Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
vote day six to exploring Skye - there will be time for a visit to Dunvegan Castle and a
tour of the Trotternish peninsula.
Day seven is the long drive back south - the scenic route goes via
Glen Shiel
,
Inver-
garry
,
Spean Bridge
(pause at the Commando Monument),
Laggan
and then south on
the A9 to Edinburgh, with a stop in
Pitlochry
.
One Week
Island Hopscotch
This route is usually done by car, but it also makes a brilliant cycling tour (270 miles, in-
cluding the 60 miles from Ullapool to Inverness train station, making both start and finish
accessible by rail).
From
Oban
it's a five-hour ferry crossing to
Barra
; plan to spend the night here (book
ahead). On day two, after a visit to Kisimul Castle and a tour around the island, take the
ferry to
South Uist
. Walk the wild beaches of the west coast, sample the local seafood and
perhaps go fishing on the island's trout lochs.
Overnight at Lochmaddy on North Uist then continue through
North Uist
and
Benbec-
ula
, prime birdwatching country. If you're camping or hostelling, a night at
Berneray
is a
must before taking the ferry to
Harris
, whose west coast has some of the most spectacular
beaches in Scotland. The road continues north from
Tarbert
(good hotels) through rugged
hills to
Lewis.
Don't go directly to Stornoway, but loop west via the
Callanish Standing Stones
and
Arnol Blackhouse museum
. Spend your final night in
Stornoway
(eat at Digby Chick),
then take the ferry to
Ullapool
for a scenic drive to
Inverness
.
