Blogs from Outer Hebrides, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe - page 4

This blog will tell the story of three young lads on their holy quest for nature and serenity in the wildest lands of Scotland. Sleeping outside in the cold, fighting ferocious midges, facing basking sharks and whales. From the wilderness of the glaswegian pubs to the mighty beaches of Luskenstyre ... we have yet to take the road and write our own history. Once upon a time...... read more

We´ve been lucky with the weather so far and its another fine day on Barra. We catch a local bus up the West coast of the island, the driver of course is another MacNeil. Its great to hear local people speaking Gaelic to each other, although sometimes with the strength of the accent we´re not quite sure what language they´re speaking. We pass some stunning white sand beaches and cute little cottages. We hop off the bus at the Barra airport at Eoligarry. This is not your standard airport - the runway is the beach. When the windsock is flying, you´re not allowed to walk the beach, and from beside the terminal building we watch a commercial flight coming in to land. Pretty unique. Guess its quiet there at high tide. We walk some white sand, ... read more

What can we say, last morning on the islands. Sad? Yes. Happy? Yes, in a way because it has been hard going, weather didnt really stop us from doing things, but mix with a very small tent and trying not to get things wet and that combination does make it difficult. Would we come back? Yes, certainly but I think with a car so we could park near the Western hills and head off wild for just two/three days at a time and know if everything gets wet you can just dry them out in car. Well, got tent packed up and went and waited for ferry which duly arrived...and left on time. We decided to have breakfast first so we wouldn't miss anything once out at sea. Of course, while sitting eating breakfast, I look ... read more

Monday Time to move on and got so much dirty and wet gear decided to bus it down to Baile a Mhanaich, near the airport at Benbecula which is the smaller island that connects North and South uist (North Uist back on our to do list next time) Left bus at airport and got some shopping in before walking, via the visitor centre/gallery a mile South of town, the 4-5 miles to Shell Bay campsite at Liniclate (Lionacleit) which is situated adjacent school and sports centre (http://www.southuist.com/accommodation.php?action=view&id=43) I have seen some reviews of this site on the web and I think people are being unfair. Yes you do have to ask the owner to put washing machine on and yes they ask you not to waste water in showers, washing etc but: they are on ... read more

Thursday Wet and grey and windy and wet and grey and windy...but not cold, unless you got wet in the grey murk and then stood in the wind...Guess who? First things first. Woke up to the above so had to bring the kitchen (see photos) to the tent entrance and wrap the doorway flap around the box to enable the cooking of our Lorne Sausage, our first 'home cooked' breakie of the trip...bananas and dry oats ok for one, maybe two days but a week gets a little toooo much. It tasted delicious and set us up for our walk. Set off along road and headed to Borgh, but stopped off at the Visitor Centre, formerly a Nurses Cottage, run by the Berneray Historical Society (http://www.isleofberneray.com/groups/historical.html) on the way and I have to say, for such ... read more