Outer Hebrides Island Hopscotch

This relaxed drive & hike tour taking in the far flung Outer Hebridean archipelago is perfect for the first-time walker and experienced hiker looking for a more easy-going experience.

Make sure not to underestimate the length of time it may take to complete routes on rougher terrain. However, all routes are optional allowing you to pick and choose the walks that are suitable for you.

To get the maximum enjoyment out of the tour we recommend a good level of fitness.

The routes follow a mixture of footpaths, tracks, coastal trails, open fields, some minor country roads and even a few challenging rocky shorelines.

Some walks involve relatively steep ascent and descents, for example Heaval on Barra, but at only 383m high you can take your time and still have plenty of time to enjoy the views from the top.

This tour is graded easy-moderate overall. Within the tour, individual days may vary in difficulty - some sections are a bit tougher or easier than the overall rating suggests.

You'll stay in a variety of accommodations along the way, as choice is limited in the Western Isles - expect everything from comfortable B&Bs to country inns and hotels. All offer a warm welcome to walkers, traditional hospitality and a hearty breakfast.

Yes, solo travelers are very welcome on this tour. If you'd like to book a single room, just ask - these are available for a supplement, subject to availability.

As this is a self-drive tour, there isn't a solo supplement for shared transfers in the way there might be on a fully guided inn-to-inn route.

Breakfast is included each morning, although please note that most, but not all, accommodations provide a full cooked breakfast as standard. Lunch and dinner aren't included, so you're free to choose from the available options - your Tour Info and route notes include details of local shops and convenient lunch stops along the way, and dinner is available either at your accommodation or nearby pubs and restaurants.

The Outer Hebrides are still a remote place to travel to, and some towns in particular observe the Christian Sabbath, meaning many shops and restaurants can be closed on a Sunday. We recommend buying picnic lunches and snacks in advance and checking your dinner options ahead of time to avoid disappointment - booking dinner is usually essential on Sundays, and recommended on other nights whenever possible.

We offer this tour between the end of March and October. There's no bad time to walk in the Outer Hebrides within this window, though spring and autumn tend to be quieter on the roads. Limited ferry timetables mean the tour can't start on every day of the week during the shoulder months of March and from mid-October.

The weather here is generally very changeable, exposed as the islands are to the Atlantic - expect anything from showers, high winds and low cloud to clear skies in the same day. We recommend checking the local forecast each evening and morning so you're prepared. On a settled day, expect blue skies over white sand beaches and turquoise seas. Average summer temperatures run around 10-16°C (50-61°F), with July and August the warmest, and April to August tending to be the driest months of the year.

This is a self-drive tour, so there's no daily luggage transfer service - you'll carry your luggage with you in the car between each stop, just as you would on any self-drive holiday.

For driving between locations, a good route atlas or your vehicle's own GPS/sat nav is useful. For the walks themselves, we also provide brief written walking directions should you prefer not to rely solely on your phone.

Navigation is straightforward using our app which has maps, tracks and daily route info. Simply download the information and tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone. Once on the trail you do not need signal for the app to work and follow your progress.

Recommended Reading
If you'd like more information on the route, we recommend: Lonely Planet Scotland, and Philip's Navigator Scotland Atlas (Road Maps of Scotland).

The Outer Hebrides are located off Scotland's northwest coast, and your tour includes ferry crossings from Oban on the mainland to Barra, the first larger island in the archipelago. As this is a drive and hike tour, it's easiest to access Oban by road, from Glasgow, drive north on the A82 to Tyndrum then west on the A85 (around 2h20), from Edinburgh follow the M9 west to the A84 and onto the A85 (around 3 hours), or from Inverness drive southwest on the A82, A828 and A85 (around 2h45). If you're arranging car hire with us, your pick-up point can be tailored to suit your needs. Oban also has a train station and good bus links to Glasgow and Edinburgh with Citylink.

Calmac ferry journeys are included throughout your tour: Oban to Barra, then crossings to South Uist and Harris, and finally from Stornoway on Lewis to Ullapool on the Scottish mainland. If you have a preferred sailing time, let us know at the time of booking, once confirmed, we can't guarantee further changes to sailing times.

Your final Calmac ferry crossing, from Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis to Ullapool on the mainland, takes around 2.5 hours. If you have time, we'd recommend spending some time in the mountain landscape of Torridon and Sutherland. Ullapool is a small town on Scotland's northwest coast, a 1h15 drive from Inverness (a great add-on to your tour), or around 4h15 south to Glasgow or 4h10 to Edinburgh, with good places to break the journey at Inverness, Aviemore, Dunkeld, Pitlochry and Perth.

You'll need good hiking shoes or boots, comfortable hiking clothes, waterproofs, a daypack, and we recommend hiking poles. A portable charger for your cell phone is essential. On booking, our Tour Info will give you a complete packing list.

A daypack of around 20-30 litres with a waterproof cover or dry bags works well for carrying food, water and spare layers, and you might also want to bring binoculars for spotting wildlife along the way.

As this is a self-drive tour, you're able to adjust your plans flexibly using your own car if you'd like to shorten or skip a walk on a particular day - simply drive to the next stop instead.

Mobile phone signal varies depending on your network provider and you'll frequently be without signal, though an emergency call will connect through any available network.

In summer, midges (small biting insects similar to gnats) can be prevalent on still, overcast days, though they're not usually a problem if there's a breeze, sun, rain, or you're moving or indoors - it's worth packing repellent just in case.

Car hire can be arranged for you if required, with your pick-up point tailored to suit your plans. One hire car per booking is included on the ferry crossings as standard.

We highly recommend that you have travel insurance when you book with Macs Adventure. Your policy should cover medical treatment (including repatriation and emergency evacuation by air ambulance or helicopter), injury, death, third-party liability, and trip cancellation