Outer Hebrides and St KildaWildlife Adventure

Trip Grade: Green 2

View Trip Dates Book Now

On 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 great 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.

Outer Hebrides and St Kilda

Highlights • Journey to the wild Atlantic island of St Kilda• Look out for eagles, otters and deer on the Isle of Harris• Discover the varied birdlife living on the soaring cliffs at the Butt of Lewis

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.

Book With Confidence • We guarantee this trip will run as soon as 2 people have booked• Maximum of 8 places available per departure

Day 1 | Travel to The HebridesDay 2 | Voyage to St KildaDay 3 | Wildlife of HarrisDay 4 | White Sands & Machair PlainsDay 5 | Stornoway & The Minch Day 6 | In Search of Raptors Day 7 | The Butt Of LewisDay 8 | Return to Inverness

Planned It inerary

Arrival Info • Your Guide will meet you at the centre of Inverness station by the fixed seating area• 7:30am on Day 1 of your trip

Departure Info • You will be returned to Inverness station• 8:00pm on the final day of your trip

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.

Day 1 | Travel to The Hebrides 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! As we drive south to our lodge, we’ll stop at the awe-inspiring standing stone circle at Callanish. (D)

Day 2 | Voyage to St Kilda* Over 40 miles offshore, visiting the amazing double World Heritage Site of St Kilda requires a boat crossing of 3 hours each way. It is a challenging but rewarding day. The crossing provides a great opportunity to see marine life. As we approach the islands we see, hear and smell the vast seabird colonies! We’ll have a few hours on land to explore. With some of the highest sea cliffs in Britain, and globally important colonies of gannets, fulmars and puffins, this is a spectacular place to see. Together with the thought-provoking story of the islanders who lived here, this is one of the most amazing places you can ever visit. (B, L, D)

Day 3 | Wildlife of Harris The Isle of Harris gives an immense sense of history, and vast expanses of moorland hold nationally important breeding populations of greenshank and dunlin, while otters, golden eagles and sea eagles hunt here regularly. They are also home to herds of red deer, which can be seen grazing on the hillsides. We’ll spend the day exploring this beautiful island, enjoying some short coastal or glen hikes along the way. (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.

Day 4 | White Sands & Machair Plains We will take the opportunity to explore some of the beautiful white beaches on foot today and take in 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. (B, L, D)

Day 5 | Stornoway & The Minch Embark on a voyage on the east coast of the Hebrides as you sail into a stretch of water known as the Minch. Keep your eyes peeled for the inquisitive marine life which may include dolphins, seals and minke whales and look to the sky in hope of witnessing the plethora of birdlife that circle above. Enjoy some time this afternoon to explore the coastal town of Stornoway which is the largest settlement in the Western Isles. There is much to discover here and the land is rich in history and traditional island culture. (B, L, D)

Day 6 | In Search of Raptors 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 which one pair of eagles have decided to call home. Sea eagles, also known as white-tailed eagles, are also frequently spotted in this area as they come in to feed on the salmon and other prey. Other daytime hunters include the ghostly hen harrier and furious looking short eared owl, either of which could turn up almost anywhere during our time on the islands. (B, L, D)

Day 7 | The Butt Of Lewis Today we’ll head to what is reputedly the windiest spot in Britain, a lighthouse perched on top of the impressive cliffs at the Butt of Lewis. These cliffs are home to home to many species of seabird including kittiwakes, shags, black guillemots and fulmar petrels. This can be one of the best wildlife watching areas in the Western Isles as, in addition to the birdlife, whales, dolphins and porpoises can be spotted here too. (B, L, D)

Day 8 | Return to Inverness 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)

Trip Grading | Green 2 | Green graded wildlife holidays are suitable for for active travellers who are reasonably fit and enjoy moderate hikes. We walk at a comfortable pace and you can expect to be out for 5-6 hours a day. The terrain will be mostly good paths and hill trails but these can still be muddy and rough in places. Some hikes may involve an ascent up to a max of approx 1,500 feet / 450m. Distances will be typically 8-10km but there may be the odd slightly longer day. Daily hike details are available in the itinerary

The weather in Scotland can be unpredictable and at times can make activities more challenging. Please do bear this in mind when thinking about what trip to join.

If our guides feel that you are not able to complete a scheduled hike they may ask you not to join in that day. If you have any questions about the grading, then please do give our Adventure Consultants a call to chat through your experience and suitability for this trip.

It is your responsibility to ensure you are appropriately fit and capable of doing the described hikes in the expected times. Please refer to the grading section on our website for more details. If you are unsure we encourage you to speak to us first.

Accommodation and Meals This itinerary is based in a single location for the week, which is a welcoming lodge on Lewis in a gorgeous location. The accommodation offers double and twin rooms with en-suite facilities. You will help yourself to the various breakfast options such as cereal, fruit, porridge and eggs, and create a delicious packed lunch of your choice from a selection of ingredients that day. Dinner will be fully catered throughout. 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.

Single Rooms Due to the nature of the lodge accommodation room sizes can vary and will be allocated on a first come first serve basis. No single occupancy rooms are available on this itinerary. Solo travellers will be allocated a twin room with another traveler of the same gender.

Inclusions This trip includes the following: • 7 nights accommodation in a welcoming lodge accommodation • Most meals during the trip (Meals included indicated as B=Breakfast,

L=Lunch, D=Dinner)• The services of an experienced and knowledgeable guide / driver throughout • All transport throughout the trip starting and finishing in Inverness• All boat trips and ferry transfers

Your Guide During this trip you will be accompanied and led by one of our professional guides. Our guides are among the most highly experienced and qualified in the country. Defined by their passion for Scotland’s wild places, they have an intimate knowledge of the natural and social history of this land which they will be delighted to share with you. For more info and to meet the team please see our Guide Pages.

Sustainable Travel Wilderness Scotland is committed to the principles of ecotourism. We work very hard to ensure our engagements with local communities, wild lands and wildlife are positive.

We are a proud partner of the Leave No Trace Centre for Outdoor Ethics, which enhances our commitment to responsible activity in Scotland’s wild lands, as enshrined in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC).

We are also proud to be a John Muir Trust Peak Partner. Thanks in part to the generosity of our clients though our Conservation Contribution scheme the John Muir Trust can rely on our investment to go towards conservation projects that have a deep connection to Wilderness Scotland and the areas we adventure in.

You can learn more about the work we’re doing with the John Muir Trust and the other ways we care for the wild places we love here.

Eat | Stay | See Looking for accommodation for before or after your adventure with us? Check out our list of where to stay and what to do

Eat – Stay – See – Inverness.pdf

Equipment List Check out our guide on what to wear when adventuring in Scotland.

wildernessscotland.com/blog/hiking-in-scotland-what-to-wear

General Info – Scotland From food and drink to the Loch Ness Monster, our General Info for Scotland guide has got you covered for all your need to to know facts.

General-Info-Scotland.pdf

Travel Insurance It is your responsibility to take out appropriate travel insurance to cover you during your trip. This should include cover for cancellation prior to the trip, the activities undertaken (i.e hiking), curtailment, and adequate medical insurance for sickness/injury and medical repatriation. We also strongly recommend you have cover for your other travel arrangements such as flights, and your personal possessions.

We suggest you do your own research to find the best insurance cover for you however the follow companies offer suitable policies.

Campbell Irvine Direct – campbellirvinedirect.com Journeyman Insurance Services – journeyman-services.com/travelInsurance

If you cancel your holiday charges will apply. Please see section 2 of our terms and conditions for a breakdown: wildernessscotland.com/make-a-booking/booking-conditions

Travel With Confidence You can book with us in complete confidence that all trip payments made to us are fully protected.

Wilderness Scotland Ltd is a licensed and bonded tour operator. Your financial security is guaranteed through our membership and bonding with ABTA.

FAQs Looking for more information? Check out our frequently asked questions page.

wildernessscotland.com/faq

Questions To Ask? Ready to Book? If you want to get in touch please send us an email or give us a call. We accept bookings online, by email, or over the phone. A deposit of 25% is required at the time of booking to secure the trip with the balance payable 8 weeks (56 days) before departure. If booking less than 56 days before the trip start date, full payment of the trip price is required immediately.

We accept payment by credit or debit card, or bank transfer.

View Trip Dates Book Now

email: info@wildernessscotland.com Tel (UK and Europe): +44(0)1479 420 020 Tel (US and Canada): 866-740-3890