Outer Hebrides

[yizzy]

Help please .I am flying to Barra in April and was looking on trip advisor for acc. and they all look great, does anyone know them? . I am a 66 yr old women still quite fit and enjoy walking, but not hills anymore. Is there a bus route nearby, so I could visit the rest of the island.
I havent booked transport home yet. Is there a bus to Benbecula and I could fly home from there.? What about the ferries? I would be sailing to Oban to get the train to Glasgow. Could get info on website, but would be grateful for any advice
Thank you

[solvitquick]

omg! I hate to be a downer but we've made the Barra disaster- although it was about 25 yrs ago. This is what I remember.
(a) There is (was) an "airport" on Barra's cockleshell beach.
(b) The hills and lowlands are hardly walkable, covered on soaking very soggy sphagnum grass. Only walking is on the road (it's not busy as few people live there).
(c) There is only one road - it goes around the island.
(d) There is (was) a car-ferry, Caladonia-McBrain(?) Oban to Castlereigh, Barra's only village.
(e) If you like sheep, you'll love it.
(f) Buses? You are joking dear yizzy - this place is for sheep and their crofters.
(g) In April it's probably terrible for weather, still under the Icelandic weather-trough. Cold and wet.
On the bright side, the beaches are snow-white because they aren't sand but crushed smooth cockleshell residiue. The water is beautiful, clear turquoise.
On balance, after recovering, we found it a remarkable experience, renting a crofters cottage. But never again!
Hope things have improved after all this time but the best advice I can give is cancel unless you are fit, under-thirty and are taking the car.....but even then it's a toss-up!
So sorry but you need to be warned - the beach-photos may look great taken on a sunny(?) day in the warmth of home but it's not a holiday place really.
If proven wrong, I'll be delighted for you yizzy,
Best Wishes,
SIQ.

[piggynose]

well the last time i visited the outer&inner hebrides, was about 1988, 26 yrs ago, i was on a bicycle, and it was fab. cant remember barra, but remember arran, skye(before the bridge), lewis&harris, and other places, but can´t remember the names off the top of my head. i camped and stayed in b&b´s

[yizzy]

Oh dear food for thought. Glad it was only a cheap flight if I decide against it
I do go abroad for the sun but thought I would like to see the Islands of Scotland as I've done most of the mainland Thanks

[solvitquick]

Don't be hypnotised by the Scottish Isles yizzy, the North west Highlands are magnificent Ullapool is a great town and jumping-off town on Lake Broome. You really need a driver to share your adventures. You could then, from Ullapool visit Poolewe, Iverewe (tropical gardens as it's hit by the warming Gulf Stream Drift as well as drive around the Sutherland Highlands.
Yup, go far north young woman! Scottish best time July/August.
Have faith, whatever, Barra will be an extraordinary experience but be prepared to come back early if necessary - we did after 10 days of 14. Mind you we were not in the hotel.
Luv,
SIQ.

[yizzy]

Thanks , I am Scottish and have visited most of the country over the years , and loved every minute of it .I am widowed now,don't drive and it is one of the places we always meant to visit but never got round to it .I am just starting to go away on my own and yes thought it would be safe . I believe there is a bus that meets the plane and stops near most of the acc. The flight was cheap so I think I will play it by ear and check the weather first , don't mind a bit of rain after all I am Glaswegian but don't fancy gales. Thanks found all your advice very helpful

[solvitquick]

Well done lass,
Safe? Of course it's safe! At worst it might be boring but then again you may well enjoy every minute - I hope so.
Bon voyage,
SIQ.

[yizzy]

Thanks for your good wishes . I will go if weather permits and can always come back early on the ferry if things don't work out . That will be another adventure