Hebridean trip
Hi, I’m new on here but have been a club member nearly 40 years. We caravanned for 32 of them then went over to the dark side and bought a motorhome LOL! I would love to hear from any one who has been to the Outer Hebrides with a van same sort of size as ours (7.6m).We’re going next May so am interested in tips on which roads to avoid, good places to park during the day while we’re out, good food etc. I’ve planned a route and chosen sites as bases, preferring to get around the tiddly roads on our two e bikes. I’m researching what to do and where to go…so excited about going. Old hands at single track roads with passing places and have chosen sites with hook ups and chem disposal. Looking forward to hearing any first hand experience from anyone who’s been. Thanks
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We did it in a 6m PVC from Lewis down to Barra. Mostly the roads were absolutely fine as were the sites. Personally I’d not want to do it in a MH the size of yours but people do.
Places to go - it very much depends on your personal preferences but the tourist must sees are the Callanish Stones and the Gearrannan Village on Lewis, the beaches of Luskentyre on Harris and the beach airport on Barra. Otherwise, it’s whatever takes your fancy. Most beach areas have parking but be prepared for hills on your ebikes.
Don't expect to find lots of places to eat out because they are not plentiful. The Co-op shops are very good for stocking up on supplies.
Do, please, respect the islanders religious observance of Sunday and remember that everything closes on a Sunday.
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Do you have any pics Tinny?, I’ve done Scotland but not almost Scandinavian Scotland like you, now that’s a journey mate👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻
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Loads of them. I’ll find a few😃. It’s not so much of a journey as the nearer Scandinavia of Shetland. Now that is a trek👍🏻
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Here you go-
Callanish Stones swarming in Canadian visitors
Gearrannan Blackhouses with just a few Canadians
Luskentyre and
Barra airport (across the bay) sans Canadians
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You may find the Andrew Ditton videos on YouTube useful in planning your trip. There is a series of them and this is the first one about the basics. Andrew lives in the Outer Hebrides so sound local knowledge. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnCY6cizghg
David
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That is beaut Tinny, great pics. Scotland is rammed just full of wonderful history, I remember visiting Iona & that was a revelation in the feelings it engendered,for an atheist like me I found it so spiritual, no Canadians mind😊
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One word of WARNING to you, ClubDougal !!
Do your checking carefully and ensure it covers the FERRIES !!
Ferries like the old ( now replaced I understand ) ferry to Mull from Lochaline to Fishnish used to be Drive on ~~ Reverse off !! I was in a Leyland Sherpa camper so had no trouble but the lady in a car in front of me leapt out, ran round to the passenger side & pounded violently on the car roof. Definitely would have needed a change of attire at the first lay-by I reckon !!
As Rocky says, so much great history ~~ almost as much as there is great scenery, so no rushing around on either count
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No worries there, Brian. The ferries to the Outer Hebrides are good drive on, drive off ferries the same goes for the small inter island ferries👍.
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I know what you mean. I've not been to Iona but the Ring of Brodgar in Orkney had a very spiritual feel. It was probably enhanced by us being the only people there in the quiet of evening.
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You're right, Ne10, but I don't know when it comes into force. It'll be on the Calmac website.
It's a way of controlling the number of MHs crossing because local folk were having problems getting on the ferries.
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Thanks peeps…yep, I know about Calmac’s advance booking requirement, booking sites first. Also have every intention of respecting everything about the islands, its people, customs and wildlife. We hope to explore more on foot/bike rather than blocking roads with our van. Thanks for heads up re Sundays….good to know in advance. Photos are great…..can’t decide whether to expect alot of other visitors…it’ll depend on covid rules on travel I guess….but we’re going second week in May, hopefully before the rush starts.
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It wasn't overly busy when we went but that was pre-covid back in June/July 2018. Once the Canadian cruisers had 'done' the sights, it was much quieter but staycations have since made it a popular place to visit.
Enjoy the trip.
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Our daughter and her husband live on Lewis with Harris - she's a nurse works at Stornoway Hospital (...to do with training these days). We have been a few times but have always hired a cottage. Most of the roads (apart from the spine road) tend to be single track but there are lots of passing places. You can usually see the next passing place from the previous one. The roads are not busy, and folk are understanding, so I wouldn't imagine this being a problem.
There are others who have had more experience of the camp sites on Lewis with Harris, but I don't think you can expect manicured sites/ fully serviced hardstanding as a general rule - others will be more experienced to recommend.
Just be careful with CalMac, and keep in touch with their website. The ferries themselves are fine, but they can cancel them and change the times if there are weather or 'breakdown' problems. The last time we came back they cancelled the evening ferry from Tarbert to Uig because of a problem elsewhere on the network, so we caught the morning ferry the next day. We did get a text or email advising us...
David
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In my experience the sites were absolutely fine, David. We chose sites with EHU pitches and some had individual taps as well. We used 6 sites throughout the islands and would use 5 of them again.
I agree that they are not manicured to CAMC standards but I wouldn’t expect them to be seeing they’re on the windswept Hebridean Islands😀. All were clean and tidy with facility blocks that often outstripped those on CAMC sites in my opinion.
These pics are the Kilbride Campsite on South Uist and is fairly typical. It’s not manicured but totally fits in with the surrounding countryside and has a superb facility block.
There’s no need to worry about the quality of the sites👍🏻
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That's a lovely site. When we were there in early May 2019, towing a 5m caravan from Barra to Stornoway, there was a very retired looking teardrop mini caravan lurking on the site, waiting for its own to restore it... wonder if it's still there.
We found most of the people along the way on our trip were great, both local people and those on the sites.
As an example - a young family, with Dad determined to single-handedly erect their tent. Of course it was blowing a gale, it's the Outer Hebrides. After a while he accepted help from most of us on the site in moving the flapping monster to a more sheltered spot suggested by the owner, who then moved his transit van and used it as an anchor point and windbreak.And yes, respect both given & received was a lovely thing to encounter all along.
Just a few owners of biggest M-Homes insisted on taking them down the tiniest possible roads, which didn't please some site owners who spoke of the damage to road sides.If it's open, a visit to the Kildonan museum can be very rewarding.
Balranald at the NW of Uist is another great site while you're on that island.0 -
This one, HH? I think it was there for the novelty value. It was very small as you can gauge from the stone wall behind it.
Yes, agree with you about Balranald.
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The very one, TW! It was looking a wee bit sadder when we saw it.
And Balranald was the first place we heard the corncrake - not the last - and some of our neighbours there got to see one.
Definitely a place we want to revisit.1 -
Hi.
Setting off Sat 7th May. Will be in the Outer Hebrides from Tues 10th for 3 weeks. Starting at Barra. Staying at Wavecrest site / Balranald North Uist / Seilbost Harris / Shawbost Lewis.
Driving a Santa Fe / Towing an Adria caravan. Feel free to say hello.
Sam Miller
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My wife and I toured The Outer Hebrides, about 7 years age, and 5 years ago. We use a caravan. If you have visited Altnaharra responsible (ie allow overtaking etc), there is no problem. We towed a Bailey Orion with a Volvo V70.
If you are reading this, then you are already planning ahead. That is important. For example we found that at that time using the CalMac Island Hopper worked, but we needed to go clockwise. ie starting from Oban (to Barra), travel north, and depart from Tarbert (to Uig). Basically to align with when we needed to leave a site, and when we could arrive, in particular not arrive quite late.
At that time some sites could be booked by email, but needed a posted cheque to confirm. Don't expect the modern slick CAMC system. Personal favourite was Moorcroft Farm pitch 5 watching aircraft landing at Benbecula. It was interesting to book on Horgabost as there are no pitches marked out, and is all a kind of wild camping area with honesty box by the entrance.
The main downside was the cost of £140 for the caravan on the ferries for only a fortnight there. Next time we will go for longer.
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