North & South Uist

North Uist & Benbecula

Visitors are attracted to North Uist for deer stalking, salmon fishing, bird watching, exploring prehistoric sites and enjoying the extensive sandy beaches (including those on Berneray).

There is an outdoor centre and a museum and arts centre in Lochmaddy which is also the starting point of the Uist Sculpture Trail. Six miles south west of the village are the Neolithic burial tomb of Bharpa Langass and stone circle of Pobull Phinn and there are RSPB otter walks from the village. Eighteen miles west of Lochmaddy is the RSPB Balranald Nature Reserve and visitor centre.

The low lying island of Benbecula is linked to North and South Uist by causeways, where there is the small Museum nan Eilean.

South Uist & Barra

In the north of South Uist are the Loch Druidibeg Nature Reserve and restored blackhouses at Howmore. In the south, the Kildonan Museum depicts the lives of local crofters (many were ousted during the Clearances) and Milton is the location of Flora Macdonald's birthplace and ruined blackhouses. Lochboisdale is the island's largest village and port for ferries to Barra and Oban.

Eriskay Ponies

The hilly island of Eriskay is famous for its wild Eriskay ponies, being the place where Bonnie Prince Charlie first landed in Scotland and for the sinking of the SS Politician when the locals consumed its cargo of 250,000 bottles of whisky, the basis of the book and film Whisky Galore.

The island of Barra has many splendid beaches and is the location of the restored 11th century Kisimul Castle (seat of the MacNeil clan), restored 19th century thatched house and the Barra Heritage Centre. From Barra, there are bird watching cruises to Mingulay which has many rock stacks and caves.