Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Wheelhouse
Airigh Mhic Ruairidh, Griminish (Griminis)
T
07952 163080,
W
hebrides-holidays.co.uk.
Eco-yurts
and huts, powered with solar power and candlelight, on a
spot looking across the tidal flats to Vallay. Two nights'
minimum (and bring your own bedding) or stay in the
hostel hut or camp. Bike hire and activities from peat cutting
to seas
hore
foragin
g als
o on offer. Closed Nov-March. Huts
for two
£50
; hostel
£16
/person
Clachan (Clachan na Luib) and around
At
CLACHAN
(Clachan na Luib), by the crossroads with the A867 from Lochmaddy,
there's a post o
ce and general store. Offshore, to the southwest, lie two flat, tidal,
dune and machair islands, the larger of which is
Baleshare
(Baile Sear), with its
fantastic three-mile-long beach, connected by causeway to North Uist.
14
ACCOMMODATION
CLACHAN AND AROUND
Ì
Bagh Alluin
21 Baleshare (Baile Sear)
T
01876
580370,
W
jacvolbeda.co.uk.
A secluded, beautifully
designed modern B&B with fantastic views over the island
run b
y a D
utch artist, who is a genuinely warm and friendly
host.
£85
Langass Lodge
Loch Eport
T
01876 580285,
W
langasslodge.co.uk.
From the A867, a side road leads
off to this venerable hotel,
which has a stylish modern
extension, and a restaurant and bar that serves excellent
local seafood (£3
0 for t
wo courses); reservations advised.
Daily 6-8.30pm.
£110
Moorcroft Holidays
17 Carinish (Cairinis)
T
01876
580305,
W
moorcroftholidays.com.
An exposed, but flat
and very well equipped campsite, with sea views; the
bunkhouse has just six beds, lovely wooden floors and
furnishings,
an
d a modern kitc
hen.
Closed Nov-March.
Bunkhouse
£18
/person; camping
£13
/pitch
EATING AND DRINKING
Claddach Kirkibost Centre
Claddach Kirkibost
(Cladach Chireboist)
T
01876 580390.
Community-
centre café in a conservatory with sea views, which uses
local produce to make soups, sandwiches and simple
dishes, even the occasional curry or Tex-Mex dish (£6-7).
Mon-Sat 11am-4pm; closed Sat in winter.
Westford Inn
Claddach Kirkibost (Cladach Chireboist)
T
01876 580653,
W
j7mis.co.uk/westfordinn.
North
Uist's only pub is housed in the eighteenth-century factor's
house. There's a wood-panelled bar plus several smaller
rooms with real fires in bad weather, Skye ales on tap and
pub food until 9pm.
May-Sept daily noon-11pm.
Benbecula (Beinn na Faoghla)
Blink and you could miss the pancake-flat island of
Benbecula
(put the stress on the
second syllable), sandwiched between Protestant North Uist and Catholic South Uist.
Scarred from the postwar presence of the Royal Artillery who once made up half the
local population, the only reason to come to
BALIVANICH
(Baile a Mhanaich),
Benbecula's grim, grey capital, is if you're flying into or out of
Benbecula airport
, need
an ATM, the laundry (behind the bank) or a supermarket.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
BENBECULA
By plane
Benbecula airport
(
W
hial.oc.uk) is just a
10-15min walk north of Balivanich. There's a small café
inside the airport building.
By bus
Buses en route to and from South or North Uist stop
outside the post o
ce.
Destinations
Berneray (Mon-Sat 5-7 daily; 1hr 10min);
Eriskay (Mon-Sat 5-7 daily; 1hr 30min); Lochboisdale
(Mon-Sat 7-8 daily; 1hr); Lochmaddy (Mon-Sat 6-7
daily; 30min).
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
Kyles Flodda
Kyles Flodda (Caolas Fhlodaigh)
T
01870
603145,
W
kylesflodda.com.
Secluded, picturesque,
beautifully converted Victorian B&B halfway down the d
ead-
end road in the northeast corner of the island. Free wi-fi.
£80
Nunton House Hostel
Nunton
T
01870 602017,
W
nuntonhousehostel.com.
Four small dorm rooms in
the former clan chief 's house, where Bonnie Prince Charlie
dressed up in drag before his escape over the sea to Skye.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP
KISIMUL CASTLE
P.522
; UIG SANDS
P.511
; CALLANISH
CALANAIS
STANDING STONES
P.510
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