|  Isle of Eriskay
> Rubha Bàn (10 minutes walk, 5 mins cycle): Community Co-op, including post office; Community Hall with café during summer holidays and occasional ceilidhs or other events throughout the year; ^
> Am Baile (The Village):: Am Politician bar and restaurant; Sandy beaches; Picturesque old graveyards. ^
> Prince’s Beach - Coilleag na Phrionnsa: Where Prince Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) first set foot on Scottish soil, 1745. Can you find the pink and white flowers amongst the marram grass and machair? If so - take a photo, but do not pick! They are extremely rare, in the UK growing only here, being reputedly descended from seed brought from France by the Prince and scattered here when he landed. Bonnie Prince Charlie trail continues in South Uist. ^
> Beaches. All dazzling white shell-sand: In addition to Prince’s Beach, there are wonderful sandy beaches at Rubh’ an t-Sein Bhaile (south end of the causeway), Bàgh na h-Aibhainn Dubh (Bun a Mhuillin road end), Roisinis (beyond the Bun a Mhuillin road-end, along an old cart-track). The last of these is in many ways the best of all, though harder to get to. ^
 > Cycling. The main road between the causeway and ferry terminal can be quite busy in summer, but there is an extensive network of side roads, cart-tracks, grassy lanes and paths, stretching from Bun a Mhuillin and Roisinis to Rubh’ Bàn and Am Baile, and along to Coilleag and Aicairseid Mhòr.
> Walking. In addition to all the side roads, lanes and paths, walkers can explore the extensive tracts of hill and moor on which even an Eriskay pony would have to be led. Beinn Sciathan (Ben Scrien) is the highest and most rugged point in Eriskay, with extraordinary panoramic views. To the south of Acairseid is a remote and little-frequented area of hill ground, with stunning views over the many islands stretching away to the south. Both hill areas are the haunt of sea eagles and buzzards. ^
> Kayaking, Sailing. The seas around Eriskay are paradise for those who bring their own boat: turquoise seas, remote sandy beaches, scattering of islands, rocky coast lines and sheltered coves, remote beaches, small islands ... ^
> Fishing. The seas around Eriskay offer a wealth of opportunity for fishing, whether from the beaches or rocks, or afloat. There’s an abundance of shellfish: razor clams from the low-water sands in the Sound of Eriskay, mussels and whelks from the shore-line rocks; shrimps in shallow water; cockles from Glendale (just across the water in South Uist). Loch fishing requires a permit, but there’s no fish to be caught in Eriskay - South Uist is the place to go. ^ Isle of South Uist > Askernish Golf Course: Recently re-discovered and restored ‘Old Tom Morris’ links course, now attracting world-wide interest. Café in summer. ^
> Bonnie Prince Charlie - Trail continues in South Uist: Cille Bhrìghde (West Kilbride - at the old walled garden) where he tried to recruit MacDonald of Boisdale to his cause - MacDonald told him to go back to France; Uabh na Phrionnsa (Cave of the Prince) where the Prince hid from government forces; Milton, birthplace of Flora MacDonald - heroine of the song Over the Sea to Skye - who helped the Prince escape. ^
> West coast - dazzling white shell-sand beaches stretching for miles, machair flowers and wildlife, bird-watching, cycling or walking the quiet grassy lanes; family picnics on the machair or amongst the dunes, the unique character of crofting townships, as at Dalabrog / An Leth Meadhanach / Cille Pheadair (Daliburgh / N Boisdale / Kilphedar), and similarly Iochdar / Carnan, and indeed elsewhere ... ^
 > East coast: Beinn Mhor, Thacla (Hecla) and numerous neighbouring and outlying mountains and glens - spectacular hill-walking and wildlife in this wilderness area. Woodland walks (here in Uist? yes really!), spectacular scenery and deserted villages at North Loch Eynort. ^
> Tobha Mòr (Howmore): Small shop / post office, garage and filling station, historic churches, thatched houses (including the youth hostel), stunning scenery, hill-walking - Beinn Mhor, Hecla, Glen Corrodale .... ^
 > Wildlife sites and walks: Many very rare species are relatively plentiful here - including eagles, otters, greylag geese, corncrakes (heard many places in May-June especially at night, but very rarely seen!), basking sharks. Guided wildlife tours with local expert Steve Duffield - highly recommended by previous guests; Loch Druidibeg - a huge National Nature Reserve in spectacular surroundings. ^
> Iron-Age archaeology: The Outer Hebrides is especially rich in Iron Age sites, though few have been properly investigated and fewer still made available to the public. Accessible sites in South Uist include remains of brochs, duns (eg Dùn na Cille, between the B888 and Cille Pheadair), crannogs, wheel-houses, and most impressive of all the chambered cairns, including Loch a’ Bharp, a north of the Daliburgh-Lochboisdale road. ^
> Game fishing: Some of the best salmon and trout fishing anywhere in the world, from machair lochs and rivers from Stòras Uibhist office in Bornish (01878 700101); for mountain lochs from Stòras Uibhist or other local outlets. ^
Fresh local food > The Big Garden at Cille Bhrìghde (West Kilbride) South Uist - en route to Daliburgh:
Free-range eggs, fresh garden produce and preserves; also teas and coffees. Tel 01878 700828 denise@biggarden.co.uk
> Freshly caught shellfish direct from the fishermen: Kilbride Shellfish, Ludag. Tel 01878 700342;
> Smoked fish: Salar Smoked Salmon, Carnan - 01870 610324;
> Collecting shell-fish yourself (but legal and safe only in a month with an R in it - eg January, not June): Razor clams in the Sound of Barra; Cockles at Glendale or the South Ford (between S Uist and Benbecula); Mussels and whelks - many rocky shorelines ... ^
Eating Out> Historic Pollachar Inn (food highly recommended) at Poll a Charra..
> Renown Orasay Inn (hotel and restaurant) at Loch Carnan ^  Arts and Crafts
> Aisgernis (Askernish): Bill Neil, wildlife artist - Studio gallery
> Kildonan: Kildonan Centre: Uist Craft Producer’s shop; also museum and cafe
> Staoinebrig (Stoneybridge): Uist Crafts Workshop
> Iochdar: Hebridean Jewellery
> Cille Bhrìghde (West Kilbride) - An Gàrradh Mòr (The Big Garden): Denise Bridge’s hand-spun wool yarns from black Hebridean sheep , other local sheep and other fibres, hand-knitted and hand-woven garments, spinning workshops. Also complimentary work by Becky Bridge. ^  Events and Entertainment
> Ceilidhs, dances and other events at Dalabrog (Daliburgh), Cille Pheadair (Kilpheder), Loch Baghasdail (Lochboisdale), Staoinebrig, especially from October to Easter. Just ask around!
> St Peter’s Traditional Dance Club - Saturday 8pm-10pm, late October to Easter - and perhaps beyond. All made very welcome. Contact Lena MacLellan 01878 700253 lenairis@supanet.com
> Ceolas - Summer School (1st week of July) of Gaelic language, music, dance, held in Daliburgh and area first week of July
 > Feis Tir a Mhurrain, Kildonan / Iochdair
Gaelic language summer school for young people, held mid July
> Screen Machine 2 - RBS / HiArts mobile cinema, regularly stops at Daliburgh (also Creagory Benbecula and Castlebay Barra) with latest films. ^ Churches and other Religious Sites> Roman Catholic churches at Eriskay, Daliburgh, Bornish, Iochdar; Church of Scotland churches at Daliburgh, Howmore; Free Church of Scotland church at Lochboisdale,
> Howmore - Mediaeval chapels and college (ruins); rare 19th century Church of Scotland church with central communion table
> Iochdar, West Gernish, Kilpheder, Carnan, Eriskay and elsewhere - Roadside shrines - unique in Britain
> West Gerinish - Our Lady of the Isles, Madonna and Child sculpture by Huw Lorimer, watching over the islands since the height of the Cold War in the late 1950s; Roadside shrines. ^ |
