Outer Hebrides · Region
The southern Long Island, joined by causeways.
The quieter half of the Long Island. Eighty-odd miles of Atlantic beach backed by machair, joined island to island by causeways, with Barra at the bottom and a plane that lands on the sand.
The Uists and Barra
From Barra in the south to Berneray in the north, the southern Long Island is a chain of low islands joined by causeways: Eriskay, South Uist, Benbecula, Grimsay, North Uist. The west side is one long beach with the machair behind it; the east is hills, sea lochs and the little harbours where the ferries come in.
In June and July the machair flowersverify: yellow first, then white and purple, and the corncrakes call from the iris beds. It is one of the reasons to come, and it lasts a few weeks only.
Barra is small enough to walk round in a long day. The plane from Glasgow lands on the beach at Traigh Mhòr, timed by the tideverify, and it’s one of the better ways to arrive anywhere.
It depends on the tide and the weather, like everything here. We always have the ferry as a back-up for the same day or the next.
Partly. Buses link the causeway islands, but not often. A driver-guide for two or three days is the easier answer.
On still summer evenings, yes, though the wind on the west side keeps them down. Midge season runs roughly from late May to Septemberverify.
Routes
11–13 nights · Outer Hebrides · Wester Ross
Four ferries · Three causeways · One drive north
Suggested11–13 nightsTailored to your dates · no package price
View route: The Long IslandExperiences
The Uists and Barra
A summer walk through the flowering machair with the people who keep it.
Where to stay
Placeholders: the kind of place we would suggest, until our specialists confirm the houses and hotels we use.
Hotel
A room looking at Kisimul Castle in the bay.
Guest house
Run by a family; breakfast and directions to the beach.
Self-catering
Near Balranald, for the corncrakes in the evening.
Best time to visit
June and July for the machair; May and September for quiet roads and settled spells. Daylight shown for Stornoway, the nearest Light calendar station; the best months are in bold.
The Uists and Barra
South to north is the natural direction: Oban to Barra, then up through the causeways, then the short ferry from Berneray to Harris. It keeps the long crossing at the start, when you are fresh.
Corncrakes are heard far more than seen. Balranald on North Uist is the classic place, late in the evening in May and June. We don’t promise a sighting; we do promise the sound.
Smoked salmon from South Uist, shellfish landed at the piers, and a few very good small kitchens that close early and need booking. We do the booking.
Benbecula has an airport with flights from Glasgow. The Barra beach flights are few and small; we book them early. Routes and operatorsverify pending a specialist check.
Photographs
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Tell us when, who’s coming, and what you’re hoping for. One person plans it and looks after you.
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