The Best Things to Do in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland

Carloway Mill on the Isle of Harris is the oldest of the three remaining Harris Tweed textile factories. Tour the workshops, in which artisans use centuries-old techniques, virgin wool and Victorian machinery to produce the fabric that bears the renowned Orb trademark. You’ll learn about every step of the process, from the washing and dying of the wool to the intricate business of warping, in which thousands of threads are wound onto large beams, ready for delivery to the weavers’ homes.

The 5,000-year-old Calanais Standing Stones are on the Isle of Harris, a 25-minute drive west of Stornoway. They were put up before the megaliths of Stonehenge in England and are thought to have served as an astronomical observatory or ritualistic site, but no one knows for sure what their purpose was. There’s a visitor centre next to the monument, comprising a gift shop selling traditional Outer Hebridean products, a small but informative exhibition and a café overlooking Loch Roag.

Sea kayaking is an unbeatable way to explore the Isle of Harris shoreline, a rocky playground of sea lochs, coves and Caribbean-style, white-sand beaches. You can book guided day trips or camping excursions on the island – or go there with Culture Trip as part of our seven-day tour of the Hebrides Islands – offering plenty of opportunities to admire the coastline and the Harris machair wildflowers, which are at their best during May and June.

The Isle of Scalpay is connected to the Isle of Harris by bridge, and can be circumnavigated by an undemanding walk of 5.3mi (8.5km). Highlights of the route include views of the Harris mountains from the 341ft (104m) tall Beinn Scorabhaig, the highest point on the island, and the distinctive red-and-white Eilean Glas lighthouse, the first such structure to be built in the Outer Hebrides. The path also passes through Kennavay, the main town in Scalpay – stop here for refreshments.

Stay in a traditional Hebridean blackhouse at Gearrannan Village, a 15-minute drive north from the Calanais Standing Stones, on the Atlantic coastline of Harris. Consisting of drystone walls and thatched roofs, the houses were inhabited until the early 1970s and now offer self-catering accommodation in a communal dorm that sleeps 14, or in private cottages with room for up to five guests. The village has a café, Tweed mill and gift shop, plus you can hike, fish and cycle in the surrounding countryside.

Situated 41mi (66km) west of the Outer Hebrides, St Kilda is the most remote spot in the UK. It’s also home to the largest population of puffins in Britain – best seen between April and early August – and the biggest community of gannets in the world. The ferry crossing from the Hebrides (usually from the Isle of Harris or the nearby Isle of Skye) can be rough, but you might be rewarded with sightings of orca or minke whales on the way.

Surfers’ haven Eoropie Beach (also called Traigh Shanndaigh or Traigh Sanda) is located on the northwestern tip of Harris, close to the picturesque villages of Ness. It’s an exposed stretch of sand, onto which waves break from both left and right, pushed by strong Atlantic swell. Eoropie Dunes Park – a 4-acre (1.5ha) outdoor play centre – also makes this a popular spot for families with young children. Top tip: avoid swimming when the winds are up, as they generate a strong undercurrent and the beach has no lifeguards.

Talisker is the oldest working distillery on the Inner Hebridean island of Skye. Built by brothers Hugh and Kenneth MacAskill in 1830 in the village of Carbost, it produces a spicy, full-bodied single malt that you can taste on site, along with several other special occasion-only varieties. Staff also run tours of the distillery, revealing the ancient secrets of whisky production.

Another great day trip idea if you’re visiting the Outer Hebrides islands is to head to the Isle of Skye and walk the Quiraing, a section of the Trotternish Ridge that’s been formed by huge landslides. A circular route of 4mi (7km) begins at a carpark near the village of Staffin, and enables you to snap away at some of the most unforgettable landscapes in Scotland. Bear in mind that some sections of the route run close to huge drop-offs and others require rock scrambling.

The Fairy Pools walk is one of the best things to do on the Isle of Skye and features on our guided trip to the Hebrides Islands. Beginning near the village of Carbost, a linear 1.5mi (2.5km) track takes you past pools and waterfalls created by the River Brittle, as it flows down from the Black Cullin mountain range. You reach the first Fairy Pond (a popular cliff-jumping spot) in around 20 minutes, and will encounter several more as you progress up-river. A wetsuit is recommended for swimming.