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Over the week we visited different scenery and habitats, saw different kinds of bird, other creatures and plants, observed and learned about the history and archaeology. Mick's knowledge was excellent and well-explained. It was a wonderful experience being on the RIB going down the coast from Stornoway, looking for and seeing two White-tailed Eagles by their nest on the cliffs and the fantastic spectacle of gannets diving for fish gathered together by several Minke whales. The second boat trip to the Shiant Isles, we saw White-tailed Eagles flying close-by, together with rafts of seabirds including Puffins on the flat sea and watched them from on the beach near their nesting sites in the rocks. I enjoyed seeing wild creatures at close quarters without disturbing them.
M.D. Wiltshire, May 24
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The Scottish Hebrides by Land & Sea
Tour Code: GBR69An 8-day wildlife holiday exploring the Inner and Outer Hebrides, with time on Lewis and Harris and boat trips to the Shiant Islands and around the coast for cetaceans.
£2,795 (Inc ferry)
£2,795
Highlights
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Summary
Scotland’s remote Outer Hebrides are amongst the wildest outposts of the British Isles. Here, seas filled with life meet a rugged and beautiful coastline, beyond which traditional farms and moorlands sit in the shadow of ancient mountains. Much of the archipelago’s most spectacular wildlife thrives here in numbers long forgotten in mainland Britain, including Golden Eagle, Corncrake, Hen Harrier and Otter. On this tour, we’ll explore the diverse and scenic island of Lewis and Harris, including a day trip to the Shiant Islands in search of seabirds, seals and cetaceans.
- Experience the best of the Outer Hebrides, by land & sea.
- Search for Golden Eagle, Hen Harrier, Merlin & White-tailed Eagle.
- Corncrake, Red-throated & Black-throated Divers amongst rare breeding birds.
- Fascinating historical sites including Lews Castle & Callanish standing stones.
- Huge seabird colonies, including Puffin, Guillemot & European Storm Petrel.
- Otter, Grey Seal, Common Dolphin, Harbour Porpoise & Basking Shark possible.
Grading
Grade B. Moderate day walks only, but participants need to be able to move around a small boat at sea.
The island of Lewis and Harris is the largest in Scotland’s beautiful Outer Hebrides, an archipelago that sits to the north-west of the Scottish mainland. These picturesque islands are home to a wonderful variety of exciting wildlife, which this new tour will seek out on both land and sea. As well as a thorough exploration of the region by vehicle and on foot, we will join an exclusive day charter to enjoy the seabird colonies of the Shiant Islands and a boat trip along the scenic coast of Lewis in search of the regions cetaceans.
After an overnight in Ullapool, we take a crossing to Stornoway by ferry, where we begin with six full days exploring the island of Lewis and Harris, visiting such sites as the Butt of Lewis, Tiumpan Head, Tolsta and Callanish as we go in search of Golden Eagle, Hen Harrier, Merlin, Red-throated and Black-throated Divers, Corncrake, Golden Plover and others. While relishing this wealth of birdlife, we will not ignore the sites of cultural and historical interest that we pass along the way, not least the mysterious Callanish standing stones and Lews Castle, the grounds of which often hold spring migrants.
On one day we will make our way out towards the Shiant Islands, keeping an eye open for Manx Shearwater, Basking Shark and cetaceans, including Harbour Porpoise and Common Dolphin, along the way. Each summer, tens of thousands of seabirds return to the Shiants to breed. The raucous calls of Common and Black Guillemots, Puffins, Razorbills, Shags, Kittiwakes and Fulmars echo around the sea cliffs here, whilst both Arctic and Great Skuas patrol overhead. Another day will see us heading out of Stornoway harbour in search of any cetaceans and seabirds feeding along the coastal waters.
At the end of the tour, we will take a return ferry to Ullapool, looking out for more marine life along the way, before disembarking and returning to Inverness, where this tour ends.
Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Ferries
- Accommodation:
In Ullapool Stornoway we will be staying in a comfortable hotel with en-suite facilities.
- Food:
Meals are included on a B&B basis, lunches and dinner are at additional cost
Reviews
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Fantastic views of minke whales and Red-throated Diver from the rib. Glorious views of White-tailed Eagles in the Shiants. A good Otter sighting. Beautiful scenery. Comfortable hotel with excellent food. Many thanks to Mick Durham for working so hard to make sure we saw as much as possible.
C.C. Nottinghamshire, May 24 -
We spent a magnificent holiday in and around the beautiful Outer Hebrides searching for and watching wildlife (mostly birds and mammals) with an excellent guide who knew the identity of all the 81 species of birds that we saw. Half of our week's trip was spent on a small ex-fishing boat equipped with comfortable (if small!) cabins and washing facilities, and provided with delicious meals. We toured around sea lochs of the Minch and visited the Shiant Islands where thousands of seabirds come to nest. This was an amazing experience. Imagine sitting on-deck with a gin and tonic on a fine sunny, calm evening watching some 30,000 guillemots, razorbills and puffins circling around us and coming in to land on the cliffs just opposite our boat. The noise was almost deafening as they called out to their mates sitting on nests. Then imagine a trip around the islands on a rubber Zodiac boat where the birds were quite unafraid as we approached them bobbing on the water, bathing, preening and diving so close we could have touched them. Magic! The rest of our week was spent ashore, staying in Stornoway and exploring the sights of Lewis and Harris each day to find myriad different birds: magnificent sea eagles, golden eagles plus otters, deer, and the ancient standing stones of Callanish. The itinerary was carefully constructed to provide maximum chance of visiting beautiful and interesting habitats with spectacular views and abundant wildlife, especially birds. The office staff are always friendly and helpful with inquiries, and the tours are provided with excellent, highly knowledgeable guides. Our guide on this trip was a bird expert but also a good all-round naturalist who knew about mammals, butterflies and plants. He was also great company!
S.C. Buckinghamshire, May 23 -
A really lovely combination of 3 days on board the MV Monadhliath, a converted former fishing trawler, sailing around the Minch, and 4 days on land exploring the Isle of Lewis and Harris. The cruise element was perfect - the small boat gave us access to some really remote and inaccessible lochs along the east coast of Harris/Lewis and north Skye, as well as the west coast of the mainland. We were also really privileged to be able to land on the Shiant islands, as well as anchor there overnight, and spend the evening watching the spectacular flocks of puffins and auks returning to their nests on the islands in great wheel-like formations, to avoid predators. Our guide was so knowledgeable, and patient, and also helped us build a really good group together. The food on board was amazing - hard to believe it came out of such a small galley kitchen. The adventure continued on land as we were able to listen to and actually see corncrakes, red phalaropes and lots of eagles, as well as explore the archaeological and cultural heritage of this part of the Hebrides. A really lovely experience. I love travelling with Naturetrek. The staff are friendly, helpful, pay attention to detail, and have their own expertise in the regions and in wildlife, but mostly, you know you will be travelling with like-minded people in terms of sharing an interest in wildlife and wild places. I've found that the guides enjoy sharing their knowledge, and generally can't do enough for you. The holiday was well priced - really good value for money, with just 6 of us and one guide all to ourselves, plus the crew on the boat. I'm already trying to decide where to go with them next.
C.S. West Yorkshire, May 23 -
Collected from Inverness station and taken to charter boat at Ullapool with 6 other passengers. We spent the first three days travelling around smaller islands and Shiants looking at birds and cetaceans. Excellent view of dolphins, many seabirds. Well looked after by small crew, chef produced wonderful food from a tiny galley. Landed at Stornoway where we were based in a comfortable hotel. Three days travelling around around Lewis and Harris. Saw white tailed and golden eagles, standing stones at Callanish. We were accompanied by our friendly guide all the way who took us to the best places for birdwatching and shared his extensive knowledge of wildlife. Naturetrek specialises in wildlife holidays. Staff are very helpful, answer queries promptly. They pay great attention to detail which results in well organised holidays in tried and tested locations. New locations are well researched beforehand.
S.T. East Riding of Yorkshire, May 22
Dates & Prices
2025
Tour Leader: Mick Durham
Mick trained as an English and Outdoor Education teacher and spent much of his working life teaching a range of activities such as mountaineering and climbing, canoeing, orienteering and camping in a local authority centre in North Wales. When not working he spent much of his time watching and photographing wildlife. He moved to Scotland over 25-years ago and has continued with his photography, concentrating on Scottish wildlife. Since retiring he has worked as a guide leading wildlife photography groups abroad and guiding wildlife groups in Scotland. In 2013 he gained his Fellowship with the Royal Photographic Society and is currently the Chair of the Natural History Distinctions Panel responsible for assessing Associate and Fellowship submissions.
Although interested in all kinds of wildlife, Mick is particularly keen on photographing wildlife in cold climates and also the wildlife found throughout Scotland. In particular he is passionate about Scottish coastal Otters and he has been observing and photographing these enigmatic creatures since he first visited Mull in 1988.
Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
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Tour Reports
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