South Uist is one of the islands of the Outer Hebrides, which has a population of about 2000 people. It is best known as the birthplace of Flora MacDonald, in the village of Milton. The main town on the island is Lochboisdale and car ferry lands here running from Oban on the mainland and from Castlebay on Barra. The A865 runs the length of the island, so you won't have any difficulty driving around once you arrive. Here you will find a seaweed factory and the manufacture of tweed is very important to the economy of the island. The south side of the island is quite hilly and most of the people live on the west side of South Uist.
Along the west coast of South Uist, you will find a fabulous sandy beach The mountains on the island rise to dramatic heights, such as the peaks of Beinn Mhor at 620m and Hecla which rises to 606m. This setting provides the perfect opportunity for hillwalking and climbing. Even the lower reaches of the mountains provide stunning views of the island.
Some of the attractions on South Uist include the Kildonan Museum, where you can learn about the local history of the island. There are many artefacts here depicting the lives of the early settlers and the archaeological remains of the Bronze Age and settlement by the Vikings. It is also the home of the Clanranald Stone. For a time this stone was in London, but has been returned to its rightful setting. In the same building as the museum there is a craft store, where you can buy all sorts of handmade items by the artisans of South Uist.
Visit the ruins of Flora MacDonald's home and the ruins of Ormacleit Castle, which burned down on the eve of the Battle of Sheriffmuir in 1715. Throughout South Uist, you can still see the thatched cottages of the local people. This is one place where you can travel back in time with a visit to the large prehistoric burial chamber Barpa Langass and see the standing stone circle that the locals call Finn's People. Visit Cladh Hallan, the only archaeological site in Great Britain where prehistoric mummies have been discovered.
South Uist is the home of the Askernish Golf Course, designed by the same person that designed the Old Course at St. Andrews – Tom Morris. The Scottish Natural Heritage maintains a nature reserve here at Loch Druidibeg in the northern part of the island. This reserve is about 35 square kilometres of bog, freshwater lakes and estuaries and the area is home to about 200 species of flowers, some of which are quite rare. Birdwatchers will delight in the many different species of birds that nest here. The northwest part of the island is off limits, since this is a missile testing area.
There are many different types of accommodations for you to choose from and a visit to the local pub in each town and village is in order. South Uist is an island of legends and the only way to get to hear them all is to talk to the local people – especially the old–timers.
Please Note – The North–West area of the island may occasionally be unavailable due to Ministry of Defence missile testing. When the testing is in progress red flags will be displayed to alert you that the area is off–limits
All South Uist photographs © Andrew P. Chick