7 Days
Unearth the hidden charms and legends of the ancient isles that surround Scotland. Discover the rugged and untouched landscapes of the Orkney Islands as well as the Outer and Inner Hebrides. Steeped in rich heritage and history, many of the landmarks on the islands are thousands of years old and remain beautifully preserved to this day in order to give visitors a chance to step through living history.
Perfect for those looking for peace and tranquillity, explore deserted beaches, and breath-taking, unspoilt scenery. Over the course of your trip you will get a rare insight into the captivating ancient world that still lingers on in this secluded corner of the world.
GET IN TOUCHA Scottish Island Dream Escape programme could include any of the following unique experiences:
Our accommodation suggestions for this trip are two equally charming properties, one on Orkney and another on the Isle of Lewis.
Your first home for your trip is a luxury guest house full of period features that will allow you to immerse yourself in life on the Orkney Islands.
For the second part of your trip, stay in a stunning holiday-home with a difference. While being thoroughly modern, this building, based upon the traditional island houses, blends seamlessly into its surroundings complete with stunning ocean views through floor to ceiling windows.
The Calanais stones, a spectacular Megalithic complex comprising around 50 stones. At its heart stands a solitary monolith around 5m high. Dating from around 3000 BC, they are older than the pyramids of Egypt and are one of the most famous prehistoric sites in Scotland.
Visit Lamb Holm, a small island off Holm and the unique, Italian Chapel. Originally a set of huts, they were exquisitely transformed into what you see today by the same prisoners of war that built the barrier. Lovingly restored in 1960 by the artist Domenico Chiocchetti, who was responsible for the original design, it is a touching token of the triumph of the human spirit over adversity.
Take an exclusive and private tour at the most northerly of Scotland’s distilleries. Accompanied by a distillery guide, venture behind the scenes to typically off-limits parts of the distillery. Sample whisky straight from the cask, and meet the people behind the whisky. The experience concludes with a tutored tasting of four spectacular vintages – 1968, 1970, 1971 and 1976 – and a sample from an exclusive single cask bottling in front of a crackling fire.
Visit the home of the island’s most noted export, Harris Tweed. Before the Industrial Revolution, most of Scotland wove cloth from home; unlike the rest of Scotland, Harris has never lost the tradition. Harris Tweed can now be seen on the catwalks in various fashion capitals, be bought in the many of the islands shops and is recognised as the one of the world’s finest fabrics.
Spectacular Skara Brae, which lies near the dramatic white beach of the Bay of Skaill is about 5000 years old, it was inhabited before the Egyptian Pyramids and Stonehenge were built.
The Ring o’ Brodgar is part of the heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site. The stone ring was built in a perfect circle, 104 metres wide, and originally contained sixty megaliths. Today, only twenty-seven of these stones remain.
Abundantly rich in heritage, the Orkney Islands have been inhabited for over 5500 years. They are particularly known for traces of Viking legacies, remarkable Neolithic sites, haunting wartime remains, stunning listed buildings and some of the most breath-taking scenery, where the word “unspoilt” takes on a whole new meaning.
The Outer Hebrides also known as the Western Isles are an island chain off the west coast of mainland Scotland. They have been included in many publications as one of the Top 100 Places to Visit in the World. In addition to having a captivating history with a rich sense of Gaelic tradition, they are noted for their stunning beauty; unspoilt white beaches, clear waters and a sublime coastline. Lewis and Harris make up the largest island in Scotland. They are joined by a small strip of land and are frequently referred to as if they were separate islands.
The Outer Hebrides also known as the Western Isles are an island chain off the west coast of mainland Scotland. They have been included in many publications as one of the Top 100 Places to Visit in the World. In addition to having a captivating history with a rich sense of Gaelic tradition, they are noted for their stunning beauty; unspoilt white beaches, clear waters and a sublime coastline. Lewis and Harris make up the largest island in Scotland. They are joined by a small strip of land and are frequently referred to as if they were separate islands.
The archipelago of St Kilda is the remotest part of the British Isles and lies over 40 miles west of Benbecula, in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides. Its islands, with their exceptional cliffs and sea stacks, form the most important seabird-breeding station in north-western Europe. The earliest written records of island life date from the late Middle Ages. Since this time, the population has probably never exceeded 180. On 29 August 1930, the 36 remaining residents known as St Kildans, were evacuated at their own request from Hirta, the only inhabited island, to the Scottish mainland.
