My recommended ways to explore the Scottish west coast in Wester Ross, Skye, Lewis and HarrisRecently I went on a trip around Wester Ross, Skye, Harris and Lewis as part of a partnership to promote the #WestCoastWaters Campaign. The aim of my trip was firstly to explore the road less travelled and I previously wrote a blog post with details of how I tried to achieve this on a west coast Scotland road trip. The second aim was to find ways of slowing down and immersing my senses in the coastal landscape. This involved trying out a number of water and coastal themed activities including sea kayaking, pony trekking, boat trips, wildlife watching, coastal walks and eating ALL the seafood! I've put together a list of 15 activities that are readily available in the areas I visited and but they are also available throughout the west coast in general. It is not a definitive list and I've added a few more options at the bottom but these suggestions should be enough to give you plenty of ideas to create your own unique Scottish west coast adventure. These are my recommendations and you can just skip to the sections you are most interested in to find out more details on the activities and providers in Wester Ross, Skye, Lewis and Harris. 1. VISIT THE BEACH 2. GO FOR A COASTAL WALK 3. TAKE A BOAT TRIP 4. GO ISLAND HOPPING BY FERRY 5. EXPLORE BY SEA KAYAK OR CANOE 6. FOLLOW THE HEBRIDEAN WHALE TRAIL 7. GO WILDLIFE SPOTTING 8. GO PONY TREKKING ALONG THE BEACH 9. TRY STAND UP PADDLE BOARDING 10. CATCH SOME WAVES ON A SURFBOARD 11. TASTE THE CATCH OF THE DAY 12. SAMPLE THE LOCAL DRINK ON A TOUR 13. STROLL THROUGH A COASTAL GARDEN 14. TAKE PART IN A BEACH CLEAN 15. CATCH A WEST COAST SUNSET 1. VISIT THE BEACH  Taking a trip to one of Scotland's stunning west coast beaches is the easiest way for anyone to enjoy the coast and it is absolutely free. Whether you want to feel the sand between your toes, build a castle, do some beach-combing or even go for a paddle, the areas featured in this blog have some of the best beaches in Scotland to choose from. The best part - they are never crowded! These are some of my favourites beaches in the area but there are plenty more to choose from -
2. GO FOR A COASTAL WALK  Another free and easy way to enjoy the west coast of Scotland is to follow one of the many coastal walking trails. There are loads of options for all levels of abilities and far too many to mention here. Personally I find the Walkhighlands website to be an excellent resource, not just for coastal routes but walks all over Scotland. However, here are a few suggestions of my own -
3. TAKE A BOAT TRIP  Looking at the water from the land is one thing but looking at the land from the water gives you a whole new perspective. Boat trips are a great way to view the Scottish scenery or to get a close up experience with some of the marine wildlife that lives around the coast. Sea stacks, secluded bays and even uninhabited islands can all be accessed by the many boat trips that leave from the west coast. Here are few of my recommended boat trips in the area -
4. GO ISLAND HOPPING BY FERRY  With so many Scottish west coast islands to visit, it would be a shame not to include any on a trip to this part of the country. I love a bit of island hopping, and for me, the excitement always starts with the ferry journey. CalMac is the main ferry operator on the west coast and they offer many island hopping possibilities. On my most recent road trip I took the CalMac ferry from Uig on Skye to Tarbert on Harris and then Stornoway on Lewis to Ullapool on the main land. During my journeys I spotted dolphins and porpoise, enjoyed local produce in their restaurant and watched the world go by from the comfort of panoramic windows or from out on the deck. Although I drove across the Skye bridge from Plockton, another option would be to take the Calmac ferry from Mallaig which involves a stunning drive along the 'Road to the Isles'. Once on Skye, you can also take a CalMac ferry to the neighbouring island of Raasaay or over to North Uist. From the Isle of Harris you can also travel to the island of Berneray which means there are all sorts of journey possibilities with CalMac. However, there are also some independent ferry options like the small community ferry that runs from Ardmair Jetty near Ullapool to the uninhabited Isle Martin. Another fun way to reach the Isle of Skye is via Glenelg and the last manually operated turntable ferry in the world. The last time I was touring the west coast of Scotland this is the ferry I travelled on and it was a unique way to reach my destination on Skye. You might also like to read my recommended things to do on the isle of Lewis 5. EXPLORE BY SEA KAYAK OR CANOE  On my recent trip to Plockton I explored the surrounding waters with Sea Kayak Plockton. Although this was my first time out in a sea kayak, I had previously explored different Scottish lochs in a Canadian Canoe and I love the freedom that both modes of transport offer. Not only do you get a different view of an area, the closeness of the water and having to work with the elements offers a totally immersive experience. Unreachable places suddenly become reachable and wildlife encounters are more common as you quietly manoeuvre along the coast. Sea Kayak Plockton is the only provider I've been out with in this area and I can't recommend them enough but there are a few others to choose from -
6. FOLLOW THE HEBRIDEAN WHALE TRAIL  The Hebridean Whale Trail is a list of over 30 sites on the west coast of Scotland that have been identified as good for spotting whales, dolphins and porpoises or have a connection to whaling history. Wester Ross, Skye, Lewis and Harris all feature and although there are many more locations where you can spot these marine mammals, their list gives you a starting point. Developed by the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, the trail also offers the possibility of seeing basking sharks, seals and other wildlife. Of course wildlife sightings of any kind are never guaranteed and patience is often required so packing some lunch and being prepared to sit for a while is a good idea, don't forget your binoculars and camera too! The Hebridean Whale Trail website has a map with detailed information of each location which will help to increase your chances of seeing these magnificent creatures. I've been lucky enough to see some of these marine mammals for myself in these areas so it is definitely possible that you will too. 7. GO WILDLIFE SPOTTING  The Hebridean Whale Trail is a good starting guide but there are lots of other wildlife spotting opportunities around the west coast. As mentioned previously there are dedicated boat tours and any walk along the coast can be rewarded with a sighting of the many creatures that live around the Scottish shores. Rockpooling is a fun activity for all ages and gives you a glimpse of the rich underwater west coast landscape and the weird wildlife that inhabits it. When the tide is out, head to a rocky shoreline and have a look in the small pools for crabs, anemones, limpets and even starfish. Look to the skies and you might be lucky enough to spot a white-tailed eagle, also known as a sea-eagle. These massive birds of prey are the largest in the UK and the fourth largest eagle in the world. Previously hunted to extinction, they were reintroduced on the Scottish west coast and are now an increasingly common sight. Common and grey seals can be frequently seen basking on rocks or look for their heads popping out the water. Otters are shy creatures but they can still be spotted regularly foraging along the west coast. Seabirds can be seen in abundance, from waders on the shoreline to gannets diving from the sky. During nesting season, the cliff ledges are alive with breeding birds and the sight (and smell) can be overwhelming! Many visitors to Scotland go in search of puffins and although these areas are not the best places to look, you are pretty much guaranteed to see them in abundance on a trip to the Treshnish Isles on the west coast from April to August. Boat tours leave from the Isle of Mull. These are just some of the more common wildlife encounters along the west coast but keep your eyes open and you never know what else you might see. 8. GO PONY TREKKING ALONG THE BEACH  I frequently get asked by visitors for pony trekking and horse riding options in Scotland. Although it is not as widely available as other outdoor activities, there are quite a few riding schools that offer guided treks for different abilities on the west coast. I've always had this romantic notion of riding along the beach with the horse splashing through the sea. Recently I was able to fulfil this dream on the Isle of Lewis on a 2 hour excursion with Traigh Mhor Pony Trekking. Experiencing the stunning landscape of Traigh Mhor Beach from horseback is a special experience and one I highly recommend. I've not personally been out with any other providers in the area but Gairloch Trekking Centre and the Isle of Skye Trekking Centre both offer local guided riding excursions. 9. TRY STAND UP PADDLE BOARDING  Photo Credit - Oscar McBurney Stand Up Paddle Boarding (or SUP) has grown in popularity in Scotland over the last few years and it provides another way of gaining a unique perspective of the Scottish coast and waters. I've not personally tried it yet but I was quite excited to read that Scotland SUP Co. offer a paddling tour around Eilean Donan Castle which sounds amazing. They also offer other SUP sessions in the Wester Ross and Isle of Skye area. Another option in Wester Ross is Paddle Surf Scotland who run trips from Gairloch. On the Isle of Lewis and the Isle of Harris, Surf Lewis offer 2 hour SUP lessons with all equipment provided. Hebrides Dance & Wellbeing Studio run Stand Up Paddle Boarding Yoga sessions which are a completely unique way to experience the beautiful Hebridean seascape. 10. CATCH SOME WAVES ON A SURFBOARD  Surfing is not an activity that is normally associated with Scotland but the west coast in particular has some excellent locations for catching some waves. Although I didn't photograph the surfers in action, the beach above on the Isle of Lewis was busy with surfers during one of my visits. They were all out having lessons with SurfLewis and looked like they were having great fun. If you are looking for a more adrenaline fuelled water activity then surfing in Scotland might just be for you! Other popular surfing spots on the west coast include the Isle of Tiree and Machrihanish in Kintyre. 11. TASTE THE CATCH OF THE DAY  The seafood in Scotland is among the best in the world. It features heavily on Scottish menus and the locally landed catch of the day is as fresh as you can get. Personally, I think there is no better way to enjoy seafood than eating it next to the very waters it has come from. Luckily on the west coast, finding local seafood is rarely an issue. I'm always amazed by the diverse ways that the catch of the day is served. I've tried everything from simply cooked fish with minimal fuss to delicious curries and fancy, flavoursome creations. Seafood street food from snack vans that offer healthier takeaway options are becoming more common too and of course, classic fish and chips (fish supper) eaten at the seaside is always a favourite. These are all seafood places that I've eaten at in the area and can recommend -
12. SAMPLE THE LOCAL DRINK ON A TOUR  Although seafood is the obvious bounty that the Scottish waters provide, the water itself is also a main ingredient in some of our finest alcoholic drinks including whisky, gin and local craft beer. Sampling the local beverage is an enjoyable holiday treat but buying a bottle to take home can also make a nice souvenir or an ideal gift. Even if you are not interested in tasting the regional drink options, many places also offer tours and it is still interesting to learn about the process and how local ingredients are combined to create the finished product. Some of the notable distilleries and breweries in this region which offer tours include -
13. STROLL THROUGH A COASTAL GARDEN  You might not associate the Scottish coast with exotic and colourful gardens but thanks to the high rainfall and warm temperate climate from the Gulf Stream, tender specimen trees and shrubs thrive. If you fancy a change of scenery, a trip to one of these gardens will provide a quiet escape for an hour or two -
14. TAKE PART IN A BEACH CLEAN  As stunning as the west coast of Scotland is, unfortunately it doesn't escape the plastic and fishing debris that has become a major problem across the planet. Not only is this debris unsightly, it is also extremely harmful to wildlife. There are no easy solutions to the problem but there are small actions we can all take to help make a bigger difference. Personally I always carry an empty bag with me when I visit the beach and fill it with any rubbish that I see. I then put what I can in the recycling if that is an option and the rest in the bin. If everyone that visited the beach did the same, it would have a much bigger impact. If you have some more time to spare then getting involved in an organised beach clean is a really positive thing to do. There are lots of regional beach clean groups which usually advertise locally and you can ask around to see if you can help them out for a couple of hours. The Marine Conservation Society holds regular beach cleaning events all over the country and you can search on their website to see if there are any happening in the area. 15. WATCH A WEST COAST SUNSET  West coast sunsets are the most spectacular in Scotland and after a busy day of activities, there is no better way to finish off the evening than watching the sun slowly sink behind the sea as the sky reveals an ever-changing display of colour. EVEN MORE COASTAL ACTIVITY IDEAS If you've worked your way through the list above and need even more inspiration what about trying coasteering, sailing, cruising, diving, snorkelling, fishing or cycling? Hopefully this long list has given you some fresh ideas of things you can do on your next Scotland west coast trip. Disclaimer - My trip was part of a business partnership to promote the West Coast Waters. However, as always, my blog post is based on my personal opinions and experience. The West Coast Waters 2020 Campaign is a partnership initiative and has received funding from the Visit Scotland Growth Fund - more information at https://www.westcoastwaters.co.uk/about PIN IT FOR LATER!
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