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Thanks Dadsbeaniemad.

I have just been "Google Earth Exploring" and, after what Morrisbob has said about Luskentyre and Hushinish, I am returning to my first thoughts and that was to wildcamp at Kneep (Cnip).

I would like to see the beach where the Lewis Chessmen were found, Traigh Uuige I believe it is called.

Although we will be there for a month, we will not even scratch the surface of all that there is to see, but after a series of long illnesses and some pretty major operations, a nice quiet restful month of lying on beaches when the sun is shining or reading books and listening to the radio when its wet, is just what the doctor ordered and that is what we intend to do.

We live in a one horse village (where the horse has died) and therefore "to get away from it all" takes a pretty special place and we reckon the Western Isles is just that place.

You're right, you'llhave a wonderfully peacefull time.

The beach where the chess men were found - I thought it was Valtos beach but could have been Uig.   Valtos is one of the best beaches but take it slowly once you turn off and you'll be fine.  the camping is on the machair but there are showers and toilets and wash up.  I once camped there in parents caravan well before the 'facilities' but there was a stand pipe for water (prob about 22yrs ago as my son was a small baby). Seem to remember an honesty box for whatevery you wanted to pay for staying and the money went the the common grazings committee -don't know what happens now.

You should be ok going to Hushinish - my sister, family and friends went with a tent last year though I think they had to get water from the sinks in the toilets. Maybe you could just go with the car for a visit.

Luskintyre is the most wonderfull place also - my boys used to spend hours running up and down the dunes.

I always say it's crowded if there's anyone else on a beach you stop at but just drive around the corner and you'll find more fantastic views and fantastic beaches. 

Please do some reviews when you get back - although on second thoughts it'll encourage too many people to visit!!!

Those places that I mentioned as wildcamping at are simply the places we will be heading for, knowing that if we see nothing else, then we can stay there the night but we are ever hopeful that we will see something we like "on the way" and even if there is a small charge for the night, we are more than willing to pay.

Our van has an onboard fresh water tank and a solar panel runs the fridge, so we are pretty well self sufficient.

Where we go and what we see will very much depend on the weather. However, either way I will do some up to date reviews when we get back.

You can wildcamp on the beach at Traigh Uuige. Just go through the gate past the portabin toiletsin the car park, I think the grazing committee charges a pound or so now, you can enquire at the house oppersite the road to the car park there were a few signs telling you what to do . There is also a tap for water on the outside of the toilets. It's very quiet only 1 or 2 others there normally.

Last time I was at Cnip it was crowded but now has full faciities including showers.

Just had a look at your caravan (was the caravan channel video on u tube).

Lovely van.  Don't think you'll have any problems getting anywhere with it, just the sort of van for going around up there.

Thanks to both of you. This was the information I needed. Just as soon as we have "done" Skye, we will head over to Horgabost then Cnip and Traigh Uuige.

I do not know if the video of the Sprintaway Lux was ever on U-Tube but it was on the Sky TV Caravan Channel and you can see it HERE. Look at the bottom left hand side of the page.

Being able to take the caravan to places that caravans would not usually go, was part of the attraction for us in going for the Sprintaway. That and the fact that it is the only British Van made that we could have 6' 6" single beds.
We also had it customised to our own needs and we have further customised it ourselves so that we can now use it, without the awning and still have full use of all facilities, including the toilet, at all times.

In this climate of rising costs, it will be a long time yet before we have to worry about fuel costs when travelling.

Looks like a good van for the Hebrides.

Were the photo's of your caravan taken at the C&CC site at Oban?

Hi Dadsbeaniemad (whit a moothful<G>), I have the LDS Church's UK Census for 1881 plus a handful of other CDs from them. The information I need now is not on any Census's and I wioll need to turn to Parish Records.

Hi Morrisbob, That caravan park is the Walled Garden near Maybole. Basically a seasonal type of site with its own recreational hall, it is set in a Private Estate.
A great site if you just want absolute peace and quiet.

Well later today we head off north, eventually crossing from Skye to Harris  in about a week's time to tour around Harris and Lewis.

We hope to meet up with a few friends and to make some new ones, namely Morrisbob from here.

Be back in about a month's time, hopefully suntanned but if not, at least rust coloured <G>.

Have a really great time.  Take it easy and enjoy!  Let us know how it's gone when you get back.

Keely

Have just returned from our Western Isles tour.

1200 miles of which about 700 was towing.

26 days and only 2 days of rain!!!!

A great area for the motor caravanner or a camper but not geared up at all for caravans. One does not realise there is a difference until you go there.

Not to worry, we had a great time anyway.

Glad to hear you're back safe and well.

Everytime mum phoned I asked about the weather - and everytime she said really nice, been out watering the garden cos no rain. I was thinking of you and how much better your trip was going to be because of it. 

What were the sort of problems you had, bet the ferry on and off was one of them (never thought about it when you asked advice - really sorry)?  Could help someone else out if they decide to go.

Was worth it though I bet, would you do it again??

Hi Keely, We had no problems with the on/off at the ferries but the Skye to Tarbert ferry was a bit iffy regarding where we were allowed to have the dog although we had no problems there regarding any of the other ferries.

There was other "rules and regulations" that we came across in different areas that we neither apreciated or understood the reasons for them, but what the hell, if folks are making so much money that they can afford to upset the tourists, then good on them.

We tried to find Morrisbob at Upper Carloway but no one had ever heard of him and despite hunting high and low from the Blue Pig Gallery to the Football Ground, he must have been in a "can't see me suit".

Knowing what we know now, if I was doing the same tour again I would give about the same time to Lewis (7 days), much more time to Harris (5 days) and Barra (2 days) and much less time for the Uists and Benbecula (9 days).