Self-Launched Scottish Islands Grand Tour - 14 Days
14 days · Scotland
On The Go Tours charges £3,770
No-markup version: ~£1,415 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of On The Go Tours' 14-day Scottish Islands Grand Tour, stitching together the Highlands, Mull & Iona, Skye, Glencoe, Orkney, the North Coast 500-ish route to Ullapool, and the Outer Hebrides (Lewis & Harris) using public buses, trains, and CalMac ferries. Where the original uses a 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach and a driver-guide, you'll use Scottish Citylink coaches, ScotRail trains, and local bus services (plus the occasional small-group day tour from Portree or Stornoway where public transport is thin). Expect simple guesthouses and hostels, wild scenery, unpredictable weather, and midges in summer. Costs are approximate per person and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Edinburgh to Oban via Loch Lomond, Inveraray & Kilmartin
Edinburgh / Oban
Start early at Edinburgh's bus station and take a Scottish Citylink coach to Oban (roughly 3h30-4h, ~£20-28 booked in advance), often via Glasgow or with a change. If you'd rather break the journey, hop off at Inveraray for a wander around the whitewashed town and loch-side views before continuing on a later coach. Check into a hostel or guesthouse in Oban, then walk up to McCaig's Tower for sunset over the bay and grab fish and chips by the harbour.
🚌Scottish Citylink coach Edinburgh to Oban (~£20-28)
🛏Oban hostel or guesthouse (dorm ~£25-32, private ~£60-80)
- →Inveraray town and loch views
- →McCaig's Tower sunset
- →Oban harbour and seafood dinner
Isle of Mull and Iona Abbey day trip
Oban / Mull / Iona
Take the CalMac ferry from Oban to Craignure on Mull (about 45-50 min, ~£4-5 as a foot passenger) and connect with the local bus down to Fionnphort (or join a small-group Mull & Iona day tour from Oban, ~£60-70). Cross the short passenger ferry to Iona (~£4 return) and explore Iona Abbey and the Reilig Odhrain burial ground of early Scottish kings. If weather allows, add the Staffa boat trip from Fionnphort to see Fingal's Cave (~£35-45). Return to Oban for the evening.
🚌CalMac ferry Oban-Craignure + local bus + Iona passenger ferry (~£15-20 total)
🛏Oban hostel or guesthouse
- →CalMac ferry to Mull
- →Iona Abbey and ancient burial grounds
- →Optional Staffa boat trip to Fingal's Cave (~£40)
Glencoe, Fort William and on to Balmacara
Glencoe / Fort William / Balmacara
Catch the early Citylink coach from Oban to Glencoe (~£10, 1h15) — ask the driver to drop at the Glencoe visitor centre or the Glencoe crossroads. Walk a short stretch of the glen trail for those dramatic views, then continue by coach to Fort William (~£8), where you can see Ben Nevis from the High Street. Carry on north to Balmacara/Kyle of Lochalsh (~£15), a quiet base for Kyle and Eilean Donan. Evening pub meal at a local inn.
🚌Citylink coaches Oban to Glencoe to Fort William to Kyle of Lochalsh (~£30 total)
🛏Balmacara or Kyle of Lochalsh guesthouse/hostel (dorm ~£28-35, private ~£70-90)
- →Glencoe valley walk
- →Ben Nevis viewpoint, Fort William
- →Evening at a local inn in Balmacara
Isle of Skye: Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing
Isle of Skye / Balmacara
Take the local bus or train across the Skye Bridge to Broadford or Portree (Stagecoach 917/55, ~£8-12), then use the local Skye bus network or book a small-group Trotternish day tour (~£45-60 from Portree) to hit the Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing. Both are 1-2 hour uphill walks on uneven ground — bring waterproofs. Return to Balmacara by late bus or train.
🚌Stagecoach bus/train to Skye + local Skye buses (~£18-25)
🛏Balmacara or Kyle of Lochalsh guesthouse/hostel
- →Old Man of Storr walk
- →The Quiraing hill walk
- →Optional Kilt Rock viewpoint
Eilean Donan Castle and Loch Ness to Inverness
Kyle of Lochalsh / Loch Ness / Inverness
Walk or take the short local bus to Eilean Donan Castle first thing and pay the ~£12-13 entry (worth it before the tour coaches arrive). Then take the Citylink coach along Loch Duich and the Five Sisters of Kintail north to Inverness via Loch Ness (~£18-22), stopping at Drumnadrochit if you want a loch-side wander. Settle into an Inverness hostel and eat on the riverside.
🚌Local bus + Citylink coach Kyle to Inverness via Loch Ness (~£25)
🛏Inverness hostel or guesthouse (dorm ~£25-32, private ~£65-85)
- →Eilean Donan Castle (~£13)
- →Loch Ness viewpoints
- →Inverness riverside evening
North to John o'Groats and ferry to Orkney
Inverness / John o'Groats / Kirkwall
Take the train or coach from Inverness up the east coast to Wick/Thurso (~£13-18, book ScotRail in advance for cheaper fares), then the local bus to John o'Groats for the iconic signpost photo. Cross the Pentland Firth on the passenger ferry to Burwick (or foot passenger on the Gills Bay route, ~£18-22), then bus to Kirkwall. In the evening see the red sandstone St Magnus Cathedral lit up.
🚌Train/coach Inverness to Thurso/Wick + bus to John o'Groats + Pentland ferry + Orkney bus (~£45)
🛏Kirkwall hostel or guesthouse (dorm ~£25-30, private ~£70-85)
- →John o'Groats signpost
- →Pentland Firth ferry crossing
- →St Magnus Cathedral in the evening
Orkney's Neolithic heart: Skara Brae, Maeshowe and the stone circles
Orkney Mainland
Book the official Historic Environment Scotland tour of Maeshowe in advance (~£12-14, it sells out) and take the local bus or the Orkney hop-on sightseeing bus out to Skara Brae (~£12 entry, combined ticket options available). Walk between the Ring of Brodgar and the Standing Stones of Stenness — they're close together and free. Optionally add the Italian Chapel on Lamb Holm if you have a car-share or taxi.
🚌Local Orkney buses (~£8-10)
🛏Kirkwall hostel or guesthouse
- →Skara Brae (~£12)
- →Maeshowe chambered tomb tour (~£13)
- →Ring of Brodgar and Stones of Stenness
- →Italian Chapel (optional)
Ferry back to the mainland and up to Ullapool
Stromness / Ullapool
Take the local bus to Stromness and the NorthLink ferry across to Scrabster (~£20-24 foot passenger), then bus/train to Inverness and the Citylink coach up the west coast to Ullapool (~£20-25). This is a long travel day — bring snacks. If time allows, detour to Ardvreck Castle on a later day trip. Arrive in Ullapool for a loch-side pint.
🚌Orkney bus + NorthLink ferry + bus/train + Citylink coach (~£50)
🛏Ullapool hostel or guesthouse (dorm ~£26-32, private ~£70-90)
- →NorthLink ferry across the Pentland Firth
- →Views of Ben Loyal and Ben Hope
- →Ullapool harbour evening
Ullapool: Summer Isles and free day
Ullapool
Slow morning, then choose your own adventure: the Summer Isles cruise from Ullapool harbour (~£30-40, 2-2.5 hrs, watch for dolphins and sea eagles), a 2-hour walk up Ullapool Hill for views over Loch Broom, or the Ceilidh Place bookshop and craft shops. In the evening try the Seafood Shack on the pier and catch live folk music in a pub.
🚌On foot
🛏Ullapool hostel or guesthouse
- →Summer Isles boat cruise (~£35)
- →Ullapool Hill walk
- →Seafood Shack dinner and live music
Ferry to Stornoway and the Butt of Lewis
Ullapool / Stornoway / Isle of Lewis
Take the morning CalMac ferry from Ullapool to Stornoway (~2h45, ~£15-18 foot passenger, book ahead in summer). Pick up a local bus map at the ferry terminal, then head out to the Butt of Lewis lighthouse and its wild cliffs (bus W1/W2 or a shared taxi). Wander the harbour and pick up supplies — Lewis shops close early on Sundays. Evening in Stornoway's pubs.
🚌CalMac ferry Ullapool-Stornoway + local Western Isles buses (~£25)
🛏Stornoway hostel or guesthouse (dorm ~£26-32, private ~£75-95)
- →CalMac crossing to Stornoway
- →Butt of Lewis lighthouse and cliffs
- →Stornoway harbour
Lewis: Arnol Blackhouse, Dun Carloway and the Calanais Stones
Isle of Lewis
Join a small-group Lewis day tour from Stornoway (~£50-65) or use the local buses if you're confident with timetables. Highlights: the Arnol Blackhouse (Historic Environment Scotland, ~£8), the Iron Age broch at Dun Carloway, and the Calanais Standing Stones — the standout prehistoric site of the trip, free and open access. Coastal scenery en route is the real star.
🚌Local buses or small-group day tour (~£50) — self-drive also very viable here if you rent
🛏Stornoway hostel or guesthouse
- →Arnol Blackhouse (~£8)
- →Dun Carloway broch
- →Calanais Standing Stones
Harris beaches and ferry to Skye
Isle of Harris / Portree
Take the local bus south to Harris (or the W10 down the island) and spend time on Luskentyre Beach — genuinely one of the world's great beaches, with turquoise water and white sand (pack a picnic if the weather plays ball). Then continue to Tarbert and take the CalMac ferry to Uig on Skye (~£8-10 foot passenger, 1h40), followed by the local bus to Portree (~£5). Settle in for two nights.
🚌Western Isles bus + CalMac Tarbert-Uig ferry + Skye bus (~£25)
🛏Portree hostel or guesthouse (dorm ~£28-35, private ~£80-100)
- →Luskentyre Beach
- →Harris landscape drive/bus
- →CalMac ferry to Skye
Skye: Quiraing, Kilt Rock or Loch Coruisk
Isle of Skye / Portree
Free day on Skye. Either re-walk the Quiraing with more time, join a boat trip from Elgol to Loch Coruisk beneath the Cuillin (~£35-45), or take the local bus to Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls. Seafood dinner in Portree — the Scorrybreac or a chippy on the harbour both work. Book tomorrow's coach back to Edinburgh tonight.
🚌Local Skye buses / tour pickup (~£10-15)
🛏Portree hostel or guesthouse
- →Quiraing or Old Man of Storr walk
- →Loch Coruisk boat trip from Elgol (~£40)
- →Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls
- →Portree seafood dinner
Skye Bridge, Glencoe and back to Edinburgh
Portree / Edinburgh
Take the Scottish Citylink 917 coach from Portree all the way to Glasgow or Edinburgh (~7-8 hrs, ~£35-45 booked in advance) — it crosses the Skye Bridge, passes Eilean Donan, runs through Glencoe and past Ben Nevis, so you get the farewell scenery for free from a window seat. Arrive in Edinburgh in the evening.
🚌Citylink coach Portree to Edinburgh (~£40)
🛏Not included — Edinburgh hostel from ~£25 if you're staying on
- →Skye Bridge crossing
- →Eilean Donan and Glencoe views from the coach
- →Arrive Edinburgh
Self-launched vs. On The Go Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | On The Go Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,415 | £3,770 |
| Duration | 14 days | 14 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,355 per person (62%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more On The Go Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,415
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 Self-Launched Scottish Islands Grand Tour - 14 Days cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,415 per person for 14 days in 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 On The Go Tours?+
Yes — On The Go Tours charges around £3,770 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,415 — a saving of roughly £2,355 (62%) per person.
How long is the Scotland trip?+
This itinerary runs 14 days, covering 14 day-by-day stops through 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, culture, hiking trip through 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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