Guided Tours of Scotland
Private Tours With Driver-Guide Greg Kain
Hebrides Islands Tours
Photo: Ed Phillips
A Hebrides Islands Tour is an island hopping trip Scottish style! If you need a break from the fast pace of life come and explore the beautiful and peaceful Hebridean islands, where you will discover a pace of life that you didn't think existed anymore, world class beaches, the freshest seafood and perhaps meet some of the local marine life. These islands are as rich in history as they are in the variety of landscapes, from the peaks of the Cuillin Mountains on Skye to the flat windswept beaches of Tiree. Generations of Vikings and Celts have shaped the culture of the Hebridean archipelagos. If you enjoy unspoilt places with a real 'edge of the world' feel you will love the Hebrides.
Inner Hebrides, Outer Hebrides
& Southern Hebrides
The Hebrides islands of Scotland are split into two geographical groups; the Outer Hebrides and the Inner Hebrides. The Outer Hebrides, also known as the Western Isles, or Na h-Innse Gall in gaelic - the indigenous language of this archipelago, principally consist of Vatersay, Barra, Eriskay, South Uist, Benbecula, North Uist, Berneray, Harris and Lewis, plus hundreds of other small islands and skerries, most of which are uninhabited. The second group, the Inner Hebrides are split into two sub groups; North & South. The Northern Hebrides are principally made up of Skye, Raasay and the Small Isles, a mini archipelago within an archipelago, which includes Eigg, Muck, Rúm and Canna, where (non-natives') vehicles are forbidden, so it's walking tours only here! Lastly, the Southern Hebrides are primarily made up of Mull, Iona, Lismore, Tiree, Coll, Islay, Jura, Colonsay and Gigha. Each group of islands has a very different feel to the others and each isle has its own distinct character, so island hopping in the West Highlands never feels repetitive.
Photo: Greg Kain
Scottish Island Hopping
There are so many islands that there are endless permutations of itinerary options. A sample Scottish island hopping outline itinerary, which would take most of the main islands from the Southern Hebrides to the Outer Hebrides, and on to the Northern Hebrides, would look something like this:
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Glasgow/Edinburgh >> Kennacraig >> Islay >>Jura >> Islay >> Colonsay >> Oban >> Mull >> Iona >> Mull >> Kilchoan >> Mallaig >> South Uist >> Eriskay >> Barra >> Eriskay >> South Uist >> Benbecula >> North Uist >> Berneray >> Harris/Lewis >> Skye >> Raasay >> Glasgow/Edinburgh
How Long is a Hebrides Islands Tour?
A Hebridean road and ferry trip encompassing all of the above islands would require a minimum of 14 days to complete, at least 21 days if include the Northern Isles for an Orkney & Shetland tour. My Scottish island hopping tours are conducted in a relaxed no-rush manner, which perfectly matches the pace of life in the Hebrides. This makes this type of private tour the perfect place for that 'getaway from it all' type of vacation.
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Of course I can tailor make a Hebridean island tour for you, which could last from anything from three days, for example,
an Islay & Jura combined trip, a Mull & Iona tour or to the Isle of Skye. For a longer multi-day island hopping trip you could consider both the Inner & Outer Hebrides, plus Orkney and Shetland, or as many island as you can fit into two or three weeks - my record, so far, in one tour is 17 islands in one trip!​
Whisky Islands Tour
For whisky enthusiasts, I can create a unique island hopping whisky tour, combining a few drams with the amazing scenery and relaxing surroundings, with possible visits to Islay - Scotland's 'whisky island', Jura, Mull, Benbecula, Tiree, Raasay, Skye, Harris, Lewis, which host to a mixture of traditional and exciting new producers of the amber nectar visiting distilleries such as Laphroaig, Jura, Tobermory, Talisker, Highland Park, with the occasional Highland distillery, such as Oban, thrown in for good measure, to create a combined Highlands and islands whisky tour.