Wildlife Watching
A landscape teeming with wildlife
Glorious Beaches
Pristine sandy beaches lead us into the land of our dreams
A Crofting and Gaelic Culture
One of the last strongholds of the Gaelic Language and Crofting Communities
The Hebridean Way
Cnoc Nan Uan Self Catering
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Local Cafes, Bars and Restaurants
Out and About
North Uist - The Island
North Uist is one of the most beautiful islands in the whole Hebridean Chain
with numerous seemingly endless beaches, stunning Machair habitat and an
incredible interior landscape of moors, lochs and peat bogs. Flying over the
island, it appears to be almost a drowned landscape, and what you see below
is evidence of the last ice age from over 1200 years ago. North Uist has been in
private ownership of the Granville Family since 1961 and the estate is run by
North Uist Estate Trust. Come to North Uist and there is plenty for you to do,
discover and experience.
North Uist Beaches
Unspoilt Beauty
North Uist is famed for its stunning beaches, and with more than thirty to
choose from, you will never be disappointed. These pristine beaches can span
for over three miles, be hidden a short distance off the road or have large vistas
such as the Vallay Strand. Of course, there are favourites like West Beach
on Berneray, Clachan Sands, Greinetobht, Udal, Traigh Iar, Sollas, Vallay
Strand, Scolpaig, Hosta, Balranald, Kyles, Baleshare, but there are also
numerous others that are equally beautiful. Whichever beach you may find
yourself on, you can be assured that they are never crowded. As Vallay Island
beach is tidal, extra caution must be taken to prevent being stranded.
It is therefore always advisable to seek local knowledge regarding the tides. One
other matter of importance, if travelling to beaches across Machair in spring
and summer, always ensure that dogs are kept on leads to avoid disturbance to
livestock.
Wildlife
Walk in the Presence of Nature
North Uist is the ideal island to base yourself on for any wildlife adventure, and
with easy access to other islands on day trips, your choice is almost endless.
North Uist boasts some incredible biodiversity with an abundance of wildlife
such as sea birds, waders, raptors, seals and otters.
The stunning Balranald Nature Reserve is ideal for beginning your wildlife
adventures. With beautiful self-guided walks across the Machair and onto the
beaches, you are guaranteed to encounter a large variety of birds such as
Lapwings, Corn Buntings, Oystercatchers, Arctic Terns, Sanderlings and
Turnstones, to name but a few. During the summer, the Reserve has a wide
range of activities and guided walks, and these provide fantastic opportunities
to discover more about the incredible wildlife of North Uist. For more information, check out Balranald Nature Reserve.
If you would like to visit some offshore islands or head out on a guided trip with a local guide, we recommend local boat operators Lady Anne Boat Trips Uist Sea Tours. Local wildlife tours are operated by Western Isles Wildlife and cultural,wildlife and history tours by Igot2travel
The Crofting Landscape
A Daily Way of Life
People always ask what is a croft and crofting? A croft is simply a small
agricultural unit which is usually a tenancy, with an annual rent paid to the
landowner but is sometimes owner occupied. In addition to the in-bye land
allocated to each croft, all crofters have a share in the common grazings of the
township. A croft is not the house in which the crofter lives, it is the land which
he or she occupies. A croft was also once wittily described as “a small area of
land surrounded by bureaucracy”.
Crofting has been a part of the Hebrides for more than 150 years, and across
the islands you will travel through what is known as crofting communities.
Crofting is based mainly on livestock rearing with crops grown for winter feed
for cattle and sheep. The low intensity of this grazing/arable system has many
benefits for wildlife.
Some of the in-bye fields around crofts are used for grass production to attract
and protect wildlife. Other fields are grazed by cattle and sheep.
Gaelic is still spoken extensively across Uist and more than 70% of the
population can still speak it. There has been a revival in the Gaelic language,
and with immersion courses and online programmes hosted through Love
Gaelic, there is a good future for the language.
The Past is Present
What Sets Us Apart
The Outer Hebrides is an environment that has been occupied for close to 8000
years, and across all islands, there are archaeological remains that have stood
the test of time, and still leave us mystified. With numerous Neolithic, Bronze
and Iron Age sites from moorland to coastline, is it any wonder that people say,
"the past is always present”? Further North, on the Island of Lewis, are
the famous Callanish Standing Stones that are said to pre-date Stonehenge.
On North Uist, there are numerous archaeological sites to visit, such as Barpa
Langais, Pobull Fhinn, Udal and Dun an Sticir, to name but a few. For those wishing to explore further, we are proud to say that a new app, namely ‘Uist Unearthed’, has been launched. It enables visitors and locals alike to"discover the archaeology of Uist as never before".
The app was created by archaeologists from Lews Castle College UHI and supported by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.
The World of an Island
The Perfect Adventure at Your Own Pace
The Hebridean Way is a truly incredible way to experience these islands. It spans more than 200 miles and includes 10 totally different islands. Two distinct routes, one for cyclists and one for walkers, take you through a rugged glaciated landscape, along Atlantic coastlines with plenty of places to stop and relax, refuel and take in the serenity of the Hebrides. You can be assured of a warm Hebridean welcome along the way with the opportunity to immerse in local culture and communities. Launched in 2016, the Hebridean Way runs from Vatersay in the South to the Butt of Lewis in the North.
Fishing
Salmon , Sea Trout and Brown Trout
North Uist boasts hundreds of freshwater lochs, brackish lochs and incredible
sea pools for fishing. The choice for the fisherman seems endless. North Uist
Estate mainly owns the fishing, and day/week permits for brown trout fishing
can be obtained from Lochmaddy Hotel. Sea Trout and Salmon fishing permits
are also allocated through Lochmaddy Hotel. Visitors are advised to check into
the hotel to obtain a day’s permit to fish sea trout and salmon waters. Priority is
given to hotel guests.
Another option for trout fishing is with the North Uist Angling Club of Newton
and Balranald Estates. Fishing permits are available, and boats can be booked
through the Club's official outlet, The Westford Inn (telephone 01876 580653)
during the business hours of 11 am-11 pm. North Uist Angling Club does not
give permission to fish in the North Uist Estate waters.
Out and About
Succulent Local Produce
The Outer Hebrides is famous for the quality of its local produce, and with an abundance of seafood, this truly is the place to savour and taste its distinction. Most places serve local seafood such as Mussels, Scallops, Crab, Lobster and Langoustine. Local meats and produce are fresh from the croft, and with the world-renowned gin distilleries, you are guaranteed a wonderful experience from start to finish.
To discover more of the food of the Outer Hebrides, follow
the self-guided food trail.
Local Places to Eat and Drink
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Eat and Drink
Local delights
The cabin is based at Balranald Hebridean Holidays Campsite and is open from April to the end of September. Serving hot food, home baking and teas and coffees.
Open to non-residents.
Dunes Cabin
The Wee Cottage Kitchen! We are a family-run catering trailer on the Isle of North Uist overlooking the beautiful Vallay Strand selling local produce, seafood., soups and home baking
Wee Cottage Kitchen
Another great stop on your day out to sample quality food at affordable prices is the small bistro on the Isle of Berneray. Also, a great place to see works from local Artists on the walls of the Bistro.
Berneray Bistro
A traditional local pub serving quality local food and a great place for a pint. During the summer months there may be local music. Booking of meals is essential.
Westford Inn
A firm favourite with locals and visitors alike and serving coffees, teas, cakes and meals. Close to the Lochmaddy Ferry terminal and a great place to stop for lunch or an evening meal.