From the Carrick guest book for 2009

04-11 April 2009 - Helen, Ronnie, Eilidh, Norma and Alistair, Fife
We’re the first guests at Carrick. We have followed with keen interest on the internet the progress of the building work - we are amazed at the progress made during the last month: Jonathan and Denise have done an amazing job to get the house into such fantastic condition for our arrival. Despite one or two teething problems everything is absolutely beautiful. Whilst the pictures on the internet are good they are not as panoramic as the reality. The hens, ducks and geese have a great time - especially when in the morning Jonathan herds them together for their feed. We will certainly recommend Carrick to everyone. Thanks a million! ^

16-23 May 2009 - Sue & Phil, Ilkley, West Yorkshire
It’s difficult to imagine a more beautiful Hebridean holiday home than this one! The design, the quality, the view and especially the hosts - everything has been just perfect. Blessed with sunshine and blue skies all week, we were able to thoroughly explore this lovely island. Walks we suggest are: 1> East to Roisnis, then follow the ridge to the top of Ben Sciathan, then down via Loch Crackavaig and Prince’s Beach; 2> Follow the road around Acarisaid Mhor and then out to the headland ... Climb up onto Ben Stac for more fabulous views and come down the ridge to the ferry [both walks returning to Carrick via the village].. Happy holidays to those who follow and very many thanks to Denise and Jonathan. ^

23-30 May 2009 - Rachel & Jasper, Kiri & Sam, Bath
What a lovely holiday and a wonderful place to stay! We loved watching the sea-birds diving for fish from the amazing viewpoint of master bedroom. Everything was perfect - thank you! Rachel & Jasper
Thank you for our fantastic stay in the beautiful, tranquil haven. The house is so welcoming - we felt wonderfully at home here. We also had great fun exploring these islands for the first time. We sampled at last six different types of Scottish ‘tablet’; went to the cinema-in-a-truck [the famous ScreenMachine!], bought Harris Tweed - in Harris - and walked over hill and dale, mountain and bog. With best wishes and thanks - Kiri & Sam ^

06-15 June 2009 - Els and Jan, The Netherlands
We had a lovely week and enjoyed the comfort of the cottage. Weather was great, so we loved being out on the machair. This a beautiful natural place, with rare birds like the corncrake, rare plants including orchids, and just the beautiful colours of water and sky. Thanks for a great stay - a holiday to remember! ^

13-20 June 2009 - Susan and Robert
What a superb cottage, so comfortable, beautifully appointed and delightful in every way. We thoroughly enjoyed our week. The weather at the beginning was wonderful and we had a great day out in Barra - the ferry crossing was accompanied by dolphins: we also saw basking sharks. We loved the beaches with their tiny shells and the two walks mentioned by previous guests are well worth while. PS: the eggs from The Big Garden are the best we’ve ever had! ^

21-27 June 2009 - J L Greenfield, Sheffield
What a superb place to stay. Every luxury one could ask for, and run by lovely people who are obviously concerned about the environment. Just one negative note: I didn’t enjoy having to pick my way through piles of [goose] poo every time I stepped out of the door. Other than that a really lovely place.
Guests are reminded that they should not feed the poultry or animals and should keep the garden gate closed - Jonathan and Denise. ^

11-18 July 2009 - Eleanor, Patrick, Andrew (and Glen the dog)
We had a great week. The house is beautiful - very comfortable indeed. The location is perfet and we were blessed with sunshine every day. Glen had so much freedom and the hens kept him entertained! The produce from The Big Garden was delicious (jam, eggs). Definitely a holiday to remember. ^

18-25 July 2009 - Billy and Linda
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay on the croft. A thoughtfully designed home which is extremely comfortable and cosy and beautifully furnished. We have walked, fished and played golf in Eriskay and South Uist, and really enjoyed it all. Everyone has been very friendly and helpful. We have enjoyed wonderful fresh fish very well cooked on several occasions at the Polochar Inn. No matter how great a day we had we always looked forward to returning to the comfort of our holiday home. We would love to come back. Thank you, Jonathan and Denise. ^
 

01-08 August 2009 - Tim, Liz, Poppy, Sam, Scarlett Whitney, nr Bradford
I enjoyed staying at your holiday cottage and the beach was great. We went swimming in the sea, but didn’t see many men in kilts. Thank you. - Scarlett
What a wonderful house in a beautiful place. Thank you, Denise, for the spinning lesson - and chat about crofting. I’ll think of you when I’m working at home. Thanks for a fabulous time - Liz (and Tim)
We had a fantastic time and the house is really lovely. We did lots of activities and swam in the sea with Monty [the dog] and took the ferry to Barra and visited the castle. We enjoyed everything. The house is beautiful and we’ll tell our friends about it. Thank you! - Poppy. 
Thanks for letting us stay , though I look forward to sleeping in my own bed - Sam ^

08-22 August 2009 - Wickstead family, Brixton, London
Travelled by sleeper train to Glasgow, plane to the cockle beach in Barra, ferry to Eriskay then by bus and foot to the blue house at Bun a Mhuillin. A change is as good as a rest. We have had the perfect holiday in the lightest, most comfortable, warmetst and definitely with the best views of all the houses we have stayed in all the eight years we have been coming to the Outer Hebrides. Enough sun, sea and sky to last us through the winter. We have been inspired to grow more food whatever the weather and the children really enjoyed feeding the geese and collecting the hens’ eggs. Bikes were delivered by Rohan cycles, fitted with child seats,: this was ideal for nipping to the shop and for longer rides to the see the seals on the south-east of the island, or to the Pollachar Inn in South Uist, or to the [ScreenMachine]cinema lorry in Daliburgh. eggs in The house is so light it is like being outside, but warm and dry. David
Carrick is first class in every way. We’ve never stayed in such a comfortable house, Hebrides or beyond. It is stylish yet simple and has made me feel better just living here, and that’s even before we look out of the window or go out the door. We appreciated the deliveries of fresh garden produce [from The Big Garden], and the fabulous inspired us to bake, especially with the hens looking through the window, holding us to account!. I really appreciate what [Jonathan and Denise] are doing here, and wish [them] all the very best with it. Rosemary
I liked feeding the geese - Samuel ^

22-29 August 2009 - Dagmar and Ross, Berlin/Edinburgh
German: Morgens aufzuwachen und vom Bett aus einer herrlichen Regenbogen in der Bucht zu sehen, war nur eins vom vielen schönen Erlebnissen hier. Dieses Haus scheint stets voller Sonnenschein zu sein, auch an graueren Tagen. Wir haben unseren Aufenhalt hier sehr genossen.
English: To wake in the morning to the sight - even from our bed - of a wonderful rainbow in the Sound Eriskay - this was just one of many wonderful experiences here. This house seems full of sunshine - even on greyer days. We have thoroughly enjoyed our stay here. ^

05-12 September 2009 - Colin and Bärbel
A beautiful house in a stunning location. Very cosy and a lovey house to come back to after a long day tramping across the machair. We were in two minds about the VentAxia heat recovery system: a faint hum took a bit of getting used to, but it certainly seems to work. It is certainly no noisier than a conventional heating system - Jonathan. Recommendations: taking the car to Barra is well worthwhile the extra cost: there are fantastic beaches, especially that by the Bar Beach Hotel (but avoid the hotel itself ...). Colin I thought it was all rather lovely! Bärbel ^

12-19 September 2009 - Rosemary and David
Loved it all! Especially the view from the main bedroom window. Thank you for making available such a great house in this wonderful location. We are leaving so much refreshed. ^

11-17 October 2009 - Craig and Danielle
Thank you for providing such a wonderful house to stay in. Both of enjoyed the stay and could not have wished for better accommodation - or views. With so much to do we wish we had more time, and will gladly return next year. ^