Outer Hebrides and St Kilda

Transcription

1 Wildlife Adventure Outer Hebrides and St Kilda View Trip Dates Book Now Trip Grade: Green 2

2 Outer Hebrides and St Kilda On this trip we will explore the Outer Hebrides far off Scotland s west coast, discovering its abundant wildlife, including some of the rarest wildlife to be found in Scotland. Along the way, we ll enjoy coastal and glen hikes and, weather permitting, a boat trip to the incredible archipelago of St Kilda. And on our May departure, we hope to see the spring migration of skuas to their summer breeding grounds one of Scotland s great nature events. Your knowledgeable guide will help you spot wildlife, and provide a fascinating insight into the rich tapestry of island life, history. You ll look out for eagles, basking sharks, whales and dolphins, as well the rich flora of the islands found in the famous coastal machairs. With charming accommodation and delicious food, this special trip provides a memorable insight into the wildlife of these wild and beautiful islands. Highlights Journey to the wild Atlantic island of St Kilda Look out for eagles, otters and deer on the Isle of Harris Discover the Uists; islands of beaches, wildflowers and windswept beauty Book with confidence We guarantee this trip will run as soon as 2 people have booked Maximum of 8 places available per departure PLEASE NOTE The itinerary may be subject to change at the discretion of the Wilderness Scotland Guide with regard to weather conditions and other factors.

3 Planned Itinerary Day 1 Travel to The Hebrides Day 2 Voyage to St Kilda Day 3 Wildlife of Harris Day 4 To North Uist Day 5 In Search of Raptors and Wildflowers Day 6 Balranald Reserve Day 7 Return to Inverness Arrival Info Your Guide will meet you at the centre of Inverness station by the fixed seating area 7:30am on Day 1 of your trip Departure Info You will be returned to Inverness station 5:30pm on the final day of your trip PLEASE NOTE The itinerary may be subject to change at the discretion of the Wilderness Scotland Guide with regard to weather conditions and other factors.

4 Day 1 Travel to The Hebrides We meet in Inverness and drive to Ullapool, where we catch the morning ferry across to the Isle of Lewis, the largest island in the Outer Hebrides. The ferry journey takes us through well-known seabird and cetacean feeding areas so we will hope for some sightings before we even arrive on the islands! As we drive south to our hotel on Harris, we ll take a small detour to the wonderful standing stone circle at Callanish. (D) Day 2 Voyage to St Kilda* Over 40 miles offshore, visiting the amazing double World Heritage Site of St Kilda requires a boat crossing of 3 hours each way. It is a challenging but rewarding day. The crossing provides a great opportunity to see marine life. As we approach the islands we see, hear and smell the vast seabird colonies! We ll have a few hours on land to explore. With some of the highest sea cliffs in Britain, and globally important colonies of gannets, fulmars and puffins, this is a spectacular place to see. Together with the thought-provoking story of the islanders who lived here, this is one of the most amazing places you can ever visit. (B, L) *Please note that the journey to St Kilda strongly depends on decent sea conditions. If it is not possible to visit on Day 2 your guide will try to reschedule for a different day during the trip. If weather prevents this altogether then a wildlife cruise in Loch Roag will be arranged instead. Day 3 Wildlife of Harris The Isle of Harris gives an immense sense of history, and vast expanses of moorland hold nationally important breeding populations of Greenshank and Dunlin, while otters, golden eagles and sea eagles hunt here regularly. They are also home to herds of red deer, which can be seen grazing on the hillsides. We ll spend a day exploring this beautiful island, enjoying some short coastal or glen hikes along the way. (B,L)

5 Day 4 To North Uist We spend the morning on Harris before taking the early afternoon ferry to North Uist The islands of the southern Outer Hebrides are beckoning. Once we land at Berneray, we have a wonderful journey to our next hotel, which is tucked away in a tranquil spot in the south of the island. North Uist is a place of remote and windswept beauty. We are in good otter and diver territory, with plenty of places to stretch our legs before enjoying a warm welcome at our hotel. (B, L) Day 5 In Search of Raptors and Wildflowers Today we will explore on foot as we wander along the coast taking in the beautiful colours of the machair. We will take the opportunity to scan the hills for some of the local golden and sea eagles - soaring with a wingspan well over two metres. Other daytime hunters include the ghostly hen harrier and furious looking short eared owl, either of which could turn up almost anywhere during our time on the Uists.

6 Day 6 Balranald Reserve Today we ll go in search of the elusive Corncrake at Balranald RSPB Reserve - a mix of fertile machair meadows and ancient farmland. These rare habitats also provide vital homes for many rare species, such as the great yellow bumblebee, corn bunting, golden ringed dragonfly and many scarce wildflowers (not to mention photogenic highland cows!). The heather moors of North Uist and Benbecula offer more good raptor hunting habitats and we will spend time in the search of more birds of prey, returning summer migrants such as wheatear and stonechat and perhaps red deer. (B, L, D) Day 7 Return to Inverness We begin our journey back to Inverness today, but there are still opportunities for some wonderful scenery and excellent wildlife sightings. We depart by ferry across the Minch again, this time on the late morning ferry heading for the Isle of Skye. From here, we journey through Skye, across the bridge to the mainland and then back along the shores of Loch Ness to Inverness, arriving by around 5.30pm. (B, L)

7 Trip Grading Green 3 Green graded wildlife holidays are suitable for for active travellers who are reasonably fit and enjoy moderate hikes. We walk at a comfortable pace and you can expect to be out for 5-6 hours a day. The terrain will be mostly good paths and hill trails but these can still be muddy and rough in places. Some hikes may involve an ascent up to a max of approx 1,500 feet / 450m. Distances will be typically 8-10km but there may be the odd slightly longer day. Daily hike details are available in the itinerary The weather in Scotland can be unpredictable and at times can make activities more challenging. Please do bear this in mind when thinking about what trip to join. If our guides feel that you are not able to complete a scheduled hike they may ask you not to join in that day. If you have any questions about the grading, then please do give our Adventure Consultants a call to chat through your experience and suitability for this trip. It is your responsibility to ensure you are appropriately fit and capable of doing the described hikes in the expected times. Please refer to the grading section on our website for more details. If you are unsure we encourage you to speak to us first.

8 Accommodation and Meals This itinerary is based in two different locations throughout the course of the week, with 3 nights on Harris and 3 nights on North Uist. Each of the accommodations offer double and twin rooms, most with en-suite facilities. Throughout the journey, varied island produce will be served up in hearty and imaginative meals. Seafood is a speciality with beef, lamb and venison also popular and of course, any special dietary requirements can be catered for. On this trip we generally eat dinner as a group however if you would like to make alternative arrangements you are free to do so. Your guide will have an evening off during this trip where they do not eat with the group. They will recommend options for dinner that evening and will help you make any necessary reservations. Single Rooms There is no supplement charged to solo travellers, however you will be required to share a room with another person of the same sex. If you require a single room please request this at the time of booking and we will check availability for you. A single room supplement of 300 is charged if a single room is available. Due to the small size of the accommodations we use, single supplements are limited and are allocated on a first come first served basis.

9 Inclusions This trip includes the following: 6 nights accommodation in carefully selected guest houses and hotels Most meals during the trip (Meals included indicated as B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner) The services of an experienced and knowledgeable guide / driver throughout All transport throughout the trip starting and finishing in Inverness All boat trips and ferry transfers

10 Your Guide During this trip you will be accompanied and led by one of our professional guides. Our guides are among the most highly experienced and qualified in the country. Defined by their passion for Scotland s wild places, they have an intimate knowledge of the natural and social history of this land which they will be delighted to share with you. For more info and to meet the team please see our Guide Pages. Sustainable Travel Wilderness Scotland is committed to the principles of ecotourism. We work very hard to ensure our engagements with local communities, wild lands and wildlife are positive. We are a proud partner of the Leave No Trace Centre for Outdoor Ethics, which enhances our commitment to responsible activity in Scotland s wild lands, as enshrined in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC). We are also proud to be a John Muir Trust Peak Partner. Thanks in part to the generosity of our clients though our Conservation Contribution scheme the John Muir Trust can rely on our investment to go towards conservation projects that have a deep connection to Wilderness Scotland and the areas we adventure in. You can learn more about the work we re doing with the John Muir Trust and the other ways we care for the wild places we love here.

11 Equipment List Check out our guide on what to wear when adventuring in Scotland. wildernessscotland.com/blog/hiking-in-scotland-what-to-wear Eat Stay See Looking for accommodation for before or after your adventure with us? Check out our list of where to stay and what to do Eat Stay See Inverness.pdf General Info Scotland From food and drink to the Loch Ness Monster, our General Info for Scotland guide has got you covered for all your need to to know facts. General-Info-Scotland.pdf

12 Travel Insurance It is your responsibility to take out appropriate travel insurance to cover you during your trip. This should include cover for cancellation prior to the trip, the activities undertaken (i.e hiking), curtailment, and adequate medical insurance for sickness/ injury and medical repatriation. We also strongly recommend you have cover for your other travel arrangements such as flights, and your personal possessions. We suggest you do your own research to find the best insurance cover for you however the follow companies offer suitable policies. Campbell Irvine Direct campbellirvinedirect.com Journeyman Insurance Services journeyman-services.com/travelinsurance If you cancel your holiday charges will apply. Please see section 2 of our terms and conditions for a breakdown: wildernessscotland.com/make-a-booking/booking-conditions Travel With Confidence You can book with us in complete confidence that all trip payments made to us are fully protected. Wilderness Scotland Ltd is a licensed and bonded tour operator. Your financial security is guaranteed through our membership and bonding with ABTA.

13 FAQs Looking for more information? Check out our frequently asked questions page. wildernessscotland.com/faq Questions To Ask? Ready to Book? If you want to get in touch please send us an or give us a call. We accept bookings online, by , or over the phone. A deposit of 25% is required at the time of booking to secure the trip with the balance payable 8 weeks (56 days) before departure. If booking less than 56 days before the trip start date, full payment of the trip price is required immediately. We accept payment by credit or debit card, or bank transfer. info@wildernessscotland.com Tel (UK and Europe): +44(0) Tel (US and Canada): View Trip Dates Book Now