Holidays Scotland - award winning tailor made holidays & short breaks in Scotland

• Call us on: 0844 804 0020*

• Request a tailor-made holiday

• Search

  Search
• Map search
• Sign up for our e-newsletter

Journey through the Western Isles from £945 per person for 10 nts

Ideal for those who want a relaxing tour of these special, truly captivating islands, each with their own character, taking you from Barra in the south through the Uists, to Harris, Lewis and finishing on Skye.

All of our holiday was great, as we expected with McKinlay Kidd on this our third holiday with you. Sharon & Nigel, South Wales

Day One - 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 inn 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.

Day Three - 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.

Day Five - Harris

Today you cross by ferry to Harris, with your hotel in a peaceful location in the south of the island.

Your guesthouse on Harris

This modern 4 star guest house exudes a warm, traditional Hebridean welcome and offers a quiet retreat from which to appreciate the beauty of the surrounding area. Overlooking a peaceful loch, you’ll feel a million miles from anywhere, although in reality you are just a few minutes drive, or a 20 minute walk from Tarbert. The splendid breakfast, prepared from locally sourced produce, will set you up for the day. All of the comfortable rooms and the residents lounge enjoy impressive watery views from this aptly named house meaning ‘Music of the Sea’.

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.

Day Seven - Lewis

No ferry today as Lewis is part of the same land mass as Harris, reached by crossing a barren rocky "moonscape". Time to explore as you travel, with your next hotel on the edge of Stornoway, the main town of these islands.

Your guesthouse on Lewis

Proudly displaying its 5 star rating this modern and friendly accommodation certainly deserves its new status. Guest comfort is paramount and attention to detail is evident from the fluffy towels to the power shower, and the comfortable beds to the restful décor which will have you feeling relaxed in no time. It is situated on the edge of Stornoway with magnificent views over the sea, toward the Scottish mainland, the Isle of Skye and the Shiant Islands. Breakfast here is a real treat, with all the produce locally sourced. Highlights include Hebridean smoked fish and the renowned Stornoway black pudding. The hotel does not serve evening meals, but there is wide choice of options in nearby Stornoway.

What to see and do on Lewis

Lewis is positively bursting with archaeological treasures, notably the eerie Standing Stones of Callanish, the Pictish Carloway Broch and several blackhouse villages. The bustling town of Stornoway boasts a vibrant social scene, where traditional music and crafts thrive in lively pubs, clubs, markets and shops. With its magnificent scenery, the Isle of Lewis also offers unrivalled opportunities for hillwalkers, anglers, divers, birdwatchers and wildlife-lovers.

Day Nine - Isle of Skye

Your next ferry takes you east across the sea to Skye, with your hotel in a stunning location in the north east of the island.

Your hotel on Skye

Standing high above the shore, your hotel enjoys dramatic views across sweeping Staffin Bay to the Torridon mountains beyond, whilst inland the setting is dominated by the rocky cliffs of the Quiraing. This really is a place of total relaxation and romance. After some time out exploring the wilds of Northern Skye, curl up in front of the fire with a book or a game of chess: time is of little importance here! Locally-landed Minch seafood and delicious Highland game are both specialities of the cosy restaurant, or you can enjoy a lighter menu in the bar. Rooms are available in the main house or in Flora MacDonald’s attractively renovated cottage in the garden grounds. The cottage rooms, with their pretty, rustic décor are named after Flora’s seven children, whom she raised here long before the hotel’s existence!

Day Eleven - Return Home

To complete your journey you can leave Skye by the bridge or, in more traditional style, by ferry to the mainland at Mallaig

Prices & Dates

This holiday can be arranged from late March to early October 2012.

The price is £945 per person for departures in March, April & October, £1025 for May to September, based on two people sharing a double or twin room, for 10 nights on a bed & breakfast basis.

Prices include ferry crossings for two adults and a car from Oban to Barra, onwards through the Outer Hebrides, from Harris to Skye and back to Mallaig.

All our 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.