More beaches, history…. and Eriskay.

Great morning on Baile Sear beach, a flat island connected by causeway to North Uist; on way south we went to McLeans bakery in Benbecula where we procured outstanding Empire Biscuits. And more. We had a picnic just after we crossed into South Uist, great views to the West (extra photos). Flora MacDonald’s birthplace at Milton was a completely understated monument in terms of Scottish history (extra photo). She played a key part in the escape of Bonnie Prince Charlie after defeat at Culloden in 1746. Both of them crop up in various parts of our holiday actually. A similar understatement comment applies to Cladh Hallam, evidence of roundhouses and of early settlement, and much more. Main attraction after the culture was Aisgernis beach. Long empty stretch of dunes and white sands where I photographed the brothers when larking about (extra photo).

Eriskay causeway to Barra is my choice photo for today. Our older son flew his drone (extra photo); the causeway is a great construction. The project was funded by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, the Government, and the EU European Regional Development Fund (pretty  much all causeways are same funding model). Eriskay is where Bonnie Prince Charlie landed to launch the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion. It was also where the SS Politician grounded in 1941, and the islanders “liberated ” 260,000 bottles of whisky. This lead to Compton McKenzie’s book “Whisky Galore.” The restaurant Am Polictian has wreck relics, it’s always busy. We took lots of photos at Eriskay - some were features my wife and I had noted in research beforehand, others just of the views. The brothers had a planned kick about before dinner -  Eriskay football pitch on the Western Isles has been recognised by Fifa as one of eight unique places to play the game in the world (because it slopes/great backdrop). We thoroughly enjoyed Eriskay.

We’d dinner on South Uist at Am Pollachar, booked before the holidays (wise move!). Great views.

Good banter in the car on the drive northwards.

A log fire rounded the day off; we sat in the warm and watched the first video preview of our recent family wedding.