Western Isles, August

[Stefvan]

Tentative plans afoot for a Western Isles trip this August, please help me decide itinerary, do I need to book ferries now, any other tips, we have a high top Westy and 2 small kids, 5 and 9.

thanks !

Stefvan

[gdr77]

hi there i would book the ferries i would go over by sky and back by ullapool we did it last year best hols i have ever had
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=483_QOBsYyU" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

western isles is up to 3mins after that its applecross and gairloch

gavin

[roj62]

We will be over in the outer Hebrides around the same time. The wife is going to stay over at St Kilda for a few days so we are making base camp in Harris while she is there We are also heading for Mull in a few days time too!!!

The Western Isles consist of the Inner Hebrides (Skye, Mull, Islay Jura etc) and the Outer Hebrides (Lewis, Harris, Uist etc).

Skye is the easiest large island to get to as there is a bridge crossing - its a huge island with lots of things to keep you occupied and some of the best scenery, Mull is relatively easy with two ferry options: a long crossing from Oban or a couple of short hops but long drives from Corran and Lochaline - Mull is much more unspoilt and has some amazing beaches and campsites.

The Outer Hebridean islands are normally reached either via Uig on northwest Skye or via the larger ferry at Ullapool to Stornaway. This has got to be one of the best ferry trips in the UK with views of the summer isles and the Northwest coast of Scotland. These islands have the best beaches you will see anywhere in the UK with miles of white sands, they are mostly flat (can be very windy) but it is an amazing part of the world with a sense of being incredibly remote.

Almost all ferries are run by Calmac (Caledonian MacBrayne) and you can get times and prices from their site. Ferry costs for a high top camper are the same as a car as the cut off is 5m for a motorhome. Last year we had a small car and trailer and it was more expensive than the camper would have been. Personally I love the smaller ferries as some of them are little more than a floating platform but the big boats give you time to chill out and take some snaps from the top decks.

Have fun

[Stefvan]

Hi Gavin
awesome slideshow... can i test your memory now please...
The beach at 0.29
the longhouse at 2.14
the beach with the archway or cave at 2.35
and what a great idea, trailing the quad.
Ive been looking at the ferries and the schedules.. and from trawling this forum I think I have an itinerary of sorts but wondered whether anyone could advise..
side trip to Coll/Tiree on the first leg, it seems theres only one ferry a week ? Are there other ferries apart from Colmac that run back to the mainland ?
Is the coast between Ullapool and Oban worth a dander ? Any recommendations for places to stop ?

For anyone else interested I have made a customised Google Map, its got a few campsites on it and a few nice beaches, I'll be updating it with any recommendations but it is open for anyone to E D I T so please add your favourite pub, view, campsite, or whatever...
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&m ... 8cd9645d21" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

thanks

Stefvan (Rory)

[callanish]

Hi
Did Seal shore on Arran then Lochranza to the Mull of Kyntire and up to the Isle of Mull (out of Oban) and on Fidden Farm at Ffionport ....believe me these were the two most fantastic sites linked by a truly lovely ferry journey and drive..........West coast of Scotland is just too good for words.........pick your location ... go...enjoy...


Andrew

[gdr77]

hi there the beach is just at the ferry at south uist ferry to barra. we stayed on benbecula at griminish its was in some ones garden very nice and big beach 10 mins walk and just went on day trips its was in the middle we did a day trip to barra
the long house is the black house village its at gearrannan there is a broch about there too we stayed at bragar its a wee site in some ones garden but very good nice pub up the road very good food there are black house at arnol too
the beach with arch is at port nis you drive to the end of the road though the village then you can walk down its very steep went down on the quad and just got up and no more but very nice it was very windy that day when we went down no wind
we had sun for the two weeks we were away that makes it hope this helps make your hols a bit better have a good one if your about Inverness and a big silver van waves at you its me

[roj62]

Is the coast between Ullapool and Oban worth a dander

There isn't really a proper coast road between the two (you will see why when you get there) but a lot of roads run out to the coast and stop. If you are coming down from Ullapool you can take a detour towards Gairloch and follow the coast that way then head down loch Maree to Kinlochewe - turn off here and take the Torridon Road. There is a great campsite at a village called Shieldaig - very basic, just an honesty box to pay and public toilets down the hill but the village has a decent pub and the views are spectacular. (Shieldaig is one of my favourite villages in the highlands). You can then head down from there to Applecross via the Bealach na Ba if you have the nerve (and the van can take it) of continue down towards Lochcarron. The road continues round the loch via Stromeferry and down into Glenshiel.

There is an interesting detour here through the Ratagan Pass to Glenelg where you can get a small community run ferry over to Skye, drive down from there to Armadale and get the Mallaig ferry back to the mainland. Some fantastic campsites around Arisaig too. From here its a short drive through GlenFinnan (be sure to point out the Harry Potter viaduct to the kids next to the Glenfinnan visitor centre) to Fort William.

[rubyvan]

we went last year and valtos beach site is nice with good facilities, but if you are looking for somewhere to stay try Sollas on north uist, there is a supermarket and through the gate opposite the supermarket go along the track and the parking area is there with a really nice beach over the dunes.
steve

[donnieg]

Hi Stefvan you will have a great time over the west coast just hope the midges are not to bad.You can avon skin so soft for them just make sure it is the spray i swear by it there is also a new midgie repelent out it is called smidge it repels midges,mosquitoes,horse flys,fleas and ticks so they say but i have not tryed it yet.

[Stefvan]

Cheers Donnie I saw that stuff over at http://2010.midgeforecast.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and I came across the Avon stuff when filming up by Loch Nah-Achlaise a few years back. I'll be honest the midgies and the unpredictable weather are whats holding me back.. Gavins slideshow is almost all sunny pics, lucky bugger !!

Stefvan

[donnieg]

The weather has been pretty good the last few weeks and don't let the midges stop you as it is a beautiful area you are planning to go to.Hope you come up and i hope you all really enjoy yourself.If you come to inverness you would be more than welcome to come up for a brew.

[Stefvan]

Cheers Donnie !

[pkm]

side trip to Coll/Tiree on the first leg, it seems theres only one ferry a week ?

Tiree ferries are daily, and most of them stop at Coll as well. Wild van camping is prohibited on Tiree except at specifically allocated places (at a cost) - http://www.isleoftiree.com/history-nat-heritage.html. There is a nice, basic campsite on the island as well.

Paul

[Mash]

Hello,

Borve Country House hotel does amazing burgers and everything else food wise, it's in Borve, Lewis. The beer at the bar isn't up to much but I would definately go for food. We were there in April and plan to go back in August. We stayed in Huisinish for a night, it's beautiful, and quite and like a rollercoaster on the way down the road the Skoon cafe is good in Geocrab, for a hot chocolate and scones they also do snack foods like soup, it's nice too. There is a lovely cafe in the woods at Lews Castle grounds. really really good hot chocolate! and cake! (I do know everywhere with nice hot chocolate

Just remember to pick up some Charlie Barleys black pudding on the way home!

Ash