The Outer Hebrides

After a lovely buffet breakfast, we were met by our Guide, Tommy, to take us on a tour of the Uists.  Tommy lives on South Uist, and is a very knowledgeable man, full of little stories too of the Uists.  We were on three islands today, Benbecula, South Uist and Eriskay, all joined by causeways.

We stopped at 'Our Lady of the Isles' a huge statue which was erected as a defiance of the military presence on South Uist, through the striving of the  local Priest who felt that the military presence would erode the Celtic culture of the island.  He was unable to stop the presence but wanted to have something permanent to show the heritage.  We walked up to the statue, and the view over the island from there is stunning.  We are seeing it all in beautiful sunlight, which makes a big difference. (see extra)

We toured around the island, and crossed to Eriskay, stopping for lunch at a community restaurant and shop which was really nice. 

We also were taken to a Church of Scotland which had a communion table running the full length of the church, most unusual. And saw the site of the Tobha Mor Ancient Chapels.  Also paid a visit to St. Michael's Catholic Church, which was beautiful.

But it wasn't all churches that Tommy showed us as he took us to the beach were it is alleged that Prince Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) landed on Scottish soil to lead the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745.  Local school children have marked the site with a memorial and we walked along the beach to it.  I have shown a photograph of the beach in my collage.

One thing that has struck me is how beautiful the machair is, very rich with wild flowers and more than I have seen in other parts of the highlands and islands.  Eriskay is very beautiful.  Each island is stunning, and it would be impossible not to take some good photographs, everywhere we look there is a fantastic view.

After a full day we were grateful for a very good dinner, the hotel's food is excellent, and after dinner we were able to hear two young boys playing accordian for us, which was nice.

A full day.  We also have a helicopter outside the hotel, as the men from the Lighthouses are staying while on maintenance work.  But they haven't offered us a ride in the helicopter!!!!