South Uist
South Uist is a narrow island stretching 22 miles long but just seven miles wide. The main road takes you off the causeway at Carnan through to Daliburgh (and the turnoff junction for Lochboisdale) and onward to Ludag. The roadway continues over the causeway to Eriskay and the ferry for Barra.
Moor and Machair
The west side of the island has spectacular low-lying machair land which bursts into wonderful colour each summer with wild flowers flourishing in the sandy soil. It is dominated by miles of stunning beaches overlooking the Atlantic. In contrast, the east coast faces the Minch and is hilly, rocky and rugged.
Crofting & Fishing
Most of the population live on the west side where the coastal machair is common grazing land for overwintering cattle. In summer crofters transfer their livestock to the eastern moor and hills and cultivate crops in unfenced strips on the machair. Potatoes and corn are common crops.
Fishermen only work the exposed west coast during the summer and relocate to the relatively sheltered grounds on the east for the winter. The eastern sea lochs are handy for laying lobster and prawn creels and also supports salmon farming.
Reuval
Our Lady of the Isles is the largest religious statue in Britain. Standing on the roadside slope of Reuval, the Hill of Miracles, the nine metre statue of the Virgin and Child was erected in 1957.
The rocket range station is prominently seen at the top of the hill and it controls weapons testing at sea. It is a major employer in Uist and past threats to scale it down was oised to hit local jobs and sparked a campaign to retain the base. The road towards the summit offers a fantastic view over the east coast vista of South Uist as well as over the flat land of Benbecula framed by the North Uist hills.
Beinn Mhòr, and her sisters, are more easily accessible from the main spinal road running down the length of Uist. The climb to their summits is rewarded by the breathtaking panoramic view with St Kilda looming out in the Atlantic while Skye seems just a hop across to the east.
Askernish golf course was, in 1892, reputedly laid out by Old Tom Morris who is hailed as the father of modern golf. Originally 18 holes, it was later changed to a nine hole course to make way for an air landing strip in 1936. There are now advance plans to develop it as an international facility.
Macdonald’s Castle
Ormacleit Castle was the stronghold of the Uist Macdonald's of Clan Ranald for just seven years. Clan Chief Allan Macdonald built it for his French wife. The castle was razed by fire the day the Chief was believed to have been killed fighting for the Jacobite side for the Old Pretender James Edward Stuart, father of Bonnie Prince Charlie at the Battle of Sherrifmuir in 1915.
The ruins are on private ground and access is not possible but the remaining walls can be seen from outwith the croft boundaries.
Clan Ranald
Clan Ranald chiefs were buried at Howmore where ruins of five places of worship show it was an important religious centre almost 1000 years ago.
The buildings date from the 12 Century and were probably built over earlier chapel or cells established by Celtic monks. A picturesque white-coloured thatched house in the village is a backpackers hostel operated by the Gatliff Trust.
Kilpheder Wheelhouse
The Kilpheder Wheelhouse is now mounds of overgrown low walls protruding from the ground. The outline of the 2000-year-old circular dwelling can be seen on the machair. Come off the main road into the village and carry on to the shore. The wheelhouse remains are sited about 200 metre in the same line from the crossroads.
Eriskay
A causeway has connected Eriskay with South Uist for the last eight years. It completion allows continuous travel through Uist and Benbecula by road from Berneray using similar fixed links to cross narrow seaways. A ferry plys the short crossing to Barra.
Bonnie Prince Charlie landed here on 23 July 1745 to plot his attack against the British Government. It was his first time on Scottish soil. The white striped pink sea bindweed, flourishes on the Prince's beach on Eriskay where he landed.
The Eriskay pony is Scotland's last breed of native horse. Although each is individually owned they graze in a herd on the open hill and roam around the village, Am Baile, over the winter. Traditionally they hauled baskets of peat and seaweed and worked the land. The Comann Each nan Eilean, Eriskay Pony Society, was established in 1972 to strive for the breed’s survival.
The S.S. Politician was laden with whisky when she was wrecked off Eriskay in 1941. Islanders "liberated" its cargo and hundreds of bottles of whisky were hidden across the island; many buried in peat bogs. The tale was immortalised by Compton Mackenzie. His book 'Whisky Galore' was turned into a film (called Tight Little Island in the USA) which was shot on Barra using islanders as extras. There are plans to make an updated version.
The poor rocky land on Eriskay was a dumping ground for the victims of the Clearances. Colonel John Gordon of Cluny Castle chased improvised islanders off Barra and South Uist to gain profitable rents from sheep farmers. Hundreds emigrated and those in abject poverty were banished to Eriskay where the rocky ground made it impossible to farm . Now Eriskay is owned by he community along with the rest of most of the Cluny Hebridean estates.