SAMPLE ITINERARY
Private 8-Day Highlands & Outer Hebrides Tour from Edinburgh or Glasgow
Adventure Alba's Private 8-Day Highlands & Outer Hebrides Tour is a private, driver-guided trip for your group only (max 8 guests), starting and finishing in Edinburgh or Glasgow, taking in St Andrews, Culloden, Callanish on Lewis, Luskentyre on Harris and the Isle of Skye over 8 days and 7 nights. Adventure Alba has run private tours across Scotland since 2018, with most trips starting in Edinburgh. Three ferries and two nights on Lewis give you time to see the islands properly, and we plan each day around the sailings.
Tour at a glance
- Length
- 8 days, 7 nights
- Type
- private, max 8 guests
- Starts and ends
- Edinburgh or Glasgow, with hotel or airport pick-up and drop-off. You can start in one city and finish in the other, and custom tours can also start in Inverness.
- Overnights
- Pitlochry, Inverness, Ullapool, Stornoway, Portree and Fort William
- Pace
- flexible, around the ferry times
What does the 8-day Highlands and Outer Hebrides itinerary cover?
Days 1 to 3 head north to Ullapool via Fife, Pitlochry and Inverness. Days 4 and 5 explore Lewis and Harris. Days 6 and 7 cross Skye and return by Glenfinnan. Day 8 comes home via Glencoe.
Day 1: Edinburgh or Glasgow to Pitlochry via Crail & St Andrews
The Queensferry Crossing, Crail harbour and St Andrews on the way to Pitlochry.
Overnight: Pitlochry
Day 1 takes you from your hotel or the airport along the Fife coast to St Andrews, then on to Pitlochry for the night. If you start in Edinburgh, we cross the Firth of Forth on the Queensferry Crossing for a photo stop. Starting from Glasgow, you'd potentially miss the crossing.
The Fife coastal route leads to Crail, a pretty harbour. St Andrews has the famous golf course, the university, the castle and the cathedral. If there's time before Pitlochry, you can stop at Dunkeld or The Hermitage near Dunkeld, one or the other.
Day 2: Pitlochry to Inverness via the Cairngorms & Culloden
Dalwhinnie distillery, Ruthven Barracks, Loch Morlich and Culloden.
Overnight: Inverness
Day 2 follows the road north through the Cairngorms, via Ruthven Barracks, Clava Cairns and Culloden, to Inverness for the night. Dalwhinnie distillery is a very pretty stop, where you can look in the shop, have a drink at the bar if you'd like and use the facilities. Next comes Ruthven Barracks, the ruined redcoat fort on its hill, then Loch Morlich in the Cairngorms National Park.
After that come Clava Cairns, a Bronze Age burial site, and Culloden Battlefield, where the last pitched battle on British soil was fought in 1746.
Day 3: Inverness to Ullapool via Loch Ness & Corrieshalloch Gorge
Loch Ness, Beauly Priory, Rogie Falls and Corrieshalloch Gorge on the way to Ullapool.
Overnight: Ullapool
Day 3 starts at Loch Ness, then heads north-west to Ullapool for the night. On the way we stop at the ruined Beauly Priory and Rogie Falls, a good spot for a short walk. At Corrieshalloch Gorge you can look into the deep gorge from the viewing platform.
We finish in Ullapool, a harbour village and the port for the ferry to Lewis.
Day 4: Ullapool to the Isle of Lewis
The ferry to Stornoway, Callanish Standing Stones and the Butt of Lewis.
Overnight: Stornoway
Day 4 takes the ferry from Ullapool to Lewis, then explores the island, with the night in Stornoway. Ferry times fix the start of the day, so we plan around them.
The Callanish (Calanais) Standing Stones are a ring of ancient stones, raised over 4,500 years ago. Nearby are Carloway Broch, an Iron Age tower, and the Gearrannan blackhouses, a village of traditional thatched homes by the sea. At the north end of the island is the Butt of Lewis and its lighthouse, with more sights if time allows.
Day 5: The South Harris Loop
Luskentyre and the beaches of South Harris, with Lewis sights if time allows.
Overnight: Stornoway
Day 5 drives south into Harris for the scenic South Harris loop, then back to Stornoway for the night. The loop takes in the island's beaches, including Luskentyre, a long white-sand beach with turquoise water.
You can also add a visit to Harris Tweed or the Isle of Harris Distillery, both optional. If time allows, we fit in more Lewis sights on the way back.
Day 6: Harris to the Isle of Skye
The ferry from Tarbert to Uig, then the Quiraing, Kilt Rock and the Old Man of Storr.
Overnight: Portree
Day 6 drives to the ferry terminal at Tarbert on Harris, and the ferry takes you to Uig on Skye. With a morning sailing there's time for the Quiraing, Kilt Rock and the Old Man of Storr on the drive to Portree, where we spend the night. The ferry timing decides how much we can fit in.
Day 7: Skye to Fort William via Mallaig & Glenfinnan
Sligachan, the Armadale to Mallaig ferry and the Glenfinnan Viaduct.
Overnight: Fort William
Day 7 starts with more of Skye, then takes the ferry from Armadale to Mallaig and finishes in Fort William. At Sligachan you can see the old bridge and the mountain views. Morning options include the Fairy Pools, Talisker, Armadale Castle and Torabhaig distillery. We can't do them all, because the ferry timing decides.
After Mallaig comes the Glenfinnan Viaduct, the railway bridge from the Harry Potter films, then Fort William.
Day 8: Fort William to Edinburgh or Glasgow via Glencoe & Doune Castle
Glencoe, the Highland cows at Kilmahog and Doune Castle on the way home.
Drop-off in Edinburgh or Glasgow
Day 8 heads south through Glencoe, a steep, dramatic glen, then stops for the Highland cows at Kilmahog and coffee in Callander. Doune Castle is next, which you might know from Outlander or Monty Python and the Holy Grail. We add extra stops if time allows, before the drop-off in Edinburgh or Glasgow.
Can we customise the 8-day Highlands and Outer Hebrides itinerary?
Yes, and most groups do. Think of this route as a starting point we'll adjust around what you'd like to see.
Ideas and other options
- Stay in Oban instead of Fort William on night seven
- An extra night on Lewis or Harris
- More time on Skye
- Extra days to visit the more remote Outer Hebrides, such as North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist and Barra
We can also change where you start and finish, or plan from scratch with our fully custom private tour.
Want more time?
Add a day or two for more time on the islands or Skye, as a custom tour. Our 5-day Highlands & Isle of Skye tour shows how Skye fits in. For something shorter, try our 4-day Isle of Mull tour.
Or choose our longest tour:
What our guests say
A few words from people who've travelled with us.
Why choose a private Outer Hebrides tour?
Coach tours run to a timetable. A private tour runs to yours.
Just your group, max 8 guests
It's only you, your own vehicle and your driver-guide, with no strangers on board. Bigger party? Larger groups are possible with a bigger vehicle.
Flexible days, your pace
The ferries fix part of Days 4, 6 and 7, and we plan the rest around them. Fancy longer on a beach or at Callanish? We stay when the sailings allow.
Ideal for families, friends and couples
- Families: plenty of breaks, ferry crossings children enjoy and the Highland cows at Kilmahog.
- Friends: a distillery stop, island beaches and Skye's big viewpoints.
- Couples: quiet corners of Harris, far-off lighthouses and no rush to move on.
Frequently asked questions
Is 8 days enough for the Outer Hebrides?
Yes, for a first visit. Eight days gives you two days on Lewis and Harris, the Highlands on the way up and Skye on the way home. It's a taster of the islands, and others such as the Uists aren't on this route. For more time, add a day.
How do the ferries to Lewis and Harris work?
We use three CalMac ferries: Ullapool to Stornoway on day four, Tarbert to Uig on day six and Armadale to Mallaig on day seven. CalMac strongly recommends booking vehicle space ahead, so we plan around the sailings. Weather can cancel or delay ferries, especially in winter, so we keep the plan flexible. Ferries aren't included in the tour price.
What are the best things to see on Lewis and Harris?
Lewis and Harris are one island with two names, and you can drive between them. On Lewis, the highlights are the Callanish (Calanais) Standing Stones, Carloway Broch, the Gearrannan blackhouses and the Butt of Lewis. On Harris, the beaches are the star, including Luskentyre, and you can add Harris Tweed or the Isle of Harris Distillery if you'd like.
Should we drive ourselves or take a private tour of the Outer Hebrides?
You can drive yourself, but your car needs a place on each ferry, and many roads on the islands are single-track with passing places. On a private tour, max 8 guests as standard, your driver-guide handles the driving, ferries and parking, so everyone can enjoy Callanish, Luskentyre and Skye.
When is the best time to visit the Outer Hebrides?
April to October is the best time to visit Lewis, Harris and the Outer Hebrides on this tour. The tour runs all year, but in winter the ferries to Lewis and Skye are more likely to be cancelled, daylight hours are short and some seasonal places are closed.
What is open on Sundays on Lewis and Harris?
Most shops, cafés and attractions on Lewis and Harris close on Sundays, and there are no public buses, though hotels stay open. We can always make a Sunday work, and it's easiest if your dates have us somewhere else that day, such as Skye or the mainland. Tell us your dates and we'll plan around it.
Is an 8-day Outer Hebrides tour suitable for kids and older travellers?
Yes. Because the tour is private, we can plan more breaks and stops children love, like the Highland cows at Kilmahog. The walks and optional extras are always up to you, and the tour suits most abilities, though our vehicles don't have a wheelchair lift.
Where do we stay on an 8-day Outer Hebrides tour?
On this 8-day tour you spend nights in Pitlochry, Inverness, Ullapool, Stornoway (two nights), Portree and Fort William. Accommodation isn't included. We prefer to book it for you, but you're welcome to book your own if you have somewhere in mind.
Plan your private Outer Hebrides tour
Tell us your dates, how many of you are travelling and anything you'd love to see, and we'll send you a plan. There's no obligation.
Pricing FAQ
How much does a private 8-day Highlands and Outer Hebrides tour cost?
Adventure Alba prices private tours per group, not per person: around £1,000 to £1,200 per day for your whole party of up to 8 guests, with summer dates at the top of the range. That covers your vehicle, driver-guide, fuel and parking. Hotels, meals, ferries and entry tickets are extra.
How much are the ferries?
Ferries aren't included in the tour price. As an estimate, expect around £200 to £350 for the CalMac ferries over the whole trip, depending on the number of passengers. That covers Ullapool to Stornoway, Tarbert to Uig and Armadale to Mallaig, for a vehicle up to 6 metres. Prices change, so we'll confirm when we quote.
What isn't included in the price?
Hotels, meals, ferries, entry tickets, optional extras such as a distillery or Harris Tweed visit, and personal spending are paid separately. We prefer to book your accommodation for you, but you're welcome to book your own.
Why does the price vary?
Each tour is planned for your group, so the final price depends on your dates, the time of year and any changes you'd like, such as an extra night on Lewis or Harris.
How do we get an exact quote?
Send us your dates and group size, and we'll reply with a clear quote and no obligation. You can reach us by email or WhatsApp, or start on our custom private tours page.