Outer Hebrides & Skye Self-Launched Adventure from Edinburgh
6 days · Outer Hebrides & Isle of Skye, Scotland
Click Tours charges £1,500
No-markup version: ~£500 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, small-budget version of Click Tours' 6-day Edinburgh–Ullapool–Stornoway–Harris–Skye loop, built around scheduled buses, the CalMac ferry and hostel/guesthouse stays. You'll hit the same big stops — Corrieshalloch Gorge, Loch Ness, the Calanais Stones, Luskentyre beach, the Quiraing and Eilean Donan — but on public transport and at your own pace. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget rates in GBP; book ferries and Islay-bound-free Highland buses well ahead, especially April–September.
Day-by-day
Edinburgh to Ullapool via Cairngorms & Loch Ness
Ullapool
Take a morning train or Citylink coach from Edinburgh to Inverness (~£20-30, 3.5-4h), then connect north on the Citylink 961 to Ullapool (~£12-15, 1.5h) — or run the whole way on the Citylink 912/913 coach via Aviemore and Inverness if you'd rather not change. Break the journey at Aviemore for lunch and a short walk, and keep an eye out over Loch Ness from the coach window. If you have your own timings, hire a bike or grab the local bus to Corrieshalloch Gorge for the suspension-bridge waterfall walk (free, National Trust for Scotland car park). Evening: wander Ullapool harbour and try a pub on Shore Street. Stay in a hostel or guesthouse near the harbour.
🚌Train/Citylink coach Edinburgh→Inverness (~£20-30), Citylink 961 Inverness→Ullapool (~£12-15). Local bus or bike to Corrieshalloch Gorge.
🛏Ullapool hostel or guesthouse (dorm ~£22-30, private room ~£50-70)
- →Corrieshalloch Gorge waterfall walk and suspension bridge (free)
- →Lunch stop and short walk in Aviemore
- →Loch Ness views from the coach
- →Ullapool harbour and Shore Street pubs
Ferry to Stornoway & Butt of Lewis
Stornoway, Isle of Lewis
Catch the morning CalMac ferry from Ullapool to Stornoway (2h 45m; foot passenger ~£14-18, book online in advance — sailings fill in summer). Watch for dolphins and minke whales from the deck and enjoy the Summer Isles views on the way out of Loch Broom. From Stornoway harbour, take the local W5/W1 bus north to the Butt of Lewis lighthouse (free to visit, dramatic cliffs), and stop off at crofting villages and beaches en route. Back in Stornoway, dinner at a local pub — try Stornoway black pudding if it's on the menu.
🚌CalMac ferry Ullapool→Stornoway (~£14-18 foot passenger, 2h45). Local W1/W5 bus to Butt of Lewis (~£5-8 return).
🛏Stornoway hostel or B&B (dorm ~£22-30, private room ~£55-75)
- →CalMac ferry crossing with wildlife spotting
- →Butt of Lewis lighthouse and cliffs
- →Crofting villages and west Lewis beaches by local bus
- →Stornoway pubs and seafood
Lewis & Harris archaeology and beaches
Lewis & Harris
Base yourself in Stornoway and use the local buses (W2/W3/W5, day tickets ~£8-10) or hire a bike to reach the island's ancient sites. Start at Arnol Blackhouse (Historic Environment Scotland, ~£7.50 entry) for a look at traditional Hebridean croft life, then head to Dun Carloway broch (free) and the Calanais Standing Stones (free visitor centre, donation welcome). Spend the afternoon on the west Lewis beaches and hills, or push down to Harris if you have a car-share arranged. Back in Stornoway for the evening — book a table if you want a sit-down dinner, as options are limited.
🚌Local buses W2/W3/W5 day ticket (~£8-10) or bike hire (~£15-20/day)
🛏Stornoway hostel or B&B (dorm ~£22-30, private room ~£55-75)
- →Arnol Blackhouse (~£7.50)
- →Dun Carloway broch (free)
- →Calanais Standing Stones (free)
- →West Lewis beaches and hills
Harris to Skye via Luskentyre and the ferry
Portree, Isle of Skye
Travel south through Harris on the W10/W5 bus to Tarbert (~£5-6), stopping at Luskentyre beach if you can time a connection — it's one of the finest white-sand beaches in Europe and worth the detour. From Tarbert take the CalMac ferry to Uig on Skye (1h 40m, foot passenger ~£9-12, book ahead), then the Stagecoach 57A/57 bus to Portree (~£4-5, 25min). Check into your hostel or B&B, then take a short evening walk around Portree harbour and grab a pub dinner. A picnic lunch from a Tarbert or Stornoway shop keeps costs down.
🚌W10/W5 bus to Tarbert (~£5-6), CalMac ferry Tarbert→Uig (~£9-12, 1h40), Stagecoach 57A/57 Portree (~£4-5)
🛏Portree hostel or guesthouse (dorm ~£25-35, private room ~£60-85)
- →Luskentyre beach stop
- →Harris landscape and Tarbert harbour
- →CalMac ferry crossing to Skye
- →Portree harbour evening walk
Trotternish Ridge: Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock & Quiraing
Isle of Skye
The Trotternish loop is the day's highlight. Take the Stagecoach 57A north to the Old Man of Storr car park and hike up (~1h ascent, free, bring waterproofs), then continue by bus or shared taxi to Kilt Rock viewpoint and on to the Quiraing (bus connections are patchy — the Skye hopper bus or a shared taxi from Portree, ~£15-25 per person, works best; alternatively book a half-day small-group tour from Portree via GetYourGuide from ~£35-45). Return to Portree in the evening for a seafood dinner at a harbour restaurant or a cheaper fish-and-chips.
🚌Stagecoach 57A bus (~£5-8 day ticket), shared taxi (~£15-25 pp), or GetYourGuide half-day tour (~£35-45)
🛏Portree hostel or guesthouse (dorm ~£25-35, private room ~£60-85)
- →Old Man of Storr hike (free)
- →Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls viewpoint (free)
- →Quiraing walk (free)
- →Optional small-group Trotternish tour via GetYourGuide
Portree to Edinburgh via Eilean Donan & Glencoe
Edinburgh
Take the early Stagecoach 917/915 coach from Portree to Inverness or Fort William (the 915 runs Portree→Fort William via Eilean Donan and Glencoe, ~£20-25, 4-5h). Hop off at Eilean Donan Castle for a photo stop (exterior free, ~£12 to go inside) and again at Glencoe for a short walk among the glens, before continuing to Fort William (Ben Nevis views) and onward by Citylink coach or train to Edinburgh (~£25-35, 3.5-4.5h). Arrive Edinburgh in the evening. Long day — pack snacks and book the coach seat in advance.
🚌Stagecoach 915/917 Portree→Fort William (~£20-25), Citylink coach or ScotRail Fort William→Edinburgh (~£25-35)
🛏Own arrangements in Edinburgh (hostel dorm ~£20-30 if you need a night)
- →Eilean Donan Castle photo stop (exterior free)
- →Glencoe valley walk
- →Ben Nevis views from Fort William
Self-launched vs. Click Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Click Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£500 | £1,500 |
| Duration | 6 days | 6 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,000 per person (67%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Click Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£500
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Outer Hebrides & Skye Self-Launched Adventure from Edinburgh cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £500 per person for 6 days in Outer Hebrides & Isle of Skye, Scotland. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Click Tours?+
Yes — Click Tours charges around £1,500 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £500 — a saving of roughly £1,000 (67%) per person.
How long is the Outer Hebrides & Isle of Skye, Scotland trip?+
This itinerary runs 6 days, covering 6 day-by-day stops through Outer Hebrides & Isle of Skye, Scotland.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, slow-travel trip through Outer Hebrides & Isle of Skye, Scotland, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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