Pick one island and one side. South Harris for the west-coast beaches and a lunch, or Lewis for the west side and Callanish. Trying to do both in the hours the aircraft gives you is how the day turns into a dash.
Inverness to Stornoway is about 45 to 50 minutes. The Ullapool ferry and the drive to it eat a full touring day before you see a beach.
On the ground
- Vehicle on the island for the ground time. Soft bags in the aircraft; hard cases stay with the car.
- Harris: Luskentyre or Seilebost, a slow lunch, and the road over the Golden Road only if time and weather allow.
- Lewis: Callanish standing stones and the west side, or Stornoway if you want the town and the castle grounds.
- Landing is at an established strip or a town. We do not put down on machair or crofting ground for a photograph.
What we do not do
We do not land on a Harris beach, on machair, or on crofting common grazings. Community land in the Hebrides is not a private helipad. We land at Stornoway or an agreed strip and drive.
If the aircraft cannot fly
Weathered off, the day becomes Inverness to Ullapool and the CalMac crossing to Stornoway, which is a long day and a different shape. We say so up front rather than pretending the helicopter always flies.
Luggage: one soft bag each in the aircraft. Suitcases travel in the car. The charter is arranged through a licensed operator; we do not fly the helicopter. Arrangement of the aircraft, boat and any tickets carries a 10% + VAT concierge booking fee on those third-party costs. Our touring chauffeur and vehicle are quoted separately.
More on the ground: Outer Hebrides guide.
Ask about this day
Send dates, passenger count, hotel in Inverness or nearby, and whether you want a guide in the aircraft as well as the car on the ground. Prices on request.
Other helicopter days
Frequently asked questions
Harris or Lewis?
One of them. South Harris if you want the beaches. Lewis if you want Callanish and the west side. We can look at both from the air on the way in; on the ground we pick one and stay with it.
Can the helicopter land on the beach?
No. Machair and crofting land are not available as a private pad. We land at Stornoway or another agreed strip and drive to the shore.
How do you handle luggage?
One soft overnight bag each can travel in the aircraft. Suitcases go in the Mercedes, which either waits or repositions. That is the same rule on every helicopter day.