The Hebrides remain one of the most unspoilt areas of Great Britain where traditional crofting techniques have kept a landscape steeped in tradition in pristine condition. Wildlife of all kinds abounds. The wild flowers on the west coast machair meadows in late spring and early summer are exceptional, and their variety and abundance is maintained by the carefully controlled timing of hay making and harvests. Huge flocks of geese, ducks and waders migrate through the islands and many species breed on the thousands of lochans, extensive shell sand beaches, moors and marshlands. Birds which are normally rare, such as corncrakes, golden plover and golden eagle, are common sights. Mammal species are more limited, but otter sightings are common and boat trips out into the Minch and Atlantic often see seals, whales, dolphins and porpoises.
Crofting itself produces some wonderful sights very reminiscent of older times in British agriculture. In Howmore the cows are walked up to the hill pastures every day during the summer, and fields of oats and rye are still harvested using binders, producing rows of corn sheaves in the fields in September.
The archaeology of Uist is outstanding and has been the subject of extensive research in recent years by a team from Sheffield University. Many well signed and interpreted sites, dating from the Neolithic through to Mediaeval times, are available to visit, including several of the famous Iron Age ‘Wheelhouses’, and all are explained in more detail in several good books which are all available in the cottage.
Howmore township is itself a conservation area, due to the unique collection of chapels, possibly dating from the ninth century, which lie just 200 yds to the north of the cottage.
Vehicle ferries connect Uist and Benbecula to the other islands in the Hebrides chain – Barra to the south and Harris and Lewis to the north. Regular services mean that day trips to these neighbouring islands are quite feasible.
At the cottage you will find for your use:
- A full set of OS 1:25,000 maps of the whole of South Uist, Eriskay, Benbecula, North Uist and Berneray. There are also 1:50,000 maps of Barra and Harris and Lewis.
- A good range of books about the wildlife, people, geography, archaeology and history of the Hebrides
- A folder with a full list of museums, tourist information centres, activities, events, contact details for tour guides etc.
- This folder also includes our own favourite selection of walks, visits and excursions for all weathers and times of year.
There is a range of useful websites that you may like to consult including:
http://www.visithebrides.com/islands/suist/ for general tourism information about South Uist and the other Hebridean islands.
http://www.seaharris.co.uk and http://www.seatrek.co.uk run boat trips around the islands and also day trips to St Kilda. These are based in Harris so require travelling across the Sound of Harris ferry. Be warned that the trips to St Kilda are totally weather dependent and typically may run only two or three days out of seven. They are also quite expensive at £150 - £200 per person, but if you can go, it is the most extraordinary experience.
www.hebridescottages.co.uk . Perhaps you would like a two island holiday? Why not take the opportunity to explore the northern Hebridean islands of Harris and Lewis and book into one of these lovely cottages owned by our friends Mike and Rupa Frain located near Tarbert and Stornoway for a second week?
Bird Watching: The RSPB has a reserve at Balranald on North Uist (www.rspb.org ) and the only National Nature Reserve in the Hebrides is a five minute drive from Howmore at Loch Druidibeg (www.nnr-scotland.org ). However in such an unspoilt environment, bird watching is a good pastime just about anywhere, though the west coast beaches and machair are favourites. The spring and autumn are particularly favoured times for bird watchers as the migrations take place. In 2009 an exceptional list of North American visitors arrived during late August and September on South Uist. These included Pectoral, Buff-breasted, Baird’s and Semipalmated Sandpipers, a Hudsonian Whimbrel, an American Golden Plover and on the Howmore River, just a few minutes walk from the cottage, a Long Billed Dowitcher and two Blue-winged Teal. Later on during October a good migration of Red-throated divers, Brent Geese, Leach’s Petrels, Grey Phalaropes, Pomerine Skuas and Sabine’s Gulls was noted.
Fishing: South Uist has some of the best loch fishing in Scotland. For details on permits, boat hire and ghillies go to www.southuistfishing.com .