Hotspots in Harris and Lewis ?

pubsinger · Post by **pubsinger** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 9:48 pm

Going to do a wee island hop in the western isles in May starting with Barra , Eriskay and the Uists where we intend meeting up and staying with mates I have up there, but after that we are heading for Harris and Lewis which is unknown territory , can anyone recommend good digs , places to see, and decent pubs etc. cheers Stevie B)

Mul001 · Post by **Mul001** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 5:29 pm

The Uig ferry is like all the CalMacs I've been on - pleasant and as comfortable as the conditions will allow. Plenty of space to get out of the loungs and wildlife spot.

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The Beaches on the Uists are lovely

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Plenty of Ancient history on Harris / Lewis

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Stornoway wild camping is fun (and Eriskay)

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Can't help with accommodation, we carry our own and not much help with the beer either, same too. The roads are good surfaced and the causeways between Islands are interesting enough. Harris / Lewis is more mountainy.

Hope at least it adds to the anticipation if not specific info you wanted.

cheers

Mul

AustinW · Post by **AustinW** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 6:21 pm

I did that trip in September last year before joining the highland rally. I stayed in Hostels mostly - look up Gatliff Trust - basic but cheap. Try camping at Lickisto campsite on Harris, it's on a bit of a slope but a fab location and a well appointed bothy for the evening. I got struck by lightening there.

Barra is a 30 minute circuit. Eat at this weird cafe/restaurant in Castlebay that does excellent curries - weird I know but cant remember what its called Beaches on Vattersay are unbelievably nice and the most westerly road in Scotland too. Make sure you see the airport - which you will when you go for the ferry.

South Uist is nice. There's loads of tracks in the Machair if you fancy some easy trails, although very sandy in places and gets you to some awesome locations. Good visitor centre about 10 miles north of Lochboisdale. Benbecula was dull and scruffy but it was a shit day when i was there. North Uist was a bit disappointing too but good viewpoint up by some military listening post / radio mast in the NW of the island. You can see St Kilda.

The ferry to Harris is a hoot zig-zaging across the sound. Take the smaller coast road East and North. Scenery is generally awesome. West coast had just the best beaches in the world. Lewis is mostly relatively flat and somewhat monotonous scenery. The Butt of Lewis is worth a visit for the wild remote feeling but it's a fair trip to look at the sea.

Enjoy. And here's a few pics too.

Vattersay beach

as far west as you can go

Hostel

Machair tracks

Sent from my iPhone with a smile

paintman · Post by **paintman** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 9:14 pm

I dont know about hot spots, although there is a chip shop that also sells petrol :unsure: May is generally a good month to visit weather wise.

A couple of tips, Accomodation can be limited and expensive on the Western Isles,I think we paid about £150 for a B and B in Tarbert one night!, so try and book a reasonable deal on your beds online before you go, hostels might be a good option. Secondly Cal Mac ferries sell Rover tickets, so if you know where you want to go you can buy in advance and save a few bobs.

pubsinger · Post by **pubsinger** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 5:34 pm

Cheers lads looks like it will be hostels or camping for us , nice pics, hope we get the weather, wonder if the petrol station does chips paintman :laugh:

tetley · Post by **tetley** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 7:02 pm

Hi,

Ride out from Harris to Hushinish on the far west of the island. It a great ride out there. You also pass through Amhuinnsuidhe Castle. Don't worry about the gates, that's the road into the castle grounds and on to Hushinish. At the end of the road there is a beach on one side of the track and and jetty out to Scarp on the other.

The only down side is that you have to ride out and back on the same road.

Also check out the hardware store in Harris, it's like going back in time.

Enjoy,

Colin

pubsinger · Post by **pubsinger** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 7:38 pm

tetley wrote:Hi,

Ride out from Harris to Hushinish on the far west of the island. It a great ride out there. You also pass through Amhuinnsuidhe Castle. Don't worry about the gates, that's the road into the castle grounds and on to Hushinish. At the end of the road there is a beach on one side of the track and and jetty out to Scarp on the other.

The only down side is that you have to ride out and back on the same road.

Also check out the hardware store in Harris, it's like going back in time.

Enjoy,

Colin

Cheers Colin will do Steve

Pussyhorse · Post by **Pussyhorse** » Thu Mar 08, 2012 11:49 am

tetley wrote:Hi,

Ride out from Harris to Hushinish on the far west of the island. It a great ride out there. You also pass through Amhuinnsuidhe Castle. Don't worry about the gates, that's the road into the castle grounds and on to Hushinish. At the end of the road there is a beach on one side of the track and and jetty out to Scarp on the other.

The only down side is that you have to ride out and back on the same road.

Also check out the hardware store in Harris, it's like going back in time.

Enjoy,

Colin

This is a pic from the end of the road. It is stunning out there.

siddhartha · Post by **siddhartha** » Fri Mar 09, 2012 7:16 pm

It's the Cafe Kisimul in Barra for a curry - owner originally from Glasgow.
http://www.cafekisimul.co.uk/

Camp at Vatersay beach if you can - causeway from Barra - but take provisions for the night.

Great food at the Polachar Inn on South Uist - should be wild camping and maybe site close by.

Must see Luskentyre Bay Beach on Harris...

And the Standing Stones at Callanish worth a short stop.

Brads · Post by **Brads** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 7:01 pm

Stunning trip
did it last year with the missus on the ten and loved it,, BArra is amzing,, great breakfast in the Barra hotel,, and no campsites,, camp anywhere!

Loved the whle trip,, but Harris,, well ! Harris is something special,, the most beautiful place I have ever been.

We`re going back,, either on the Ten, or in the 4x4 Hiace camper ! :laugh: