Blogs from Isle of South Uist, Inverness-shire, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe

After following along the endless white sand beaches of the western coast of the western isle of South Uist, I came at last to the Scottish Youth Hostel Association (SYHA)-affiliated hostel in Thob Mhor (Howmore). I didn't know what to expect of this little hostel. I had tried to make a reservation here when I was at the SYHA in Glasgow, but was told they don't take any, that there was no phone and no internet. 'I think you'll just have to show up,' the young woman at reception told me. And then no other directories at the independent hostels even suggested there was any accommodation in Howmore at all. Arriving in the small village, which is little more than a post office and petrol station about half way up the long narrow island of South ... read more

It's been a little while since I updated my blog on my travels around Scotland and with my flight to India imminent I've written it all up and will bash it out in the next few blog entries - fast forwarding through the rest of my time in Scotland. When I left Barra I thought it would be fun to try and hitch hike up to the ferry. I dropped off the hire bike and started walking with my pack on my back up the east coast. The first thing you'll meet on the road north out of Castlebay is a ruddy great hill. After 10 minutes up hill my pack is already starting to feel heavy and the prospect of walking, at a guess, 6 or 7 miles is looking less than fun. I'm curious ... read more