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Having lived on the North West coast of Skye suggestions would be midge repellent and hoods, delta pegs (generally in the summer months the wind is OK but the Outer Isles are exposed and the occasional gust can hit galeforce readily enough, indoor activities for the kids and full sets of waterproofs and layered clothing.

I know of one campsite on the West Coast of Lewis, whose name currently escapes me, but it is on machair next to a huge sandy beach. It looked beautiful but only has basic facilities.

Remember that shops are not open on Sunday in the North, although if on Skye you are OK.

If camping wild check at the closest croft house as they will probably be able to give you permission or suggest to whom you should ask for a good spot. They are also likely to tell you where to go for water to avoid septic tank outlets and also where is sheltered, non boggy etc. If there is a rain storm sometimes the burns can overflow and dry land can quickly become soaked.

Over all enjoy, the sunsets and beaches are second to none!!

we did the trip from Barra up to Lewis a couple of years ago in a campervan, and did see a few tenters.

Site at Barra Airport is great but the public toilet is about a mile away. There is a campsite on Benbecula, and I think 3 on Lewis.

We took 2 weeks to do the trip, starting from Oban and finishing at Ullapool.

We went in May/June 2006

here is our basic itinery:-

We got the Calmac Hopscotch 8 ticket http://www.calmac.co.uk/hopscotch_route8

Also send for their brochure its quite useful, as is this web site and brochure

http://www.visithebrides.com

This leaflet details toilets/showers/Chemical disposals.

http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/hebrides/docume...anLeaflet06.pdf

Our trip was as follows

Oban - stayed at Oban Divers Campsite. Good Tesco's also has Petrol and cash points, no height barriers. Stock up as there is not much on the islands and Petrol is about 12p a litre more expensive.

Barra/Vatasay official wildcamping spots by the airport, large grassy area with litter bins only (don't expect to be alone), toilets and CDP 1mile up the road at Eolaigearraidh. Also cafe and toilets at the airport and ferry terminal (ardmhor) when open.

Not exactly sure where the place is on Vatasay, but the tourist info will be open when you get off the ferry 8pm ish and are very helpful if you email.

Eriskay - we didn't camp here, it's very small, but there was parking at the ferry and toilets and shower £1 a go, very good as well.

South Uist we drove up the west coast road (B888) and drove down to a site marked as parking and picnic area, its quite small but there were 5 of us here for the night. Had also been told about an area near a cemetry a few miles further north (it's shown on OS map) by a couple cycling with a tent, but there was no-one there and it was a bit open. Toilet and showers at Lochboisdale open during day, but disabled toilet seems to be open 24hr, also shop and tourist info here as well.

Orisay inn, signed on the right just before the causeway off to Benbecula was recommended to us for a meal and we were not disappointed.

Benbecula, we stayed at Shell Bay campsite, not the prettiest but with good facilities including laundry.

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=6642

There is a shop and petrol station by the airport at Balivanich, stock up, we didn't and got a bit low on petrol and knowhere is open on a sunday.

North Uist, we had to travel north to just passed Sollas, we followed a picnic area sign at Grenitote and found a small area, which we had to ourselves, apart from a young boy driving round the beach, there was also a small cesna parked on the beach. We had also passed a sign for picnic area on the west coast at Hosta, but the gates were closed so we drove on, but I think its OK to just open them and drive through. We also passed a camper parked up on some grass a short way into the C road across the island. Toilet and petrol at Lochmaddy.

Berneray, we had heard you could only park at the hostel, but found plenty parked on the area next to it and believe you can park at the picnic area at Borve, tap and toilet at the community centre here. Toilets, water and CDP at the ferry port, and toilets and showers at the harbour on the road to Baille.

South Harris - large area at Horgabost on the west coast, OS map shows toilets here but they had either blown down or been demolished when we were there.

North Harris - We stayed at the hostel at Rhenigidale in order to use showers, cost £4.50 each, basically just parked up outside. Very small grassy tent area also.
Camp sites at Cnip (kneep) in Uig area, we didn't stay but there are public toilets and a separate building with a sign saying for paying campsite users and a CDP behind. There was know one around to enquire about payment.

Another picnic spot at Ardroil overlooked large beach, with a sign saying camping by prior arrangement call at No.6. £1 per person per night. We didn't stay here as it was too early to settle for the night, but a couple of vans looked like they where going to stay.

Great Bernera - we went to the iron age house at the northern point which was closed, only open 12-4pm. We could have stayed in the carpark as there was no-one around and were toilets.

Lewis - the largest part with a few campsites , on the west coast at Shawbost, small site, small pitches with electric. we drove on to Butt of Lewis lighthouse and found another campervan so stayed, however a lot of cars came to walk dogs and watch birds and in the morning 2 coaches pulled up next to us, fortunately we were dressed and having breakfast !!

On the east side are two camp sites, Laxdale, very neat with good facilities but the motorhome/caravan area is bit like a carpark, tent area was nice, also a bunkhouse, very convenient for stornaway, we also saw one at Coll on the B895, this was quite basic, didn't look like much in the way of facilities so we booked Laxdale, later learned if we'd carried on to Tolsa head we could have stayed overnight and it was lovely.

Ullapool - campsite right on the beach, you'll see it from the ferry, but we drove 3 miles north to Ardmair point camp site and it was lovely.

All in all a very good trip and found places to stay easily, this was our first time wild camping. Ferry over from Oban a bit rough (I was sea sick) so get some tablets if you don't have sailing legs. We booked this crossing when we got the hopscotch ticket and booked Stornaway to Ullapool the day before we sailed. Not many places stocked small(4.5kg) butane cylinders and ours ran out, got some at the coal yard just outside Tarbert, the man at the hardware store directed us. Very little is open on a sunday.
There only seem to be CDP's at the campsites in Harris/Lewis, unlike the more southerly islands which seem to cater for wildcamping as there are no commercial campsites.
Hope this isn't too long a post and is helpful to you

Just ask if you need any more info

Jules

Wow - thanks so much Jules. Fantastically helpful!

We camped on Harris/Lewis 17 years ago.  Expect constant wind, but therefore few midges.  One afternoon it started raining, and raining, and was still raining after breakfast the next day.  We stuffed the tent in the boot of the car and drove to Stornaway where I had it on good authority (from my Aunt) that the public loos in town offered hot showers for 20p.  Fantastic! 

We camped wild every night for two weeks in a little green two-man Wild Country tent - wouldn't use anything much bigger/taller (see above re. wind and rain).  Take a trowel for burying no. 2s.  Also take lots of babywipes.  Apart from the showers in Stornaway, we made do with water from streams (check what's upstream - use water purification tablets if unsure) and babywipes.  Take lots of provisions as well.  It may have changed in 17 years, but it really was the back of beyond when we went. 

We've also never forgotten the stamp lady on Great Bernera.  Somehow we heard mention of being able to buy souvenir stamps, so off we trotted up to a little cottage to buy some.  "You've been camping?  Och, come in!  I'll do you a cheeseburger in the microwave!"

Jules,

Do you happen to know whether the coleman bupane70/propane30  500self sealing screw top gas cannisters, and the butane cp250's cannisters are readily available in the Outer Hebrides?!!

Thanks

Mary

The Hardware store in Tarbert (harris) had the small screw in gas cannisters, we didn't really see them anywhere else but wheren't looking as we only used the 4.5kg type. It may be worth a call to the tourist info, they are very helpfull.

Jules

hi sorry my friend has just got back to me with the info. you may already have it. sorry for delay they have been away.

What are these midge things that everyone keeps talking about?