Hills of the Outer Hebrides

The "Long Island" as it is also known, provides a unique chance to climb the most distinctive hills of the Outer Hebrides. Here rocky hills rise from a land of shimmering lochans and turquoise seas flanked by the most beautiful beaches in the world

The Outer Hebrides are spectacular, wild and remote. You will be immersed in a landscape where turquoise seas and white sand beaches fringe the machair (coastal pasture) and moorland gives way to mountains. NWF offer the opportunity to explore this unique environment with its ‘Edge of the World’ feel. The coast is a haven for otters, dolphins and whales, while Gannets plunge spectacularly into the ocean and Sea Eagles hunt along the shore. The islands are strongholds for Golden Eagles, and Peregrines nest on the cliffs.

We aim to climb the most unique and individual Outer Hebridean peaks. The Uig Hills in West Lewis are the most Atlantic hills in Scotland and offer a memorable days walking, with a real feel of being perched above the ocean. In North Harris we climb Clisham, at 799m the highest peak in the Outer Hebrides.

From Harris we take the short ferry crossing to North Uist, where the distinctive shape of Eaval dominates the east coast. Much of the island is covered by water and from Eaval’s summit you look down onto a maze of lochans and wonder how you made it across. On South Uist we will either cross the pinnacled ridge of 620 metre Beinn Mhor, the island’s highest peak or climb Beinn Sciathain on the fabled island of Eriskay, famous for the shipwreck that inspired the film “Whisky Galore”.

Highlights

  • Explore the magnificence of the Outer Hebrides
  • Climb the highest summits of Lewis, Harris and the Uists
  • An edge of the world feel
  • Wonderful Hebridean hospitality

At a Glance

From £1245 per person
Single room: from £150 (limited number available)

Grade
Intermediate
AccommodationThree centre trip. Mixture of quality hotels & guesthouse
Duration7 Days
LocationOuter Hebrides
StartInverness Station @ 14.15
FinishInverness Station @ 18.00
Jan
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Route Map


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Book your Trip

At a Glance

From £1245 per person
Single room: from £150 (limited number available)

Grade
Intermediate
AccommodationThree centre trip. Mixture of quality hotels & guesthouse
Duration7 Days
LocationOuter Hebrides
StartInverness Station @ 14.15
FinishInverness Station @ 18.00

Itinerary

The itinerary for each day’s walk is given below; however; alternative walks may be undertaken depending upon the weather and group fitness.  On such a day, the leader will carefully choose an alternative guided by the group interest.

Day 1 – Travel to Lewis

After your pick-up from Inverness Railway Station, we will drive to Ullapool where you can spend the rest of the afternoon until we take the 19.00 ferry to Stornoway. The crossing takes 2.5 hours. On the crossing, we quite often see Dolphins following the boat, and on the earlier departures, Puffins are common.

ACCOMMODATION: Guesthouse in Lewis
MEALS PROVIDED: Breakfast, Dinner


Day 2 – Lewis & Uig Hills

The remote western corner of Lewis offers wonderful walking on these rough rocky hills. Griomaval is the westernmost hill in Lewis with stunning views out to the Flannan Isles and the open Atlantic. Behind it is a secretive lochan hidden away in a rocky bowl that feels removed from the modern world. We finish with a visit to the beautiful sandy cove of Traigh Mangurstadh with its sea cave and iron age fort.

DISTANCE: 8km/500m ascent
ACCOMMODATION: Guesthouse in Lewis
MEALS PROVIDED: Breakfast, Dinner


Day 3 – Lewis & Callanish

The landscape is shaped not only by the weather but by humans too, and an ancient monument like the Callanish standing stones testify to human resilience in these far-flung isles. We visit this special place on Lewis before climbing Toddun on Harris, poised above Loch Trollamarig. Although this is only a short climb, the way is steep, rocky and pathless; the view, however, more than rewards the effort. The deserted cottages on the loch shore provide a poignant reminder of the island’s history. We usually have time for a visit to the lovely Luskentyre Beach afterwards.

DISTANCE: 8km/600m ascent
ACCOMMODATION: Hotel in Harris
MEALS PROVIDED: Breakfast, Dinner


Day 4 – Harris & Clisham

At 799 metres Clisham is not only the highest hill on the Outer Hebrides, but in many people’s opinion, it’s the best. The horseshoe around over Mulla fo Deas provides a memorable day’s walk along the sort of ridge that knows it’s a ridge but doesn’t feel exposed! On a clear day, the views extend as far as St Kilda in the west and out over the empty lands of Lewis to the north. Either of the wild corries on north or south makes an atmospheric finish.

DISTANCE: 9km/1000m ascent
ACCOMMODATION: Hotel in Harris
MEALS PROVIDED: Breakfast, Dinner


Day 5 – North Uist & Eaval

In the morning, we take the ferry across the Sound of Harris where Eaval’s distinctive shape is a constant draw on the North Uist landscape.  Our route weaves around a maze of lochans to reach the summit from where you get an almost aerial view of this amazing “waterscape”. The Sound is so shallow that the ferry timetable depends on the tides, but we usually manage to visit a beach at either Horgabost on Harris with its ancient standing stone or the white curve of Balranald on Uist.

DISTANCE: 15km/450m ascent
ACCOMMODATION: Hotel in North-Uist
MEALS PROVIDED: Breakfast, Dinner


Day 6 – South Uist & Beinn Mhor

At 620m Beinn Mhor is the highest hill on the Uists and showcases the drastic contrast between the remote and rocky east coast of the Hebrides and the long sweep of machair on the west. Although pathless and steep in places the ground is less rough than on Harris and the views over Loch Aineort provide plenty of excuses to pause. As an alternative, sometimes we explore the lovely island of Eriskay, the scene of the incident made famous by the film “Whisky Galore”. Beinn Sciathain maybe only 185 metres high but its assertive shape makes it feel like a proper mountain.

DISTANCE: 15km/620m ascent
ACCOMMODATION: Hotel in North-Uist
MEALS PROVIDED: Breakfast, Dinner


Day 7 – Depart Uist and travel back to Inverness

After breakfast and a brief visit to the stone circle of Pobol Fionn and the Bronze Age cairn at Barpa Langass, we will take the morning ferry to Skye and continue our journey back to Inverness.

MEALS PROVIDED: Breakfast


What's Included

Included:

  • 6 nights bed and breakfast in comfortable hotels and guesthouse
  • 5 x dinner
  • 5 days walking with a qualified and experienced NWF leader
  • All road and ferry transport during the trip

Excluded:

  • Travel to and from Inverness
  • (Packed) lunches and 1 dinner on ferry
  • Travel insurance
  • Miscellaneous expenses like drinks, entrance fees etc

Book your Hills of the Outer Hebrides