Kinloch House-South Uist

The Hebrides is one of the most spectacular and captivating places in the world.

An isolated, peaceful, unspoilt wilderness with a wide variety of interesting, beautiful species and habitats in a compact area. The Hebrides' environment is recognised internationally as being of global importance.

 

The islands are undiscovered treasure troves of deserted white beaches and untouched beauty. Visiting the outer islands is a real adventure experience, where the pleasure of seeing beautiful landscapes and rare species (such as the puffin, golden eagle, basking shark, whale, dolphin, otter and corncrake) is coupled with the excitement of exploring the most untouched and isolated locations. The islands offer a myriad walks and cycle route through hills, countryside and long, secluded and empty beaches. Fishing for salmon and trout in addition to sea angling is highly popular.

Journey by ferry or plane.

Drive from Edinburgh via Stirling to the west coast to your hotel in Oban.

Explore Oban before you take the ferry to South Uist. Your host Wegg is still waiting for you and extend a warm welcome to you. The B&B 'Kinloch House' is set in an acre of mature wooded gardens, rare in the usually treeless South Uist, and has its own Loch frontage, offering fantastic views across the reserve to the hills on the East coast. The house is extremely well furnished throughout and all 3 rooms are recently decorated and carpeted. The sitting room with an open fire is extremely comfortable and looks across the garden to the hills on the East coast.

Today you will explore North Uist, the paradise for wildlife and beach lovers. Wildlife abounds amongst the island's unusual landscape of tidal strands, lochan, rolling moorland and flowery machair. The beautifil island Vallay is an uninhabited tidal island on the west coast. The island is known for its sea birds and for prehistoric monuments. On the north Berneray, said to be HRH Prince Charles's favourite island. The RSPB nature reserve at Balranald is a haven for waders and seabirds as well as some beautiful carpet machair flowers. Lochmaddy on the east coast is the main town. A visit to the arts centre at Taigh Chearsabhagh is well worthwhile, to experience the arts, culture and heritage of the islands in a friendly and stimulating environment. The Monach Isles on the west coast are known for their grey seal population.

Take a short boat trip to Barra. The Isle of Barra is just four miles wide and eight miles long at the Southern end of the Outer Hebrides. It is often described as the Garden of the Hebrides due to the copious flora found across the island. Kisimul's Castle sits proudly in the bay - a symbol of the historical power of the Clan MacNeil. Explore the rich history and colourful culture of Barra at Dualchas, the island's heritage centre, and the white sandy beaches, bogs and the rocky inlets.

South Uist is a stunningly beautiful island of crystal clear waters with white powder beaches to the west and heather uplands dominated by Beinn Mhor to the east. The 20 miles of machair that runs alongside the sand dunes provides a marvellous habitat for the rare Corncrake, and Golden Eagles, Red Grouse and Red Deer can be seen on the mountains slopes to the east. Loch Druidibeg and the landscapes surrounding it represent one of the best places in the Hebrides to see the full range of island wildlife and habitats. Eriskay is connected to South Uist by a causeway which was opened in 2001. Eriskay's only pub the 'Am Politician' is a real attraction. On the Isle of Benbecula you may try a round of golf or explore the local heritage at Nunton Steadings. Or comb some of the miles of white sandy Atlantic beaches on the west coast like Shell Bay or Culla Bay.

Take the ferry to Harris which is in fact part of one island, joined with Lewis to the north.

An island of contrasting scenery - where the moonscape features of the ancient, glacier scoured mountains in the north, give way to the rich machair and stunning, golden sandy beaches of the Atlantic west coast. North Harris contains Clisham, the highest mountain in the Outer Hebrides at 799 metres. In the south, near the small sheltered harbour of Rodel you can visit St. Clement's church with some spectacular masonary including the grave of Alasdair Crotach, where Clan Macleod chiefs worshipped since the 1500s.

Lewis is the largest and northern-most island in the Outer Hebrides, home to one of the best prehistoric sites in Scotland. The main hub on Lewis is Stornoway. The Arnol Blackhouse is a preserved example of the many 'blackhouses' that lie deserted on the island. See the famous standing stones at Callanais, a fascinating group of nearly 50 megaliths dating from around 3000 BC which never fail to impress.

You will leave the Outer Hebrides and take the ferry to idillic harbour town Ullapool. Drive to Poolewe and visit the most famous of Scotland's Garden. Inverewe Garden is a mecca for garden lovers. Favoured by the milder climate created by the Gulf Stream, plants flourish in this remote corner of North West Scotland. Your journey takes you now along the world-famous and mysterious Loch Ness to your hotel.

Across Scotland you will past the powerful mountain chains, the fabulous Glencoe and the wonderful Loch Lomond on your way to Edinburgh.