Outer Hebrides Summer 2026

Sat 6th June - Day 1 - Journey to Aviemore

 af  We started the holiday with a long drive up to Aviemore, Glenmore is site we have stayed at previously and like, it allows late check in and Aviemore has lots of facilities and stuff to do while having a break before heading up to Ullapool

Sun 7th June - Day 2 - Aviemore

Rest day at Aviemore, so time for a walk.  We headed up to An Lochan Uaine (the green loch) then carried on to the Abernethy Nature Reserve where Louise spotted a green hairstreak butterfly.  Later in the day Alan ran around Loch Morlich.  Beaver have been re-introduced so went on a Beaver hunt in evening

Mon 8th June - Day 3 - Aviemore / Ullapool / Lewis

Ferry was at 5.30, so we drove slowly up to Ullapool stocked up on supllies at Tescos and waited for the ferry.  Calmac and cheese on the ferry.  Was late when we arrived so headed for a park up at Garry Beach, great beach

Tue 9th June - Day 4 - Lewis

Went for a walk on Garry beach when we woke up, then down the road a mile to see the bridge to nowhere.  Needed a few supplies so stopped at Stornoway supermarket (Tesco again).  Went to the Galeic cafe and had nice coffee and cake.  After a walk around the town we headed up to the Butt of Ness, nice lighthouse for Alan and nice beach for Harvey.  On the way back down to campsite we stopped at the Blackhouse museum. Stayed at Eilean Fraoich campsite

Wed 10th June - Day 5 - Harris / Hushinish 

We went to the beach local to the campsite when we woke to give Harvey a run, then on to a Broch and the Calanis Standing stones.  Then onto Hushinish, we stayed up the hill from the main carpark.  The beach was lovely and we had some nice weather  and saw white tailed eagles.  Road to Hushinish is a bit scary but worth it

Thur 11th June- Day 6 - Tarbet, Luskentyre, Pairc Niseaboist

First proper wet day of trip, but we made the best of it, took Harvey down to the beach for a run then headed on our way, stopping at the near by estate house for some nice scones from the honesty shop.  Next was the Harris eagle obsevatory, this was a nice walk and gave Lou the oppourtunity to test her fancy Paramo gear in the rain, and for Alan and Harvey to get soaked.  Next onto a soggy Tarbet so we could buy some whisky and tweed  Stayed at Pairc Niseaboist which was nice and had a nearby beach

Fri 12th June - Day 7 - Heading to the Uists

Alan went for a run first thing then we headed to the cafe right next to Pairc Niseaboist, Lou bought some artwork from the local gallery.  After this we headed to the nearby beach to give Harvey a run, then headed to the Harris comunity shop near the ferry terminal to North Uist to get some supllies, this was not Tescos, but was good.  No issues on the ferry, after we arrived we headed to West and then East beach, very windy on the beach which went on for miles.  After this headed to Clachan Sands, great, basic campsite right on the beach that we loved

Sat13th June - Day 8 - Clachan Sands

Spent the day at Clachan sands. Lou went botanising, Harvey and Alan went for a long walk north.  The beachs were amazing here and Lou found some unsual orchids, the best Machair of the trip.  Alan went for a long walk south later in the day

Sun 14th June- Day 9 - Heading to Banarald

We had a walk at Clachan sand before leaving as the weather was nice and the machair was so good.  On the way to the next site at Banarald we stopped at Grenitote and walked to the beach, was massive and dessertted, worth stopping.  The Balnarald site was on the rspb reserve and we did a circular walk before tea, which was nice but took ages.  Was a nice beach here and Alan went for a swim as the weather was nice

Mon15th June - Day 10 - Benbecula

Lou did a rspb walk in the morning where she learnt a lot about the area and crofting, Harvey wasn't allowed on the walk so Alan and him went on there own adventure, looking for corncrake and St Kilda.  After leaving the site we saw our first short eared owl of the trip.  Then went to the woods and Hercules the bears grave, there are very few trees on the island so the change was nice.  We had cheese toasties for lunch parked on a section of old road then headed to the shops in Benbecula to stock up, was a nice independant supermarket.  Stopped at the Uist distilary, was a bit weird so carried on.  Stayed at Otters Edge campsite, was fine, beach fairly near.

Tue 16th June- Day 11 - South Uist

Bit of a wet day today, headed to the coop then Lady of the Isles statue, great view.  Next was a walk in the mountains on the Eagle trail at rspb reserve.  Ground was wet and feet got soaked, had to throw Harvey over a fence, but we liked the walk.  Lou went to a little craft shop in middle of nowhere and they told us about a history app for the islands, so after this went to a beach with a nearby Neolithic house.  After this when to our site at Kilbride via a brief look at Eriskay, Eriskay is interesting but we did'nt have much time to explore

Wed 17th June- Day 12 - Eriskay, Barra

In the morning we went on a short walk from the site, and the to Eriskay shop to stock up.  Next to the ferry terminal, Alan and Harvey went to the nearby nice beach while waiting for the ferry.  Ferry went fine and headed to the comunity cafe when on Barra, we'd seen this before on tv before the trip and wanted to visit.  Did a circuit of the island as was wet, then to the campsite.  Scurival campsite was quirky but great. After tea we went for a walk up to the wind turbine that overlooks the atlantic, big waves and a lot of wind, worth the walk, view great and 100s of orchids

Thr 18th June - Day 13 - Barra

Bit of a wet day, so headed for a drive.  Stopped at a nice beach near Borve, then went onto Vatersay, not the best weather fo it  but beaches are nice, saw a washed up dolphin.  Rain cleared by evening and had best sunset of trip

Fri 19th June - Day 14 - Barra

We tried to catch a plane landing the day before but the flights were all cancelled because of the low cloud, so today we decided to take a walk to the airport from the campsite, the site manager said we did'nt have to be off site at a particular time.  It was a very long walk but the weather was great and we had a great time on the beach next to the airport, and got to see rural Barra.  After we returned, off to the the next site, Borve camping, nice site and close to the ferry terminal for the morning

Sat 20th June - Day 15 - Long TripBack Home

Up at 6 for the 7:50 Ferry.  Ferry was good, nearly 5hrs, Alan had a full vegi breakfast and Lou had a breakfast roll.  Harvey was good.  Ullapool was bit of a shock after 2 weeks on the islands, went to Tescos and set off home.  After a few stops got back at 9.15pm, long day but preferable to another night half way home .  Amazing trip, we will return to the Western Isles.....