Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
By bus
A regular bus service runs down the backbone of
the Uists to Lochboisdale and Eriskay.
Destinations
30-45min); Balranald (Mon-Sat 3 daily; 50min);
Eriskay (Mon-Sat 3 daily; 2hr 20min); Lochboisdale
(Mon-Sat 5-6 daily; 1hr 30min).
Balivanich
(Mon-Sat
6-8
daily;
INFORMATION
Tourist o
ce
Lochmaddy's tourist o
ce (April to mid-Oct
Mon-Sat 9am-5pm; open to greet the evening ferry;
T
01876 500321), is a short walk from the quayside and
can point you in the direction of local Neolithic sights.
14
ACCOMMODATION, EATING AND ACTIVITIES
Tigh Dearg
Lochmaddy
T
01876 500700,
W
tighdearghotel.co.uk.
The stylish modernity of this
cherry-red, purpose-built hotel is unique on the Uists;
guests get free use of the hotel's gym, sauna, steam room
and wi-fi. The hotel also serves delicious, quite elaborate
food in the bar and restaurant (mains £10-15);
reservations are essential.
Daily 6.30-8.30pm.
£90
Uist Outdoor Centre
Cearn Dusgaidh
T
01876
500480,
W
uistoutdoorcentre.co.uk
. Outdoor centre with
hostel
accommodation and activities ranging from sea-
kayaking to rock climbing fo
r res
idents and non-residents
alike. Closed mid-Dec to Feb.
£10
/person
Berneray (Bhearnaraigh)
Berneray
is a low-lying island immediately to the north of North Uist, connected
via a causeway that starts some eight miles north of Lochmaddy. Two miles by
three, with a population of around 140, the island has a superb three-
mile-long sandy
beach
on the west and north coast, backed by rabbit-free dunes
and machair.
ARRIVAL AND INFORMAT I O N
BERNERAY
By ferry
The ferry from Leverburgh on Harris arrives at the
very southern tip of Berneray (3-4 daily; 1hr).
By bus
There's a decent bus connection with Lochmaddy
(Mon-Sat 5-6 daily; 20min).
Tourist information
The community website
W
isleofberneray.com is a useful source of information.
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
Berneray SYHA Hostel
Port Ludaig
W
gatliff.org.uk.
The island has a wonderful Gatliff Trust hostel,
which
occupies a pair of thatched blackh
ouse
s in a lovely spot by
a beach, beyond the main village.
£12
/person
Burnside Croft
Borve (Borgh)
T
01876 540235.
Follow
in Prince Charles's footsteps and stay (and help out) at
“Splash” MacKillop's
B&B, overlooking the machair and
dunes, an
d en
joy “storytelling evenings”; bike rental also
available.
£70
The Lobster Pot
Borve (Borgh)
T
01876 540288.
A
tearoom (and shop) on the main road, near the ferry
terminal, serving toasties and soup and simple summer
evening meals (all under £10).
Mon-Sat 9am-8.30pm;
closes 5.30pm in winter.
Balranald
Seven miles northwest of Clachan is the
Balranald RSPB Reserve
, best known for its
corncrakes
, once common throughout Britain but now among the country's rarest
birds. hey're good at hiding, so you're unlikely to see one; however, the males' loud
“craking” can be heard from May to July throughout the Uists and Barra: one or two
usually make a loud noise right outside the RSPB
visitor centre
, from which you can
pick up a leaflet outlining a two-hour
walk
along the headland, marked by posts. A
wonderful carpet of flowers covers the machair in summer, and there are usually corn
buntings and arctic terns inland, and gannets, Manx shearwaters and skuas out to sea.
On a clear day you can see the unmistakeable shape of St Kilda (see p.511).
ACCOMMODATION
BALRANALD
Balranald Hebridean Holidays
Hougharry (Hogha
Gearraidh)
T
01876 510304,
W
balranaldhebridean
holidays.com.
Lovely campsite by the RSPB reserve,
surrounded by fields of wild flowers and close to a sandy
beach - as well
as
the usual facilities, there's free wi-fi.
Closed Oct-Feb.
£20
/pitch
