Upcoming tours
to promote the Scottish Islands
Hebridean, Shetland & Orkney Isles
& Off the beaten track & coastal Scotland
with a discounted per person & further reduced student price
on blue calendar days
(ideal for individual travellers & their friends to join our scheduled tours)
These are special tours on selected “blue” days with a per person price to also suit individual travellers to join our tours
(without the need to book a private & small group tour)
Early booking & student discounts available
Off-the beaten track best of Scotland,
but away from all the tourist crowds
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Scotland with its bens, lochs & glens has over 30,000 beautiful freshwater lochs and a stunning landscape. READ MOREScotland’s stunningly wild coastline – which due to its heavily indented Westcoast with long promontories, many peninsulas & fjordlike sealochs is over 10000 miles/16500 kms long – this includes the coastline of its stunning 800 islands. The Shetland Isles alone have a coastline of 2700 kms/1600 miles as you are no-where more than 3 miles from the sea & with every twist & bend along the road, entirely new spectacular coastal views – beaches, cliffs, islands, fjords open up. Over 70 islands are connected by ferry – primarily the 3 island archipelagos – Shetland, Orkney & the Outer, Inner & Southern Hebrides & Unicorn Tours offers tours to them all. The coastline of each of Scotland’s 12 largest islands – Lewis & Harris, mainland Shetland, Skye, Mull, Islay, mainland Orkney, Arran, Jura, S. Uist, N. Uist, Yell/Shetland & Hoy/Orkney – is longer than that of some entire European coastal countries. At Coast, sea Highlands & Islands – Unicorn Tours throughout all of Scotland we are keen to show you the many highlights of each Scottish region from its rugged stunning Northwest Highlands – Europe’s last wilderness – to the many pristine, absolute spectacular Scottish islands Scotland’s its 100s of glorious golden beaches which you can have to yourself, towering seabird cliffs and offer tours along the entire coastline from Galloway, Ayrshire, Argyll, Kintyre up along the entire West, North & Eastcoast. Loch Ness alone due to its depth in the Great Glen contains more water than all of the lakes & rivers of England & Wales combined. At Coast, sea Highlands & Islands – Unicorn Tours throughout all of Scotland we are keen to also show you Scotland’s seascape. Scotland is a country full of adventures and has something to offer to everyone (nature, history, culture, music, entertainment, castles, wildlife, whisky, walking, activities, golf & many more special interests Our Scottish islands & off the beaten track & private & small group tours of Scotland give you a true chance to get away from it all reconnect with nature away from all the many big tourist crowds, to explore, discover & experience where Scotland is at its best. |
Summary – multi-day tours
Summary of all (1 – 7 days) Scottish Islands & off the beaten track – tours with a per person price – on blue calendar days
Departure points for Scottish islands & off the beaten track special tours
Detailed summary of all (1 – 7 days)
Scottish Islands & off the beaten track
– tours with a per person price –
on blue calendar days
Isle of Mull, Iona & the wild & stunningly beautiful Ardnamurchan & West Highland peninsulas- Fri 03rd – Sun 05th May 2024 – 3 day tour – price per person £119 (less any early booking/student discounts) + ferries £6.95 + you choose your hotel/B&B or opt in to our pre-booked Tobermory hostel = £25 pppn
SHETLAND ISLES – 2700 kms of spectacular coastline to explore – a coastal paradise – active spectacular, wildlife, nature – Viking explorer & deep down cliffs – 17 hours+ daylight – May is great for nature, wildlife & seabird viewing – Wed 08th May – Tue 14th May 24 – 7 days tour – 5 full days on Shetland – £159 per person – (flexi-option to join our tour on Shetland just on 4, 3, 2 or 1 days on Shetland) – hotel/B&B or hostel accom. of your choice or opt in to our prebooked hostel accommodation
(Tour joining option – on the Shetland Isles only 4 – or less – days instead of 7 day tour) Shetland Isles – 5 day tour joining option (also start/finish in Aberdeen the lesser days rate applies, even though incl. the ferries it makes it a 7 day trip for you) – Thu 09 – Mon 13 May 2024
Isle of May, puffin & seabird colony – landing cruise – island cliff top walking & wildlife tour – seabirds (incl. puffins) breeding colony – via picturesque Anstruther harbour & beach in Fife – Sat 01 June 2024
ISLE of ARRAN – 1 day – Sat 08 Jun 24 – price per person £39 + ferry £8.40
Mini-bus transport to Orkney oneway – Thu 20th June 2024
Mini-bus transport from Orkney to Shetland on the overnight ferry: Tue 25/Wed 26 June 2024
Mini-bus transport from Shetland after the arrival of the overnight 02/03 July ferry into Aberdeen – southbound transport on the morning of Wed 03 July 2024
Hebridean islands’ & golden summer beaches paradise – Berneray via the Uists to Eriskay + Harris excursion + Barra excursion – Thu 18 – Sun 21 July 2024 (Eriskay – South Uist – Benbecula – Grimsay – North Uist – Berneray)
Castle Stalker, Oban, the Westcoast & the Highlands – Sat 17 Aug 2024
Ardnamurchan & the spectacular West Highland peninsulas (Moidart, Sunart, Morvern & Ardgour) – via the Isle of Mull (overnight in Tobermory) – with beaches, lighthouses, castles, wildlife & much more – 2 day tour – Mon 19 Aug & Tue 20 Aug 2024
Isle of Arran – 1 day tour – Wed 02 Oct 24 – £29 per person + ferry £8.40 return pp
Glenfinnan’s “Harry Potter viaduct” & Lochaber’s stunning Westcoast – via the Trossachs, Glencoe, Kinlochleven & the spectacular Corran ferry – Mon 07 Oct 24
ENCHANTED FOREST & HIGHLAND PERTHSHIRE – GOLDEN AUTUMN – BIG TREE COUNTRY – 1 day – tour price pp £35 + £26 for the Enchanted forest entrance – 03 Oct 24 – 03 Nov 24
Highland Perthshire – bens, lochs & glens – Dunkeld, Golden autumn colours – Big Tree Highland Perthshire – Pitlochry, Loch Tay & Loch Earn – Mon 28 Oct 24
The Borders, historic market towns, rugged coastline, abbeys (& optional Great Tapestry of Scotland or Sir Walter Scott’s Abbotsford house visit) – Tue 05 Nov 24
East Lothian’s glorious beach walk via Yellowcraig beach with views of Fidra island – WALK (with transport from Stirling) – Wed 13 Nov 24
Ayrshire coast, beaches, walks, Culzean castle country country park & Robert Burns’ birthplace museum -Tue 19 Nov 24
Puck’s glen waterfall walk & ARGYLL’S SECRET COAST, DUNOON & THE COWAL PENINSULA – return via Loch Lomond – 1 day – Wed 27 Nov 24 – walking tour/price per person £19 + oneway ferry Gourock/Inverclyde to Dunoon/Cowal £5.30
Great Cumbrae Island & the Inverclyde coast – 1 day tour -Sun 01 Dec 24
Edinburgh Zoo – from Stirling & the University – A2B transport to airports & further beyond in Scotland -Tue 03 Dec 24
The Burrell Collection – from Stirling & the University – A2B transport to airports & further beyond in Scotland – Wed 11 Dec 24
CAIRNGORMS NATIONALPARK & (with hopefully some) WINTER SNOW via Highland Perthshire- 1 day – Tue 28 Jan 25
Dunnottar castle & the spectacular Aberdeenshire & Angus Northeast coast, cliffs, beaches, castles, nature, wildlife, land- & seascapes – Thu 30 Jan 2025
Falls of Clyde waterfalls – national nature reserve – Walk (with transport from Stirling) & optional New Lanark visit – Mon 03 Feb 25
ISLE OF BUTE, ARGYLL’s SECRET COAST & LOCH LOMOND – 1 day – Wed 05 Feb 2025
ST. ABBS HEAD NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE spectacular coastal & cliff top walk & visit of Coldingham & more beaches – Walk – with transport from Stirling – 1 day – Fri 07 Feb 2025
OBAN, WESTCOAST, GLENCOE & HIGHLANDS – 1 day – Sat 15 Feb 2025
LOCH NESS, GLENCOE, GLENFINNAN “Harry Potter bridge”, the GREAT GLEN & HIGHLANDS – 1 day – Sun 16 Feb 2025
Angus coastal cliff top – walk (with transport from Stirling) with beaches & natural rock arches -Tue 18 Feb 2025
Bamburgh castle (the last kingdom), Holy Island/Lindisfarne (tide-dependent) south of & via the Golden East Lothian coast & the Scottish Borders – Wed 19 Feb 2025
Isle of Mull via Oban & the Westcoast – Sat 22 – Sun 23 Feb 2025 – 2 day tour – £55 pp (less any early booking & student discounts) + £7.80 ferry + accommodation
Wild & spectacular Northwestern Highlands via Inverness – Sat 01 March – Mon 03 March 2025 (co-inciding with the mid-semester break @ Stirling Uni) – 3 day tour
Isle of Mull & Iona via Oban & the Westcoast – Fri 07 – Sun 09 March 2025 (coinciding with the mid-semester break at Stirling Uni)
Loch Lomond 1/2 day tour – optional scenic waterbus for £14 extra past the islands – from Stirling & the Uni – Mon 24 Mar 2025
If there are no “Scottish Islands & off the beaten track tours”
(with a per person price to suit budget, student & individual travellers)
on your free days or to your preferred destination –
please feel free to contact us to arrange
a private & small group tour for up to 8 of your friends
- Guaranteed Stirling/Uni/Edinburgh/Glasgow area & additional pick up/drop off locations
- Tour location specific pick ups, i.e. on Shetland tours we will pick up from Aberdeen & anywhere on the Shetland Isles – on Orkney tours we will pick up from anywhere on the Orkney Isles – on Hebridean tours we will also pick up from any ferry port or from within the respective island or island chain, i.e. Mull, Skye, Lewis & Harris, the Uists, Barra, Islay & Jura, Arran, etc. – likewise on North, Westcoast or Borders & Galloway tours we will also pick up and drop off there.
- Ideal for individuals, couples or 3 – 8 friends travelling together, as you pay a per person price
Pick up/drop off locations are tour locations & route specific, but usually include:
- Outside your house/accommodation
- Stirling/Uni/area guaranteed
- Places along the route guaranteed
- Additional pick up/drop off locations on request,
often from Edinburgh, Glasgow, St. Andrews & Dundee - Please check with us, if in doubt contact@unicorntours.co.uk
Small group Highlands & Islands adventure Tours
Discover off the beaten track, wild Scotland beyond the guidebook. Explore the finest routes and travel back-roads, where larger coaches won’t go.
10 reasons why to travel with us:
1. Personalised, tailor & custom made, as this is YOUR tour
2. We listen to your priorities, must-see places & accommodate your hobbies & interests
3. Flexible in every way to maximise your experience and you set the pace
4. Comfortable in modern mini-bus, best for groups of up to 8
5. We travel to spectacular locations beyond the guidebook, off the beaten track, where larger coaches can’t go
6. We pick you up from and drop you off at your location
7. Accommodation – any B&B, hostel or hotel – you chose your budget
8 We are multi-lingual & welcome our customers come from all over the world
9. Central Scotland based since 1996
10. We show you ALL of Scotland, incl. all the hidden places, where large coach tours won’t go
During the low season, which also happens to coincide with the autumn and spring semester of the Scottish Universities, we are not so busy and have more availability for our small group (maximum 8 passengers) mini-bus and driver/guide and it is then, especially on weekend dates or during holiday/mid-semester periods, when students are off, that we offer further discounted off-peak special tours, where we offer a price per person based on a minimum number to guarantee the tour departure. For those tours, we also guarantee pre-booked accommodation, but offer you the choice to opt out of it on our multi-day tours. While these tours will always pick up in the Stirling area, we will pick up throughout Scotland
We offer:
* Short local highlights (1/3, 1/2, 2/3 and full day tours)
* 1 and 2 day tours
* 3 day and longer tours
* We offer 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 day etc. tours – check further below for more info
during which we get you to Scotland’s remotest corners, including the Northwest Highlands and Western or Northern Isles.
You state your accommodation preference (hostel, B&B or hotel) and will email you suggestions. We take you there with all over Scotland.
Pick up / drop off from almost anywhere incl. from Stirling, Dundee & St. Andrews Uni, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Scottish airports, cruise- & ferry ports, etc. We take you to the best places. Relax, de-stress and forget all your worries in stunning and peaceful surroundings.
Easy – if you book today – we are flexible and take you on a tour tomorrow(subject to availability and we suggest to book early if you can).
Timings for prices start from pick up location and end at drop off location and exclude entrance fees, accommodation, food, drinks and ferries.
We offer something for everyone, spectacular landscapes, bens, lochs & glens, islands, beaches, cliffs & coast; nature & wildlife galore; historic towns, castles, standing stones & ancient monuments; whisky; culture from Outlander to Harry Potter and a lot more.
On our 50+ different tours, we cover the whole length & breadth of Scotland, the entire West, North & East coast & beyond – we are specialists for all of Scotland’s off the beaten track places, the Northcoast 500 route, Europe’s last wilderness & go everywhere from the beaches at the Mull of Kintyre or Galloway and across the border to Bamburgh castle in the South, all the way to the unique cliffs & prehistoric sites of the Shetland & Orkney islands in the North – to the Inner Hebrides – Mull, Iona, Skye, etc. & to a magical world apart on the Outer Hebrides – Lewis, Harris, the Uists, Barra, etc., stone circles, island hopping, wildlife, glorious beaches & nature galore.
During the semester speak to us on Thursdays in the Atrium about Highland tours (Unicorn Tours) and all your other travel needs (Unicorn Travel)
We have a good discussion with you in advance to find out exactly what you wish to get out and take away from the trip. We cater for all interests, including sightseeing, history, castles, nature, wildlife and any activities you chose which could include taking you on some of the most stunning or scenic short walks, showing you the most beautiful wildest and remotest mountains, beaches, visiting some islands etc.
* We offer 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 day etc. tours
If on a Friday your work/last lecture finishes at 3 pm and you are looking to get away for a full weekend tour, we can of course pick you up at 3.15 pm and you would just pay for two and 1/3 days, giving you a head start and by Friday night you could already be watching a Westcoast sunset or be chilling out at your Highland accommodation enjoying the stunning scenery. By opting for a one and 1/3, 1.5, one and 2/3, 2 and 1/3, 2.5, two and 2/3, three and 1/3, 3.5 days tour or so forth we will be able to show you more places at a reduced rate, offer you a greater experience and you are able to include highlights of a longer tour, that otherwise you would be unable to see. If for instance you have Sunday off and only need to be back on Monday at 12 noon, we offer you a one and 1/3 day tour and rate and so forth.
If you do have any questions, just ask and we will be happy to help.
Prices
. Prices are per person.
. We require a minimum paid participant numbers to guarantee the running of the tour.
. Often the tours are during low season and heavily discounted and also offer you an early booking discount.
. On the multi-day tours, there is usually also an additional discount, if 2, 3 or more friends book the tour together.
. Each tour is unique and some are shorter and longer, low or peak season and if you check the note for each special tour, you will see a price for the tour right on the top.
. Additional information about any possible extras, such as accommodation, ferries, entrance fee is also explained in each special tour itinerary..