Seven Islands in a Day

We set off early this morning to catch the Ferry to Barra from Eriskay which involved a drive through North Uist, Grimsay, Benbecula, South Uist, Eriskay, Barra, and Vatersay. A wonderful day with ferries on time and the weather almost perfect except for our 3 mile walk on Vatersay when we all got soaked during a short but very heavy shower of rain and no cover anywhere. This is on the Ferry to Barra which took 45 minutes and was very calm seas. 

Our Ferry to Barra with only 10 cars on board.

One of the main beaches on Vatersay. This area is like a Tombola with a beach on either side of this narrow isthmus of sand. 

This is the beach at Eriskay next to the Ferry Terminal.

The bay next to Barra Airport with the colour of the sea just magnificent.

This is the other beach on Vatersay. John and I walked on this one that had big breakers coming in from the Atlantic while Gaye and Sandria walked on the more sheltered beach. We all ended up soaked from the heavy rain shower.

On Vatersay there was a field full of Primroses

The Ferry leaving Eriskay

An amazing little cottage on the shore at Eriskay Ferry Terminal

Eriskay Harbour

John with the Primroses

Two old friends who have been travelling on Scottish Islands for almost 20 years.

More Primroses

Barra Airport

A 4ft barrier of pebbles on the north beach at Vatersay

The flight from Glasgow arrives at Barra Airport

 

A Visit to Berneray and a Meeting With two Crofters

A drive this morning to the north of North Uist and a visit to the Island of Berneray. This is a Croft near Berneray where we stopped to visit a War Memorial and I had a long blether with a Crofting couple.

This is Crofters Effie and Andy who were cutting Peat just near the War memorial. They were both in their early 70s and had about 50 acres of Croft with Sheep and Cattle. They cut Peat every year and its really hard work, but they were the happiest and most contented couple I have ever met and very happy with their life on North Uist. It was a real pleasure to meet them.

A lovely inlet near Berneray

Cut Peat left over from 2020

Andy and Effie's cottage

This is called Macleod's Folly

A Caterpillar near the Peat cuttings

The memorial placed by Andy and his family. Their son served in Afghanistan for 10 years.

Land to be cut for Peat later this year

Inscription at the War memorial

One of a pair of Buzzards sitting on a disused cottage chimney

The other Buzzard

A grand view from the Peat cuttings

The Causeway to Berneray

The Peat cut by Andy and Effie this spring. 

 

My First Corncrake

Monday started with torrential rail and 40mph gales so it was early afternoon before we ventured out of the house. I went a walk in the rain and got drenched and within half an hour of me getting back the rain had gone and blue sky's prevailed. I went 2 miles up the road to a nature reserve and had an amazing walk with birds flying everywhere. On my way out of the reserve in the car I noticed this Corncrake in a field crossing between two patches of Iris beds. I quickly used my phone and got this. He started calling soon after and even although he was within feet of me I never saw him again. They really are very elusive these Corncrakes but everywhere we go in the evening you can hear them calling. 

The beach at Balranaid Nature Reserve. It was busy with the Camping site there full of Camper Vans with mostly Bird Spotters.

Later in the evening I went my regular walk near the house and this field planted with grass seed I think has freshened up after a morning rain.

Another view of the beach at the Nature Reserve

My evening beach walk at 8.30pm

 A Lapwing on my evening walk and there were loads of them about and their cry's were wonderful in the late evening sunshine.

Islands no 57 and 58 on Outer Hebrides at Last

I last visited Scottish inhabited Islands in 2018 so it was a real pleasure today to complete the last 2 islands in the Outer Hebrides since my visit there many years ago. This is Flodaigh on Benbecula and it's a very small island with only very few inhabitants but easily reached by causeway.

Flodaigh and many variations on how to spell it but this is from the OS map.

Parked up and on our way to Seal Point but there was only 1 Seal and it dived as soon as I took my camera out of its case. 

This is the lovely beach at Baleshare Island on North Uist

Next to the beach is the Machair and it is ploughed ready for planting potatoes by the Crofters who share the work.

On Flodaigh John was thinking of buying a car but decided to give this one the Thumbs Down.

Gaye, John and Sandria on the windswept beach at Baleshare.

A thatched holiday cottage. We met the occupants who have rented it for 2 weeks every year for 20 years.

This inlet on Flodaigh is quite a distance from the open sea

The Causeway to Flodaigh

The Machair on Baleshare ready for planting potatoes

A windswept trio on Baleshare.

The long beach on Baleshare protected by a high mound of pebbles.

John and Sandria on the top of the barrier of large pebbles.

 

The Causeway to Baleshare.