3 days ago
Enjoy 'one of the best places in the world' with Hebridean Hopscotch
Happily, the Lewis-based travel agency, Hebridean Hopscotch Holidays, has the inside knowledge to specialise in bespoke trips with a range of options on offer including fly-drive, self-drive and cycling tours to make the most of any island adventure.
They are able to plan your Hebridean getaway from mainland Scotland and book the necessary ferries or flights, along with the inter-island ferries and a variety of accommodation types from bed and breakfasts to hotels needed for the trip. They also have select collections options that offer something special.
The fly-drive option is perfect for those with limited time and want to make the most of their island adventure without having to drive to the mainland ferry ports.
Travellers can fly directly from Glasgow, then pick up a hire car for a carefully crafted itinerary which takes in the scenic landscapes and rich heritage of the islands from Barra to Lewis or vice versa.
This also offers the unforgettable experience of landing or taking off from Barra beach, as the island airport is the only beach in the world accommodating scheduled flights.
Five nights minimum is recommended for this trip but it is possible to build the holiday around the time available. The price includes return direct flights from Glasgow Airport with a checked bag included, a hire car with fully comprehensive insurance for the entire trip on the islands, accommodation in a selection of bed and breakfasts, guesthouses, hotels or a mix of properties on a bed and breakfast basis and inter-island ferries.
There are pre-set itineraries for self-drive holidays, with options for those who are unsure what islands they want to visit and the routes, or an itinerary can be tailor-made for those looking for something more bespoke. The five night Island Experience holiday covers the island chain from Barra to Lewis in holidaymakers' own cars.
Cyclists and those taking their own car are booked onto the ferries from the mainland, with Skye an option for a start or end point for those preferring shorter ferry trips.
As the accommodation ranges from small B&Bs to four star hotels there are packages to suit most budgets.
'There's a good variety for everybody and we can mix and match if you want a mix of family run bed and breakfasts, guesthouses and hotels and maybe somewhere special for one night,' said Marie Campbell of Hebridean Hopscotch Holidays. 'It's very flexible.'
Around eight nights are recommended for cycling holidays to allow plenty of time to enjoy island life to the full and, while most cyclists opt to take their own bikes, it is possible to hire them directly from the company's bike hire partners. Hebridean Hopscotch would then arrange accommodation and ferries and flights if required.
Whether the holiday is by car or bike, it is advisable to allow enough time to experience all that the islands offer, from the amazing scenery to the historic sites and delicious food and drink.
In Barra, take time to explore the history of Kisimul Castle, perched on a small island off Castlebay and don't miss Vatersay Beach, where white sands meet turquoise waters.
Boat trips from the island give the opportunity to see seals, dolphins and puffins and other sea life, while the Uists are renowned for their bird life such as eagles, hen harriers, peregrine falcons, merlin, black-throated, red-throated and great northern divers, corncrakes, red-necked phalarope and other seabirds.
The famous Uist machair teems with wildflowers and wildlife, while the Kildonan Museum showcases the region's heritage and there are exhibitions at Taigh Chearsabhagh, a cultural hub in North Uist, that reflect the islands' deep-rooted traditions.
Harris is particularly noted for wonderful white sand beaches like Luskentyre but another attraction is the Isle of Harris distillery and its highly recommended whisky and gin.
The distillery is part of the official food and drink trail developed by Outer Hebrides Tourism to showcase some of the island specialities such as Stornoway Black Pudding which is now protected by similar legislation to champagne and is exported throughout the world.
Still on the food front, there are renowned fish smokers on the Uists and Stornoway and those with a sweet tooth should make sure to sample some of the tablet made at the Hebridean Toffee Company on Barra.
There's a wealth of history, too, with restored Blackhouses at Arnol and Gearrannan, which give a fascinating glimpse into life on the islands in the last century.
A little further on, holidaymakers can find the ancient Carloway Broch and the 5000 year old stone circles of Callanish. At Carloway, there's the Harris Tweed mill and a weaver in the village who welcomes visitors.
Continuing along the Atlantic coast into an even more remote area of the Outer Hebrides, the re-created iron age fort at Bosta dominates a beautiful, almost white, shell-sand beach at the north of Bernera.
Based in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis, Hebridean Hopscotch has been operating for over 25 years and there are four holiday advisers who have all grown up on the islands and are best placed to help holidaymakers make the most of their Outer Hebrides adventure. They have local expert knowledge, can advise best routes to suit individual requirements and find accommodation to suit individual budget and taste which takes the stress out of booking and matching up accommodation and ferries.
There is also an on-call service for evenings and weekends, so if any issue crops up out of hours there is always someone on hand to help.
'Visitors come to the Hebrides looking for something different, space to breathe, time to slow down and landscapes that stop you in your tracks,' said Ms Campbell. 'They come for the views, but they return for the people as the warmth of the Hebridean welcome leaves a lasting impression.
'By completing the online Holiday Planner, we can understand what interests you about the Hebrides so we can tailor your itinerary to create the very best holiday experience for you.'
