Scottish Tour Guide's Blog

Black Lamb, Harris, Scotland

Today, we first caught the mid-morning ferry from North Uist to Harris in the Outer Hebrides, arriving about 11.30am. Following which we proceeded to:

• Drive through the stunning mountainous scenery and coastline.
• Visit a few specialised Harris Tweed shops-and make some purchases.
• Paid an opportunistic visit to a weaver working away on a loom in a small workshop in Tarbert.
• Explored the remote west of the island with its scenery, seascapes and lots of sheep meandering around the landscape and road.

Uist to Harris Ferry, Scotland

Hewbridean Seascape, Scotland

Coastal View, Harris, Scotland

Naturally Dyed Wool, Harris, Scotland

Harris Tweed Cloth, Tarbert, Scotland

Harris Tweed Weaver at Work,Tarbert

Remote Landscape, Harris, Scotland

Overall, an enjoyable day full of diversity.

Traditional Thatched House, Benbecula, Hebrides

Today we undertook a tour of the heart shaped North Uist, starting Benbecula and finishing Lochmaddy, Hebrides. This encompassed a rich diversity including:

• An otter, eagle and numerous birds including a oyster catcher.
• Stunning scenery with white sandy beaches and seascapes.
• Traditional thatched houses.
• A prehistoric stone circle.
• Prehistoric Neolithic burial cairn.
• Public sculpture.
• A friendly peat cutter
• A Crannog which was last occupied around the 16th century.

Scenic Shoreline, Hebrides, Scotland

Sculpture, North Uist, Scotland

MacLeod's Tower, North Uist, Scotland

Traditional Hebridean House, North Uist, Scotland

Neollithic Burial Cairn, North Uist, Scotland

Pobull Fhinn Stone Circle, North Uist

Mr Mackay, Pet Cutter, North Uist

Hebridean View, North Uist, Scotland

Dun an Sticir, Crannog, North Uist

Castlebay, Barra, Scotland

This morning, we arrived at Castlebay after an 11 hour crossing from Oban on the Scottish mainland.This journey had taken twice the normal time due to delays caused by severe weather conditions.

Upon arrival at Castlebay we checked into the hotel for a freshen up and breakfast and then commenced a tour of the island taking in:

• The magnificent sandy beaches and coastline resplendent in the sunshine.
• Ancient religious site of Cille Bhara which dates from the 12th century but with a Christian heritage dating back to the 7th century.
• Traigh Mhor Airport, Barra’s unique beach landing strip. Here we waited patiently for a scheduled plane to land but it failed to arrive and we eventually gave up.

Mid afternoon we caught the ferry to Eriskay, across the Sound of Barra, and then drove north across the causeway to South Uist and then on to Nunton on Bnebecula where we are lodging tonight in an excellent four star guest house. We plan to catch upon sleep tonight before embarking on our travels to North Uist and Harris.

Castlebay, Barra, Scotland

Beach Scene, Barra, Scotland

Barra Airport, Hebrides, Scotland

Cille Bhara Religious Site, Barra

Peat Digging, Benbecula, Hebrides