Message Forums

Looking ahead to next year, OH fancies the western Isles, Scotland.

We have heard that it is possible to wild camp, as there are not many campsites, and that showers and cdp are available at tourist offices.Would we have to carry lots of basic food stuff, or are there many shops?

Any info about inter-island ferries would be useful.

Best time of year weather-wise, we can be flexible with this.

Thanks,

Hi Muddler and pete we went easter 09 one word awesome my daughter did a wee blog of our hols dodnt know if she finished it but here it is and if you have any questions please just ask.

By the way they do have loads more shops than you think lol and are improving thinga all the time.

Just noticed she wrote it as her mum shes 11 not 40 lol

3^rd April

Travelling from Dumfries to Loch Lomond to stay overnight, wild camping outside Ardlui.  Great spot.  We have an Island Hopper 23.

4^th April

My 40^th Birthday moving onto Oban to catch Ferry to Barra.  Did some shopping at Tesco and they now have spaces for motorhomes, you could probably stay overnight before catching a ferry.

Got off the ferry in Barra and drove to the airport and stayed overnight.  The wind must have been about 30 miles per hour.  Great spot to watch the plane landing on the beach.  Lovely sandy beach for playing and walking the dog, loads of shells for the kids to collect. 

Castlebay two hotels, grocery shop, and post office.    The toffee shop is great, they also do jewellery and their own sticky toffee pudding, which they are happy to post home for your.  Also have webpage.

5^th April

We drove round to Vatersay which is attached to Barra by a small causeway.  Stayed at the Village hall with 3 other campers.  Toilets and water available.  Honesty box for leaving fee for staying overnight.  The beach was in a small bay with fantastic tropical blue waters and golden sand.  As per photo.    Also saw the wild dolphins jumping between two fishing boats, great to watch.

If interested in golfing, they have a very small golf course with a difference, all greens are fenced off so the sheep can’t get at them.

6^th April

Drove back round to Airport and had lunch at the café, good selection of food and you can watch the plane landing and taking off.

Catching ferry from The Sound of Barra – Eriskay.  Very short crossing and you can stay seated in your vehicle.  Eriskay has wild ponies.  Drove further on to South Uist and stayed at picnic area and beach.  Beach was lovely but not really for making sand castles, much more for walking and exploring.  Lots of seaweed and greyish sand.  Loads of space for campers. 

7^th April

Stopped in Lochboisdale  next to Tourist Information and had a hot shower and toilets.  Shower costs £1.00.  Not the greatest pressure but warm and clean.  The Tourist Information was very friendly and helpful.  Not much in the town.  Spoke to a fisherman who gave us the weather forecast for the next few days, he was spot on.  He travels two miles on his boat and catches prawns.

Did some shopping in the Co-op in Benbecula. Had a meal in Temple View, North Uist which is owned by a couple, but not Islanders. Food was good and very informative about the Island.

Clachan Post Office and Shop sold gas bottles.

Took the Causeway to Berneray and watched the seals at Seal Point.  You can see around 30 seals at certain times of the year.  We saw around 10.

Drove by Hostel and thatched cottages, we parked on the grassy area next to another motorhome, next to the beach.  Beach again was a walking and exploring beach with loads of seaweed.  Great place to park, very flat.

8^th April

Catching ferry to Leverburgh but when arrived the ferry was not running due to tidal problems.  The next ferry was also cancelled and the 5.40 ferry was fully booked and taking a waiting list.  Only way off the Island was to book Lochmaddy to Harris via Skye.  Which we did!  The showers on the ferry had great pressure and lovely and warm, just need to check with manager. 

Went into Tourist Information and got loads of information, the two ladies were extremely helpful and even charged our laptop for us.  Free internet hotspot in carpark.

Stopped in the mcGillvary Centre which is suitable  for staying overnight as they have toilets available.

Stayed overnight at Luskentyre, lovely beach and toilets available with no lights in evening so remember your torch.  Little walk to beach, well worth the walk, beach stretches for miles, of golden sand with lovely surfing waves.  Lovely views of surrounding mountains.

9^th April

Woke up to really heavy rain and high winds, moved on late morning.  Had light lunch at Skoon Art Café, very reasonably prices, food was good, Sophie especially liked the triple chocolate brownie served with two scoops of Scottish icecream.  When ordering scones for one you will received two.  So you may like to share.  Large pot of tea with extra pot of hot water.  Well worth the drive off the main road.  Art work was fantastic, but very pricey.  Bought some small card prints.

Visited one of the Croft Tweed Shops, but remember to ask if you would like to see them weaving.  We didn’t and arrived at the main shop in Tarbet to find out that the shop we had visited early would have shown us the weaving.

Tarbet is a lovely little town, with two grocery shops and post office.  Chip Shop also.

Went to Cnip (Kneep) to say at Campsite to find out campsite was only a field with public toilets, but great beach.  Didn’t stay due to campsite being uneven.  (Other motorhomes and tents had taken up all flat places.

Staying at pinic area with toilet, short walk to beach, Ardroil.  2 miles by Uig Shop and Petrol station.

10^th April

Stopped at Uig shop for shopping and noticed they also sell gas bottles. Drove most of the day arriving at Stornoway Campsite.  Extremely clean showers and toilets but shower cublicles bit small.

Walked to golf course, cost £25 per game.  Limited space on Saturday due to competition and no playing on a Sunday. 

Walked further up hill to castle, bit disappointed and not open to walk around, not much information really.  Walked back down through grounds and into town.  Town is small but has everthing required.  Tourist Information in town centre.  Large Co-op at edge of town.  Early night with TV signal.

11^th April

Drove to Coll Pottery, but was shut, so drove further on to Traigh Mhor Beach, Toilets available.  Beach stretched for miles of golden sand, once again a bit windy.  Possible to stay overnight.  Toby wouldn’t come back so left him in carpark, drove off and he chased us. 

Back to Stornoway and out to Lighthouse at Point.  Lovely views, but no real place to park.

Later on that night, got bus from bottom of lane (timetable at reception) to town.  Had a meal at The Boat Shed in the Royal Hotel.  Good variety on menu with children’s section.  Remember and ask for the kids cocktail.  Taxi home cost £4.85.

12^th April

Sophie, Gerry and Toby went cycling into town, extremely quiet due to everyone being in church.

Lorraine cleaned the motorhome !!!!

Drove to Butt of Lewis via play park and beach.  Sophie and Gerry played at park for ½ hr and Toby and Lorraine went for a walk along the path.  We all went down the beach and once again a brilliant view with no wind and golden sand.  Big cliffs where Sophie managed to create and echo.  Rain started and all locals rang away.

Headed to Lighthouse, parked up and had a cuppa and biccie waiting for the rain to stop.  Once rain stopped, had a good walk around the cliff tops.  Stunning views across to the mainland. 

Not as many places to stop for wild camping so stopped at campsite E…..   but moved on due to lack of facilities.  Toilets and showering facilities extremely old and electric didn’t work.

Drove to Norse Mill and Kiln parked next to sea loch, with lovely sunset.  Still no wind.  Fish jumping in loch. Golden eagle flying overhead.

13^th April

headed back to Harris stopped at small pottery think it was blue pig they where very nice and did art lessons and sold loads of nik naks. Headed to Harris golf club for a game of golf then stayed the night at luskintyre before catching ferry from Harris.

Last year we spent 27 days touring from the Butt of Lewis to Barra and there is little I can add to what has been said above except perhaps go for it, you will not regret it and the memories you gain will remain with you for the rest of your life!!!

The beach at Barra Airport.

Valtos Beach at Uig on Lewis

The beach at Valtos. Note how overcrowded it is!!!

There are 5 Co-ops between Stornoway and Castlebay on Barra and all of them sell local produce as well as the usual Co-op stuff. You will never be far away from food shops. Just do not try to buy anything on a Sunday.  

Hi Capt, We did it in August 2008 and used the Island Hopscotch Ticket system. We never had any problems with boat times or cancellations and, in 27 days, we never saw or felt a Midge.

Then again, any Midge that could fly against the breeze that constantly blows across the Western Isles would have needed a rocket in its bum and the wings of a Jumbo Jet.

Really the main reason that we do not holiday there more often is that for the price of the ferry fare, we could cross the Channel 3 times.
Beauty and Tranquility come at a very high price these days.

We visited with our camper in May this year for the OH's 50th. It should have been a longer visit but due to ferry cancellations because of the weather conditions meant we only had a few days there. It truly is a magical place, stunning views, peace and quiet  and loads of places to wild camp. We hope to go back next year, in fact we ache to go back as soon as possible.

This was our favourite "pitch" on Harris

Quote: Originally posted by wanderinstar on 28/2/2010

---

What is the chance of seeing the Northern Lights at back end of May?
Ian.

---