Hiking on Skye & the Outer Hebrides

The trip begins at the train station in Inverness. Board the train towards Kyle of Lochalsh and settle in for one of Britain's finest train journeys. Over approximately 2.5 hours, the Kyle Line winds through the Highlands with mountains, lochs and dreamlike landscapes outside your carriage window. In Kyle of Lochalsh you change to bus or taxi and roll across the Skye Bridge to Broadford, about 20–30 minutes away. Here two nights await on the Isle of Skye with fine views over Broadford Bay towards the islands of Pabay and Scalpay.

After a short transfer to Torrin, you lace up your boots for the trip's first hike. The path follows the dramatic coastline while the Cuillin mountains rise up behind the sea. You pass abandoned crofting communities, steep coastal cliffs, sheltered beaches and waterfalls – an excellent introduction to raw Skye. The trail eventually turns north and climbs up over moorland, continues through a protected forest area and passes an abandoned marble quarry. Finally you're back in Broadford and can celebrate the opening hike at one of the village's pubs.

A taxi takes you to Kilmarie, where one of Skye's – and perhaps the entire trip's – very finest hikes begins. You follow the trail towards Camasunary Bay with the mighty Cuillin as a backdrop and continue through a landscape that manages the feat of being both stark and ridiculously beautiful at the same time. The destination is classic Sligachan, where mountains, water and the old stone bridge create one of Skye's most well-known views. Feel free to quench your thirst before a short taxi transfer, about 20 minutes, takes you onward to the colourful harbour town of Portree.

Today you choose between two hikes – or a guided full-day tour around Skye as an optional extra. The shorter hike takes you up to the spectacular rock formations around the Old Man of Storr, one of Scotland's most photographed landscapes. If you want a heartier hiking day, you instead start at Storr Lochs and follow coastal cliffs and moorland all the way back to Portree. The longer variant is 13 kilometres and offers the day's biggest climb. Transport from Portree to the start of the hike is arranged by local bus or taxi and paid for on site.

Today you leave Skye and continue to Scotland's absolute westerly outpost. A transfer takes you to Uig where a ferry crosses the sea to Tarbert on Harris, a crossing of around 1 hour 40 minutes depending on the timetable. If time allows, you can continue by bus or taxi to the North Harris Eagle Observatory and take a short hike into Glen Mevaig. Harris has around 20 pairs of golden eagles, so keep your eyes on the sky. Back in Tarbert, whisky enthusiasts can instead visit the island's distillery – but note that it's closed on Sundays.

A short transfer takes you to Seilebost, where you're met by the view over Luskentyre Beach. White sand, turquoise water and the mountains of Harris in the background – the weather gods may need to excuse themselves, but visually it's at times more Caribbean than Scotland. A swim dispels any doubts about the northerly place we find ourselves in, but it's certainly bracing! From here you follow the southern part of the Harris Walkway, a network of old trails linked together in 2001. The hike goes, among other things, along a historic funeral route and across expansive moorland back towards Tarbert. At 23.5 kilometres, this is the trip's longest hike, but it can be shortened using the local bus for the final stretch.

Today's hike picks up where the Harris Walkway continues northward. From Tarbert you follow the path along Lochannan Lacasdail and move through one of the trip's most remote environments. Here the silence is almost an experience in itself – far from traffic, towns and everyday noise. The trail continues through the typically Hebridean landscape towards Scaladale. From here a short transfer awaits to Stornoway on the east coast of Lewis. After a week among mountains, moors and sea, a steaming hot portion of fish and chips hits exactly the right spot.

After breakfast the adventure is over and you continue your journey independently. Stornoway has flight connections to the British mainland, but if you haven't had enough of the sea and Scottish landscapes, there's a fine alternative journey home. Take the ferry across The Minch to Ullapool, a crossing of about 2.5 hours, and then continue by bus through the Highlands to Inverness. An extra night after the trip is not included but can be added if you want a more relaxed connection home.