Hebrides
Kerrera near Oban
Hebridean Islands
Scotland has hundreds of islands, some inhabited, many not. The hebrides are a group of islands on the west coast of Scotland and include some very well known islands such as Skye, Mull, The Summer Isles and the northerly islands of the Outer Hebrides - North and South Uist, Harris and Uist plus many others.
The Isle of Skye can be visited easily using the free bridge route and you can take a ferry from Skye to Uist, so island hopping can be a fun way to visit Scotland.
When you visit an island community you should respect their lifestyle and in some of the islands you will discover that Sunday, the Sabbath, is a day of rest and worship - shops may be closed as you will discover on the Isle of Lewis, so plan ahead and stock up on the Saturday. You will still be able to take a stroll down the beach or go for a scenic drive, so you can still enjoy your holiday.
Island life is different and in many islands you will find that the pace of living is a bit more relaxed than on the mainland. So get into the way of this slower, more relaxed lifestyle and plan to take a little longer to drive or travel around the islands - driving slower is also a lot safer as many island roads have sheep and cattle grazing near the road (and walking on the road).
Scottish Gifts
Traditional Scottish Gifts are available online from the Scottish Gift Store.
Island Hopping
Books and Maps on the Hebrides & Western Isles (Hebrides - Amazon UK)
The Scottish Islands: The Bestselling Guide to Every Scottish Island By Hamish Haswell-Smith
Online Maps of Scottish Islands
Visit the Hebrides
The Isle of Lewis Ferry Ullapool Stornoway to the Outer Hebrides.
To visit the Hebrides on holiday you will often use one of the ferries from Oban, Skye or Ullapool. Other transport links do exist with flights from Glasgow to several of the larger islands. And of course you can drive to the Isle of Skye (for free) over the bridge at the Kyle of Lochalsh.
The Hebrides has so much to offer for a holiday in Scotland, it is steeped in history and the islands have reminants of the past - standing stones, cairns and old crofting communities. Some of these have been restored such as the Gearrannan Blackhouse on the Isle of Lewis (west coast).
The blackhouse village is part of a history of over 6,000 years of civilization on the Isle of Lewis, the village was inhabited for 300 years up to 1974 with restoration starting on the Gearrannan Blackhouse village in 1989. You can book a holiday and stay in some of the restored crofts in this village.
Holidays in Scotland & the Hebrides
For specialist holidays and travel to the Hebrides visit the Hebridean Explorer for trips to Harris and Lewis. This company also does trips from Inverness to Loch Ness, the Isle of Skye, Eilean Donan Castle, the Scottish Highlands and the Hebridean Islands.
Uist Property for Sale - Benbecula
We have details of a 4 bedroom property for sale in Benbecula at offers over £155,00 - details on bungalow are on another website - Hebrides bungalow for sale.
Hebridean Croft
Croft for Sale in North Uist
A friend is selling a croft tenancy and a de-crofted 2/3 bedroom house on North Uist, the property overlooks Loch Eport one of the many sea lochs in Uist.
The property is for sale privately and you can get more details from Joyce Ross by e-mailing her with your name and phone number and she will get back to you - joeyc-raven@hotmail.co.uk
Locheport, Isle of North Uist, HS6 5EU
Views from the Croft
View from the moor track over fresh water loch to Eaval.
Croft property front view and drive.
Looking over Loch Eport and sheepdog Jenny.
Rear view of Croft for Sale.
Chickens on the croft. These Buff Orpingtons are in ready demand by other crofters on the island and may be part of the croft sale. Other chickens are also kept for eggs and as table birds.
Free range chickens are kept on the croft. They have an excellent quality of life on this hebridean croft.
Not all animals are "farm animals" some are kept as pets. The enjoyment of crofting life is getting close to your animals and treating them well. Of course as a crofter you do raise animals for food and the market - that is one way to make an income. Most crofters have second jobs to make ends meet and treat the croft as a lifestyle choice that brings in a little income as well.
More pictures on this croft and crofting life in the Highlands of Scotland.