Scenic Walking Holiday - Exploring the Outer Hebrides
An 8-night adventure through one of Scotland’s most remote and fascinating island chains – with all travel from Glasgow included, guided walks, and a stay in a small independent hotel on North Uist.
Experience Type: Multi-Day Experience
Duration: 8 nights
Accommodation: Hotel
Meeting Location: Glasgow
Group Size: Maximum 8
Level: Leisurely Plus
Age: 18+
Dogs: No dogs, except trained assistance dogs
What to Expect on Your Outer Hebrides Walking Holiday:
One Base for the Week: We’ll spend the entire trip based at the small and comfortable Temple View Hotel on North Uist.
Fully Guided & Organised: Travel from Glasgow, ferry crossings, local transport and guided walks all included.
Bed, Breakfast & Packed Lunches: You’ll enjoy hotel breakfasts each morning and we’ll sort packed lunches for most walking days.
Wildlife, Walks & More: Alongside the walks, you’ll visit standing stones, crofting communities, and take a wildlife cruise.
Sociable and Small-Group: With a maximum of 8 people, expect a relaxed pace and easy-going atmosphere.
Book today…
Discover the magic of the Outer Hebrides with Large Outdoors.
This relaxed yet rewarding walking holiday offers a brilliant mix of coastal scenery, cultural sites, quiet beaches, wildlife encounters, and off-the-beaten-path walking routes. We’ll base ourselves for the full 8-night stay on North Uist.
We take care of all the travel and logistics once you meet us in Glasgow – so you can simply settle into the experience. From ferry connections to island-hopping days out and the comfort of staying at the Temple View Hotel, you’ll get a well-paced itinerary with expert local guiding and plenty of sociable downtime.
You’ll walk in the company of one of our passionate guides who knows these islands well – from the machair grasslands to the standing stones of Lewis, and the beaches of Barra to the wild headlands of Udal. Along the way we’ll share stories of island myths, wildlife facts, and the deep connection between land, sea and community here in the Hebrides.
This trip is perfect for those looking for a deeper exploration of this remote corner of Scotland, with a friendly group and thoughtful touches to make your time here easy and memorable.
Suggested Itinerary
Please note: The itinerary below may change depending on ferry schedules and weather. We may do things in a different order, or substitute routes where needed.
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Please plan to stay in Glasgow the night before as ferry times aren’t released until March, and our departure time from Glasgow may be early.
We’ll drive through the Highlands to Mallaig and catch a ferry (approx. 3–4 hours) to the Outer Hebrides. Once we arrive on Uist, it’s a short transfer to the hotel for check-in and our first evening together.
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This circular 10-mile route along the Udal peninsula is a perfect opener. Wide open beaches, sand dunes, turquoise seas, and a sense of wilderness await. It’s one of our favourite places to walk in the whole of the Outer Hebrides.
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Follow the old Postman’s Path on this out-and-back route to the remote Ushenish Lighthouse. The walk takes us through a valley past abandoned crofts with sweeping views towards Skye.
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Today we stay local and explore more of North and South Uist, plus Benbecula. Walk options may include:
A machair-side walk near Balranald Nature Reserve, rich in birdlife and wildflowers.
Coastal circuits around Lochmaddy or Culla Bay.
Exploring the causeways that connect the islands on foot with sea views all around.
We’ll choose our route depending on the weather and group preference.
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We ferry south to explore the rugged little island of Barra. Our walk today includes views of its famous beach runway and sandy bays. There’s time to explore Castlebay, visit the café, or just enjoy the change of scenery before we return north in the early evening.
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A rest day from the walking but still full of activity. We start with a 2.5-hour wildlife cruise aboard the Lady Anne, spotting seals, seabirds, and possibly even swimming deer.
Afterwards we visit Long Island Retreat for lunch and a crofting tour. You'll hear firsthand from a local crofter about family life, sustainability and ponies – often a highlight of the week.
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We ferry north and spend a full day exploring the Isle of Lewis and Harris. Highlights include:
Calanais Standing Stones – a spectacular and atmospheric site older than Stonehenge.
Dun Carloway Broch – a stone tower built by Iron Age settlers.
Gearrannan Blackhouse Village – a restored crofting village with history and craft displays.
Luskentyre Beach – sweeping white sands and turquoise sea.
We return south in the evening to our base on Uist.
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A flexible final day. Depending on weather and tides, we may walk at:
RSPB Balranald – known for corncrakes, oystercatchers and more.
Langass Woodland Trail – one of the few forested areas on the islands.
Coastal paths from our hotel – great for a more relaxed final walk.
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We leave early for the ferry and drive south through the Highlands. We aim to arrive in Glasgow between 18:00–20:00. Please allow for flexibility in onward travel plans due to traffic or ferry delays.
This trip includes bed & breakfast, most packed lunches, full guiding, and transport from Glasgow and around the islands. Evening meals are not included – your host will organise local group meals each night.
Wildlife Highlights
The Outer Hebrides is a haven for birdwatchers and nature lovers. Keep your eyes peeled for:
Otters along quiet shores
Sea eagles, golden eagles, curlews and redshanks
Seals lounging on rocks and sandbanks
Corncrakes, lapwings and the occasional puffin
From the machair to the moorland, wildlife thrives here – and our guides love sharing the best spots.
The Outer Hebrides
Look at a map of the UK and you’ll see a great set of islands, shaped like a curved shield, protecting Scotland from the North Atlantic. These are the Outer Hebrides, a vast array of hundreds of isles ranged with hills, beaches, cliffs, and over 7500 freshwater lakes.
You’ll find Gaelic spoken as the main language in many communities. There’s a fascinating history to uncover - with heritage centres and sites to visit. There’s also the chance to see wildlife wherever you look, whether soaring in the skies or basking in/around the sea.
The views from the hills are breathtaking, over to the Atlantic on one side, or East to the Isle of Skye and the Scottish mainland far in the distance. The land is perfect for walkers to explore, and there are some excellent trails.
Beyond the outdoor adventures, there are great cafes and art/craft shops so you can discover the cosier and more indulging side to the Outer Hebrides too.
Essential Information
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Meeting Time: Your Large Outdoors host will meet you in Glasgow - please see Pickup options below.
Glasgow City Centre (Hotel): 6:00am at ibis Styles, Glasgow Central, 116 Waterloo Street, Glasgow, G2 7DN
Glasgow International Airport: 6:15am at the Pick-up & Drop-off area outside the main terminal (Car Park 2)
Returning to Glasgow (Day 8): If you are taking advantage of our Pickup service, we will also return you to Glasgow on the final day. We aim to be back in Glasgow between 5-7pm and can drop you back in the city centre or at the airport. Please book onward travel accordingly, to allow for flexibility with the return time to the city centre or airport - we do allow for some stops on the journey, but we (sadly!) can’t control the traffic.
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Our base for the week is the Temple View Hotel on North Uist – a family-run, independent hotel with sea and moorland views. It’s a relaxed and welcoming place with a reputation for good food and friendly service. Each room is en-suite and recently refurbished.
Room Types:
You can book one of the following options, subject to availability:
There are Shared Rooms, where you’ll be sharing a room - with two single beds - with one other participant (en-suite bathroom).Twin Rooms sleep up to two participants booking together, with two single beds (en-suite bathroom) - sometimes rooms with double beds are available, so please email the Large Outdoors Office when booking if you would prefer a double and we will do our best, although we can’t guarantee this option will be available).
Single Rooms are for one participant and have a king-sized double bed or a single bed (en-suite bathroom).
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Included:
8 nights’ accommodation at hotels (single or twin rooms).
A Large Outdoors host/guide to welcome you and deal with the logistics for your experience.
Transportation for the duration of the trip - including transfers from/to Glasgow by Large Outdoors vehicle and all ferry tickets.
Guided walks and sightseeing.
Wildlife boat cruise.
Croft tour & lunch.
A hearty cooked breakfast each morning, prepared by the accommodation.
A packed lunch (sandwich and snacks) for Days 2-7.
Complimentary tea and coffee provided in your room at the hotels, but please ensure you bring sufficient water bottles or carriers to fill up with tap water and take out with you.
Bedding and towels - but don’t forget your own toiletries.
The chance to make new friends and meet like-minded people - Large Outdoors is all about making outdoor adventures sociable.
Pre-event support from the Large Outdoors team - give us a shout if there’s any advice or information you need and check out our Blog for useful articles too.
Not Included:
Travel to and from the meeting location.
Evening meals - we’ll likely do a mixture of eating at local restaurants and pubs, or making reservations for the group to dine at the hotel accommodation.
Lunches on the travel days.
Any extra (i.e. not mentioned above in ‘Included’) excursions or activities that you may partake in which incur a cost.
Bottled water - tap water and is available, so please ensure you bring sufficient water bottles or carriers to fill up and take out with you.
Alcoholic drinks - the hotel accommodation has a licensed bar if you wish to purchase alcohol (although we’ll certainly have chance to stock up on souvenirs and visit local shops/pubs/distilleries).
Any food, drinks or goods you choose to purchase at any shops, restaurant, pubs or cafés visited.
Travel/activity insurance - we recommend having insurance to cover, at a minimum: cancellation and curtailment; medical and emergency expenses (including repatriation); personal accident; injury and death.
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Please see our Residential (Walking) Kit List.
The compulsory items are selected for your safety, which is of paramount importance to us at Large Outdoors. Each participant should be carrying the items listed.
Please note: although the walks on our Adventure & Explore experiences are generally classed as more leisurely options, you will need walking boots. There will be short steep sections and rocky/boggy/slippery ground to navigate, so it’s important you have suitable footwear.
There may be opportunities for some wild swimming/dipping during the course of this trip, so please feel free to bring your swimwear and/or wetsuit.
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• What level of fitness is needed?
This trip is rated as Leisurely Plus, with various walks on offer. Click here to see Large Outdoors’ Experience Levels.• Can I attend on my own?
Absolutely. The majority of our participants are solo travellers and adventurers. Plenty of fun, laughter and numerous long-term friendships (and a few marriages!) have begun on Large Outdoors experiences since 2008, so there’s no need to feel worried about your first experience, or indeed trying a new type of outdoor activity, with us.• I am currently on a specific diet / have an allergy - can you cater for me?
Unfortunately, we are generally unable to cater for a wide variety of diets or food preferences due to the nature and cost of our catered trips and/or the use of shared kitchens. However, we can offer vegetarian meals, vegan meals, provide meals with gluten* free ingredients, and/or provide dairy* free meals - these options can be selected when booking. *Please see our general FAQs for more information about dietary options.This particular experience offers a little more flexibility catering wise, as evening meals are taken at local restaurants or our hotel, so please contact us if you’d like to check whether it is suitable for your dietary needs.
• What transport is provided during this experience?
We offer transport and a Pickup service (see Meeting Location & Time section above) from Glasgow, with all ferry tickets included. This is one of Large Outdoors’ Car Free Experiences.• Can I bring my dog?
Dogs are not allowed on this experience, except for trained assistance dogs. If you wish to bring your trained assistance dog, please let us know in advance of booking so we can discuss the itinerary and any activity/equipment/accommodation, and of course additional safety requirements or considerations that may be necessary. -
Look at a map of the UK and you’ll see a great set of islands, shaped like a curved shield, protecting Scotland from the North Atlantic. These are the Outer Hebrides, a vast array of hundreds of isles ranged with hills, beaches, cliffs, and over 7500 freshwater lakes.
You’ll find Gaelic spoken as the main language in many communities. There’s a fascinating history to uncover - with heritage centres and sites to visit. There’s also the chance to see wildlife wherever you look, whether soaring in the skies or basking in/around the sea.
The views from the hills are breathtaking, over to the Atlantic on one side, or East to the Isle of Skye and the Scottish mainland far in the distance. The land is perfect for walkers to explore, and there are some excellent trails.
Beyond the outdoor adventures, there are great cafes and art/craft shops so you can discover the cosier and more indulging side to the Outer Hebrides too.
This map is provided for guidance regarding the general location. For detailed meeting information, please refer to the 'Meeting Time & Location' section.