerful public bar ' whose walls are over 3 foot thick ' is a pleasant place to sit and observe the fishing activity across the bay at Ardveenish pier, or to while away an evening listening to the friendly locals share their colourful tales of island life. Meals are served in the bar, or you can opt for the quieter dining room, whose menu features tempting island produce, with an emphasis on locally landed fresh fish and shellfish.

What to see and do on Barra

Take a walk along the sparkling white sands of Cockle Strand and spot a plane landing at low tide ' an unforgettable sight. Drive or cycle up to Eoligarry and feast your eyes on the springtime profusion of primroses as you gaze across the sound to Fuday, Eriskay and South Uist in the distance. Or head south to Castlebay, the island capital, and visit Kisimul Castle, restored ancestral home of the clan MacNeil. Stop off at the highly informative Heritage Centre, where you can enjoy coffee and refreshments, before perhaps taking a picnic across the causeway to Vatersay, with its glorious twin beaches.

North Uist

Leave the little island of Barra via the ferry to Eriskay, you will then travel along the spectacular waterside roads of Uist to find your next destination in the north.

Your Hotel on North Uist

This striking modern hotel, which has proved a highly popular choice for our clients since it opened in 2006, offers stylish contemporary interiors and boutique-style ambience, unrivalled anywhere else in the Hebrides. Each of its eight designer bedrooms offers wonderful views of Lochmaddy Bay and offers a soothing environment characterised by warm, earthy hues, subtle lighting effects and quality modern furnishings. The hotel is set in attractive landscaped gardens and boasts a decked outdoor eating area and a fully-equipped Leisure Club complete with sauna, steam room and gym. The hills and machair lands around Lochmaddy provide inspiration for the restaurant kitchen in the form of heather-fed lamb, deer, game and organic vegetables, whilst the harbour, freshwater lochs and surrounding coastal waters are an abundant source of delicious scallops, mussels, lobsters, crab, salmon and wild brown trout. The main restaurant menu imaginatively reflects these culinary riches, whilst the comfortable lounge bar focuses on more informal, hearty home-cooking.

What to see and do on the Uists

North Uist offers unlimited access to the interconnected isles of Benbecula, Grimsay, South Uist and Eriskay, all of which are ideal for walking, kayaking, cruising and wildlife-watching. Birdwatchers will not want to miss the RSPB Balranald nature reserve on the west coast ' home to thousands of coastal waders and divers. Meanwhile, Lochmaddy itself boasts several unusual attractions, including a camera obscura and the impressive Taigh Chearsabhagh arts centre and museum.

Harris

Your last destination on the Outer Hebrides is found on Harris in the south not far from the ferry port.

Your hotel on Harris

Your hotel is an historic former 18th century shooting lodge, set in a stunning seaside location in a tiny village at the south-eastern tip of Harris. Named after some of the colourful characters who have resided in the house in its previous incarnations, there are just four bedrooms, two with delightful seaviews, and all with individually designed interiors featuring comfortable Harris tweeds and original works of art. The latter lend the hotel something of an art-gallery feel and are displayed throughout the public areas too as the 'Spirit of Harris' exhibition ' a collection of specially commissioned, locally-themed works of art.

The hotel restaurant makes use of the finest island produce, from Pabbay venison to seasonally available game and locally-grown vegetables; whilst the local fisheries and nearby harbour are excellent sources of freshwater fish and mouthwatering seafood, including crab, langoustine, monkfish and sea-trout.

What to see and do on Harris

With its magnificent scenery and spectacular beaches, South Harris offers unrivalled opportunities for hillwalkers, anglers, divers, birdwatchers and wildlife-lovers. Take a sunset cruise in the Sound of Harris to spot seals, dolphins and basking sharks, and marvel at the sight of golden eagles, cormorants and buzzards swooping down over the uninhabited offshore islands. And don't miss Rodel's exquisite 15th century church of St Clement's, with its wonderful medieval tombs and wood carvings. The prehistoric sites of Lewis, including Callanish standing stones are perfectly feasible for a day trip.

Return Home

Today you will leave the Outer Hebrides by way of the ferry from Stornoway to Ullapool. Or if you prefer you can return home via Skye. In either case we can arrange for a stop-off for you.

Prices & Dates

This holiday can be arranged from 29th March to the middle of October 2010. The itinerary, as set out above, works best starting from Oban on a Wednesday, Saturday or Sunday.

Prices for 2010: £485 per person for March, April & October and £530 per person for May to September departures, based on 2 people sharing a room for 6 nights on a bed & breakfast basis. This includes ferry crossings from Oban-Barra, Barra- Eriskay, North Uist - Harris, and Stornoway-Ullapool (or Harris - Skye) for a car and two adult passengers.

All our touring holidays include a map of Scotland with recommended routes from your specified starting point, suggestions on places to see and visit depending on your personal interests and our expertise to help you get the most from your holiday.

All itineraries and room types are presented subject to availability at specific hotels.

The McKinlay Kidd Guarantee

All our holiday prices include a service charge of £8 per person per night towards the costs we incur in researching, planning and designing your holiday. We guarantee to refund this service charge if you believe that arranging your holiday through McKinlay Kidd has not met your expectations for value.

All we ask is that you write to us within 7 days of your return and explain your reason for claiming the refund. This will ensure that we can improve the experience for all our future guests.