Help! advice needed on Western Isles

[Bertstan]

We (me the wife and our two westies) are intending on visiting the western isles in May this year (big birthday and wedding Ann)

We live in the midlands and intend on taking two days/nights to reach Scotland, with only having 14nights away and possible 4 nights travelling (there and back) we will only have 10 nights on the isles.

1 Where would you stop on your way up? Thinking one night before Glasgow and 1 night Near or close to a ferry

2 With 10 nights on the isles would you try and visit them all or I am thinking just 2/3 ? . Which ones would you pick from experience? I do not want to race around and possible find somewhere good but have to move on because we are trying to cram a lot in

3 Which are the most scenic wild camp spots on your nominated isles

We have solar fitted so possible want to do some wild then on a site for a proper shower

We like great scenery, I like fishing, walking the dogs and sat with a drink watching the sun go down

4 In May does anyone know of any events on the islands? ( had a look and cannot find any) looking at the early may bank weekend

I appreciate there are lots of Threads on the isles so forgive me for starting another one but I want to plan it well, my wife would prefer the Maldives on such a big occasion so need to get it right!

Thank you for reading

 

[jakekelly]

western isles

drive up to skye, park where you like, OVER THE SKYE BRIDGE TURN LEFT AT ROUND ABOUT down to Kyleakin plenty space to overnight overnight in Portree 2-3 nights in big carpark on right as you come to the square (look for carpark signs on right!drive from there towards Uige look for the signs to the SKYE SKYNS recomend a visit to see real sheep skins being made, drive to UIG take ferry to Tarbert & welcome to the isles, at tarbert stop at public loo for water &ablutions ,out of tarbert turn SOUTH TO LEVERBURGH you will be gob smacked at the beaches with no-one on them, the views are out of this world, and stop more or less where you want, down to Leverburgh and turn round and go back up to Stornoway (the biggest town on the island ) most of the hotels are very reasonably priced for meals, then head up to Calinish standing stones and wonder at who put then there & why (job creation ) a word of warning, up here the roads are narrow& some are single track, pull over and let locals past& you'll get a wave of acknowledegement instead of abuse .On the roads the scenery is amazing but PLEASE be aware people are using the roads to get to work etc. and do tend to drive fas,t a convoy of tuggers and motorhomes is like red rag to a bull So dont convoy ,stop enjoy the scenery and you will probly catch up with then in the next half hr. or so . I have the advantage of living up north and get paid to travel these roads in my motorhome ( Diesel paid, ferrys paid & overnight allowance ) and no there is no jobs.IF you get the weather then you will not want to go home, PS the midges can be savage at dusk so take plenty of protection. but i can say this sitting on a west coast beach with the sun going down on a fine night there is no better place to be ( I have been to a few & i still come here) WELCOMe to scotland P.S look at the visit scotland web. for some ideas. DO NOT TRY TO RUSH FROM GLASGOW TO THE ISLES THE ROAD IS A KILLER PLEASE TAKE YOUR TIME AND STOP.

 

[Deleted member 21686]

drive up to skye, park where you like, OVER THE SKYE BRIDGE TURN LEFT AT ROUND ABOUT down to Kyleakin plenty space to overnight overnight in Portree 2-3 nights in big carpark on right as you come to the square (look for carpark signs on right!drive from there towards Uige look for the signs to the SKYE SKYNS recomend a visit to see real sheep skins being made, drive to UIG take ferry to Tarbert & welcome to the isles, at tarbert stop at public loo for water &ablutions ,out of tarbert turn SOUTH TO LEVERBURGH you will be gob smacked at the beaches with no-one on them, the views are out of this world, and stop more or less where you want, down to Leverburgh and turn round and go back up to Stornoway (the biggest town on the island ) most of the hotels are very reasonably priced for meals, then head up to Calinish standing stones and wonder at who put then there & why (job creation ) a word of warning, up here the roads are narrow& some are single track, pull over and let locals past& you'll get a wave of acknowledegement instead of abuse .On the roads the scenery is amazing but PLEASE be aware people are using the roads to get to work etc. and do tend to drive fas,t a convoy of tuggers and motorhomes is like red rag to a bull So dont convoy ,stop enjoy the scenery and you will probly catch up with then in the next half hr. or so . I have the advantage of living up north and get paid to travel these roads in my motorhome ( Diesel paid, ferrys paid & overnight allowance ) and no there is no jobs.IF you get the weather then you will not want to go home, PS the midges can be savage at dusk so take plenty of protection. but i can say this sitting on a west coast beach with the sun going down on a fine night there is no better place to be ( I have been to a few & i still come here) WELCOMe to scotland P.S look at the visit scotland web. for some ideas. DO NOT TRY TO RUSH FROM GLASGOW TO THE ISLES THE ROAD IS A KILLER PLEASE TAKE YOUR TIME AND STOP.

Sounds great Jake with some sound advice.

 

[james1508]

http://www.wildcamping.co.uk/forums...s-isle-harris-western-isles-6.html#post130707

There is some stuff on the link above that might help including the type of ticket i purchased 2 years ago and the price for a 19ft camper/motorhome

We travelled from Oban to Barro, then travelled all the way up to the Butt of Lewis before back to Stornoway. We climbed Heabhal, Cycled around Barra and climbed Cliseam too. We only stayed on one campsite (on Harris) as the vehicle battery charge was sufficient. We was on the isles for a week before spending a week on the main land.

There are so many great spots, the best thing to do is view on Google Earth before you go using the POI download and make a note of where the camps are as the phone signals aren't too good to research on smart phones Etc.

Well worth the visit.

 

[champstar]

Remember that from North Uist thro Harris and Lewis that nothing is open on a Sunday due to strict observerance of the sabbath. But South Uist and Barra are more liberal in their attitudes.
Barra is a wonderful island but there are very few places to wild camp due to the dammage done in the past but there is a lot of crofters who have set up small campsites...Try Angus John Morrisons nr Eiolgarry at the north of the island, a very friendly and helpful man and a true islander.
The journey to Barra is around 5hrs on the ferry from Oban.
Eriskay across from Barra is worth a visit for the pub Am Politician due to its whisky galore fame ( the book and movie) also for the wild ponies if you are lucky enough to see some.
The Uists have wonderful beaches where you can park up and watch the sun sets which are magical.
The terrain changes when you reach Harris and inland can resemble a desolate lunar landscape but is beautiful. Lewis has a wealth of historical places to visit which can easily be done in a day or two...visit the Stornaway fish smokers near the ferry for some of the best smoked fish and cheese around and also you have to try the stornaway black pudding which tastes like no other and is world famous, each butcher claims to be the best!!!

What I am trying to say is do your research and find out what you want to see and do and plan your trip accordingly.
We spent a month last year doing Barra to Lewis and found it wonderful...also in May/June and mostly weather was good apart from one storm where we had to face the van into the wind and just batten down the hatches....what and experience parked on the machair on Berneray.
We went to Lewis too quickly and found we missed the beaches and beauty of the uists but that is our opinion.
Most of the islands are very motohome friendly and the ferry ports have CDP and fresh water for free....gets a bit harder on Lewis

I am sure you will enjoy the trip and will want to return again.

 

[sagart]

Surely a mystery??

 

[Bushtrekker]

We might head up there in May

I depends on the weather as it's a long way up to get p***ed on from a great height On the plus side I've just had a look at sunrise and sunset times and it will be lighter for longer up there in March than in Dorset. The only thing which always puts me off Scotland is that it's a long way up with no easy way of getting somewhere dry if it rains, although it does tend to rain on one coast or the other.

 

[james1508]

Also, see these 2 brilliant web sites, the second is for walkers.


Undiscovered Scotland: Home Page

Walkhighlands: Scotland walks and accommodation

 

[Team Incredible]

Just a few of our favourites, in Skye we parked up over night just up from Uig, on the road that runs from Uig to Brogaig, just us and the sheep.

There are several places you could park up on Harris and Lewis, suppose it depends on what you like, but most of it is remote so be prepared. We have always been lucky with the weather ahving been across 4 times and having had dry weather for a majority of the days of our visits. The midges love me but I have not been too bothered with them in the islands as there always seems to be a breeze which keeps them away. A couple of our favourites.

- Huisinis on the west coast of Harris, there are basic facilities at the end of the road, car parks, toilets and water, and a gorgeous beach.
- Mangersta (Mangurstadh) - We love this beach you can park at the top and walk down. There are no facilities but the near by community shop at Uig has everything you can think off. Last time we were over they were working on adding a laundrette in the shop
- Valtos (Bhaltos) on Uig right on the west coast is always very popular with campervans, but we prefer going into the small camp site just further up the road at Kneep (Cnip) right on Reef Beach

Carol

 

[Annsman]

We did the Western Isles and Skye a couple of years ago and it is really beautiful. However, are you really sure it's a good swap for the Maldives? The weather there is very unpredictable and even when the sun shines and the white beaches are there for camping on/by, the water is piggin' freezing!

I love being in the van and being out, as does Ann, but if she thought it was a choice between two weeks possiblly getting soaking wet and cold on beaches where the wind is so strong you could lean into it without falling, or two weeks on a desert island with crystal clear warm water and sun it would be no contest!

If your relationship is strong enough to stand the next forty years of, "You wouldn't let me go to the Maldives when we had the chance!" Then go but if it was me I'd forget The Western Isles for this year and plump for the Maldives!

 

[Bertstan]

Many thanks for all the advice and tips, very useful, why not the Maldives? Well I have been saying for years that when I hit the big 50 then we are going to the isles.

Bought the van last year had 6 short trips no more than a week, love the freedom to move on when you want, leave the rat race behind and go at a different pace.

Counting the days down only 16 weeks!

 

[Telstar]

Western Isles

Loads of info shoud be under the 'western isles' topics/forums on here. But for what its worth, we always go from Sheffield and stop over at the side of Loch Lomond, then get the ferry the next day. It has the advantage of breaking the journey but equally getting the bulk of the journey over and done with. We tend to set off on Friday afterwork stopping for tea/Fish & Chips on the way. As for the return journey, break it where you want/feel comfortable driving to. Breaking the back of the journeys with these 'longer' stints allows more time on the beautiful isles. You can download the calmac brochure to pick you journey/ticket. Last year we went to Barra in our 6m camper and only got charged for a 5m. I think it might have been a new rule/allowance but if you have a motorhome I don't know whether that would make a difference.

I would advise booking your 1st and last ferry, the rest book whilst there. Unless it is a public holiday when it might be busy.

Check your ferrys, some of the ferrys from Oban to Barra go to other isles first which adds 2 hours to the ferry journey.

Take your time on the isles, they are beautiful and buy local produce - they do have shops so you don't need to take everything with you. Yes it costs more but it helps with the local economies.