South Uist...the map makes it look a long, long way from home.

milton

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South Uist...the map makes it look a long, long way from home.

Hi folks. I am used to travelling in Scotland but this year I want to go to South Uist. Has anybody been in their van? I can see two routes by ferry, one 1 1/2 hrs from the far north of Skye to North Uist with a long drive down 'over causeways' I read, and the other five hours from Mallaig direct to South Uist. I would be grateful for any advice on what the roads are like from the north, and any other observations. Thanks for reading.
 
Last time I went was from Skye. I would always take the shortest ferry crossing as I find long ferry crossings a bit dull apart from the 12 hour Shetlands crossing which was great fun. The roads on the outer islands are often quite narrow but there are passing places and of course not much traffic.
 
We drove from Barra all the way north to Port of Ness. We crossed from Oban to Castlebay which is a long crossing but it saved driving up to and through Skye. We did the crossing from Mallaig to Skye and then drove up to Uig a few years ago and it is shorter and cheaper and the road from Fort William to Mallaig is quite fast now. We returned from Stornoway to Ullapool which is good if you want to continue your holiday in the north of Scotland (the best part of Scotland in our view). Don't get fooled by the Hopscotch tickets. They are no cheaper than individual tickets.
The roads in the Outer Hebrides are no problem. We have a 7.2m Bessacarr and found no problems at all. The roads are good quality and quiet, so even when off the main routes and on a single track road, you rarely meet anything big coming towards you.
If you're in to wild camping, the Hebrides are made4 for it. There are loads in the POI but we also found many more that were not listed. The campsites when you need them are mostly around £20 to £30 and very basic. Not good value for money, but the wild camps are so much better.
In good weather the islands are fantastic but in bad weather they can be bleak.
Hope you enjoy it.
 
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The trip listed above is truly magnificent I’ve done the same trip twice and plan on doing it again there’s a couple of good music festivals on in summer so if you do some home work you could catch one during you’re trip. Wildlife amazing best time ide say was April May sep Oct. enjoy
 
Thanks all. Interesting reading. We are planning our first western isles trip in May/June 18
 
Thanks for the replies. It looks really lovely out there. I think I will be going Mallaig to Lochboisdale, or via Skye and visiting a relative on the way. I would love to travel around a bit more but I need to be in South Uist for a week at least. I was a bit bothered about the trip down the islands but since I now know the roads are good that is looking better. Maybe a little explore on the way home..... The music will happen, since I am going to a music school.
 
Same as above we went this year with the kids great wild camping we crossed at Mallaig it took about 4 hours the kids loved picking the wild mussels and winkles of the rocks ,we only found two pubs one in the south and one in the north, the one in the south is in east kibride really nice people who run it and very welcoming, when the sun shines its the best place on earth but it dosen't shine much lol but we cant wait to go back ..........
 
Prefer the Uig-Lochboisdale route out. Then south down to South Uist (wish I had crossed to Barra) and then back the long way round North Uist (too cloudy to see St Kilda) then ferry north to Lewis & Harris. Very hairy stuff between the rocks! Then back from Stornoway to Ullapool. Village halls were a good source for water taps over there.
 
Uig to lochmaddy for us then slow tour down to South Uist. As said already, wild camping is easy. Sites are ok, look for Kilbride site or in the same area the Pollachar Hotel is an excellent Britstop ( see pic. Taken at sunrise ) image.jpeg


take the time to cross from Eriskay to Barra. You will not regret it and while over there visit vatersay for the best beach in the universe IMO.

enjoy and dont forget to wave, everyone does it

K :wink:
 
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My wife and I went last year and did a route from Sky to Harris, drove down to North Uist, Benbecula then South Uist, then on to Barra, brilliant time roads were fine for a reasonable size van. We had super weather and were able to eat out side most evenings, better still no midges as we went end of May and first week of June. I would recommend that time of year to go across, you will certainly want to go back again I am sure.
 
Vanterrier;n12810 said:
Uig to lochmaddy for us then slow tour down to South Uist. As said already, wild camping is easy. Sites are ok, look for Kilbride site or in the same area the Pollachar Hotel is an excellent Britstop.
take the time to cross from Eriskay to Barra. You will not regret it and while over there visit vatersay for the best beach in the universe IMO.

enjoy and dont forget to wave, everyone does it

K :wink:
Click to expand...

Even the Police wave at you on Uist. I remember doing it with some pals in a VW camper about ten years ago and a battered old Police car coming the other way and both coppers in the front waved at us. :smile:

One pub we went into one lunchtime was full of bored locals who wouldnt let us leave until we had played them at every pub game they had going. We were there hours.

I seem to remember there was one Coop in the middle of the Island open for an hour on Sunday Lunchtime and we needed booze. They were queuing to get in at 12am. Everyone dashed to the booze shelves and practically emptied them!

Interesting places but Ive not been back. The weather is just rotten so much of the time and as said they can be bleak barren places when the weather is a bit grim. Some stunning beaches though but take your wet suit.

 
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