Western Isles/Hebrides

hello oh how I wish I was going with you. The highlands and islands of Scotland are always in my dreams. I cannot tell you your best plan but have done 4 trips to the west coast including Skye from which on a perfect day you can view Eigg and/orRhum that remains a magical image in my mind. My father was born on the isle of Scalpay but the year we decided to visit was too late for the ferries. Wherever you go you will never want to be anywhere else it is all they say it is..Stunning round every bend. Happy Holidays x

Go to Gigha ('God's Isle'). To Islay and Jura. To Barra, to Harris, to Lewis....oh you lucky, lucky thing! !

I wish I was going with you!

The first time we went to the Western Isles we did it the wrong way round - South to North - meaning that we rushed through Barra and Eriskey and were left with time on our hands in Stornoway. Best to go North to South and leave plenty time for Barra and Vattersay which are simply the best. Try to be in Castlebay to go to the Ceilidh in the pub on a Saturday night. You must not miss the Callanish Stone Circle, nor the airport in Barra, nor the Castle in the bay at Castlebay. Everyone has a different favourite beach - try them all. And learn a few Gaelic phrases - s'math sin - pronounced 'smashin' is easy to remember and as it means super, brilliant, great you will use it a lot!

Don't worry about the weather - last summer the Western Isles had the driest, sunniest record for the whole of Britain and if it does rain it usually fairs up again in half an hour. We will be in Castlebay early July this year with the DGC, DDs and Sons-out-law. 3rd year in a row, just love the place

Vatersay beach. Many blissful days spent there, Granny23. We were lucky enough to go over to Mingulay in a tiny boat, along with a vicar, his dog, 2 old ladies, and a film producer andhis little girl. He was going to see his artist wife (Julie Brooke), who had been living on the island for 6 weeks, so that he could bring her cat back, before the shepherds went on to Mingulay to bring the sheep off.....oh, the memories!!

Just reading your posts is making me more excited I've now also written away (in an email) to Visit Scotland for old fashioned brochures to pore over.

My in-laws lived on Mull for a couple of years after retiring and I thought Tobermory was about as close to heaven on earth as you could get! If you go to Mull, do try to get to Iona as well - a wonderful place. I feel you might have quite a few offers of bag carriers from present company!

I love Islay. We were there while they were filming Spring watch a few years ago, we had lovely weather.

I am very very biased. I would go to Skye, take the ferry from Uig across to Lochmaddy, North Uist. It is the most beautiful island with wonderful Machair, seas of aqua and turquoise blue. Amazing people and wildlife. A must for Bird watchers. from there you can travel down through other islands joined by causeways, even across to Eriskay. Going North you can go to Berneray, Prince Charles's favourite island. A ferry will take you to Harris and Lewis, BUT I would stay in North Uist, I go for 3 weeks every year and it is never enough time.

As said before I would go North to South if going to many islands. It just seems right that way - don't know why.

Have a lovely time, before you go listen to Runrig's music, a band whos music is influenced by the islands, landscape and people. A must. Oh and try the Calmac haddock in batter on the trip. Don't travel inside you may miss a whale or two or basking sharks, to say nothing of the dolphins and many sea birds.

The trip from Uig takes around an hour and fortyfive minutes. If you go via Oban to Lochboisdale it takes around 5 - 51/2 hours. The ferry they are using at the moment is an older ferry and quite quaint according to my friend who live on the island. Check it out. JEALOUS as we are not going this year, The first in 13 years except for 2011 when I had my op.

I have been twice; once to N. Uist and once to Barra, both very beautiful places and I would echo what everyone else has said. On Barra we travelled around the island by bus which happened to be the one taking the children home from school. They were all delivered to their front doors and meanwhile the driver filled us in with details of the history of the Island. My favourite beach on N.Uist is Hosta. The waves were tremendous, the sand dunes magnificent and the beach was almost deserted even though it was the height of the Summer.
I discovered the islands when following up my family history and felt a real affinity with them.
Have a lovely holiday. You can't fail to.

Grannyknot It sounds wonderful! I'm reading all the suggestions with interest. Fully intend to visit one day.

been a while since we were up that way, but brings back some lovely memories.

Hello Grannyknot. This is just a quicky because I just noticed your post and we are at this moment loading up our motorhome to head up north, the destination hopefully being the Outer Hebrides. We are leaving in the morning.

Done quite a bit of research and plan to go from Ullapool to Stornaway, travel south, spend time on Bara and Eriskay. I say hopefully, because we have a rather old dog and are waiting to see what weather is doing before we risk the ferry crossing. The alternatives are to travel further north when we arrive at Ullapool, or go across to Inverness and do a bit on the east coast. We have a long range weather forecast which says gales towards end of next week - just when we think we will be on the islands! Calanish standing stones and Blackhouse Museum on Lewis seem to be a must.

Also, please, please, if you have not discovered Peter May's novels set in Lewis, they are a must read before you go. The Blackhouse and The Lewis Man. His latest, The Chessmen is still in hardback and a bit expensive. The Tourist Information Office on Stornaway was very helpful when we phoned for info on camp sites.

Will try to post you, but not sure when I can get wifi after tomorrow morn.

Oh thanks crissy for the info, I'd be so interested to hear how you get on. Also for the books - will get them for husband and will score kudos for that (I'll also read them of course). Particularly because we usually "beef up" our knowledge by reading either history or fiction of a place before we go there.

Clachan Sands, Seals on Berneray, tiny pink shells on beaches on Berneray,
The Co-op at Sollas, Sollas Beach, The Crogary - a hill where you can sit and see all around N. Uist, Otters, Sea Eagles, Golden Eagles, corncrake, the best place to see them is Balranald RSPB Reserve. Often heard and not seen but one has stood on a rock by the reserve centre most years and craked. have a lovely holiday. Oh the library at Linaclet allows books to be borrowed in exchange for a fiver (refundable) or your local library card. Wonderful ladies.

Thanks so much everyone and keep them coming! Forgive my ignorance FOTW but to me Co-op means the shop that is 'good with food' you don't mean that, do you?

Just got back from a house swap with my brother in Mallaig - glorious hot sunny weather!
Don't bother driving to the most westerly Ardnamurchan Point, as its really not worth the trip = likewise , a day trip to Canna doesnt give you enough time there

But the lochs are amazing, especially Morar, and the long windy road to Dorlin Beach on Moidart is well worth it !

I do mean Co-op as in food shop, there is a very well stocked one at Sollas but the Bayhead Shop has a fantastic range of local and popular foods.Worth a visit. Co-op at Sollas sells anything you wish to purchase. Staff are wonderful, if you go to Bayhead say hello to the girls from Terri and Brian who stay at Victoria Cottage.

Loch Drudibeg has lovely little Eriskay ponies who love apples, but be quick or they may jump in car with you -true, and nip. Otter watching and otter walks from Langass Hotel. Information at the RSPB centre - Balranald. You may bump into Alan Camper Van Man who is often seen showing people the local bird life. Say hi to him too from us. He is a good friend. Spends from April to September on North Uist.

Yes ,the Co-Op at Sollas is very well-stocked and there is a small memorial garden opposite where you can eat the pic-nic you have just purchased. The best thing of all is that it is never crowded here.

Oh wow everyone never thought I'd look forward to shopping at the co-op and picnicking right there.

crissy I got the 2 books you mentioned "pre-loved" on play.com (they don't charge postage) - for a song.

Or you can walk or drive up the track opposite the Co-op onto the machair, remembering to close gates, and picnic in the dunes or by the wonderful - normally deserted - beach. Sometimes it seems you are the only one in the world when on Uist beaches.

Grannyknot We're lucky enough to live with a view across the sea to the islands of the Inner Hebrides. There really is a marvellous choice of locations. A visit to Arran is also well worth your time. The island of Gigha is about fifteen miles from here...as the crow flies

Love Gigha!