Outer Hebrides October 2019

[Beeechke1]

Having just returned from our first trip to the Outer Hebrides I though I would share a few photo's and thoughts on our trip. Due to Mrs B having only 2 weeks holiday available we did manage to spend 10 days traveling through the islands from Barra in the south to lewis in the north and this felt a relaxed pace. We used ferries as per the map below, its well worth setting up an online account with www.calmac.co.uk we then booked our ferries on the go a few days before travel, there is also a good free app with status updates on sailings, delays, cancellations. We stayed on campsites and small campervan/motor home aires, we did not book anything ahead of our trip, just turned up and always found plenty of space. It is worth ringing ahead on the day to check, as not every where is still open in October. We used Martin Dorey "Take The Slow Road Scotland" as a reference for planning the trip. Our best trip to date, a reminder of how stunning our Island home is.

 

[BeagleMum]

Having just returned from our first trip to the Outer Hebrides I though I would share a few photo's and thoughts on our trip. Due to Mrs B having only 2 weeks holiday available we did manage to spend 10 days traveling through the islands from Barra in the south to lewis in the north and this felt a relaxed pace. We used ferries as per the map below, its well worth setting up an online account with www.calmac.co.uk we then booked our ferries on the go a few days before travel, there is also a good free app with status updates on sailings, delays, cancellations. We stayed on campsites and small campervan/motor home aires, we did not book anything ahead of our trip, just turned up and always found plenty of space. It is worth ringing ahead on the day to check, as not every where is still open in October. We used Martin Dorey "Take The Slow Road Scotland" as a reference for planning the trip. Our best trip to date, a reminder of how stunning our Island home is.

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Great trip, I’m sure you’ll return, we’ve been a few times, it’s an absolutely beautiful area as is most of Scotland.

 

[Hotel California]

Wow , i'm wanting to go up to Scotland for a few years but we are held of by that "thing"
Shame as now i just heard the news and seems they delayd it again....
We got a few weeks off begin november , wondering if booking a last minute trip to Scotland is worth this time a year , weather....

 

[joe g]

Very good photos Oh and we already have the book so think we will give this a go

 

[Beeechke1]

Great trip, I’m sure you’ll return, we’ve been a few times, it’s an absolutely beautiful area as is most of Scotland.

Yes your right of course and always worth the effort for us to get up there from Surrey

 

[Beeechke1]

Wow , i'm wanting to go up to Scotland for a few years but we are held of by that "thing"
Shame as now i just heard the news and seems they delayd it again....
We got a few weeks off begin november , wondering if booking a last minute trip to Scotland is worth this time a year , weather....

You really should go sometime, but bear in mind a lot of the campsite we used close at end of October, and the ferries have already gone to winter timetables, may be a trip for next year? Happy to help if you want to know more

 

[Beeechke1]

Very good photos Oh and we already have the book so think we will give this a go

Yes thanks on the photo's shot nearly 400 have been trying to whittle them down to the real keepers!! It was a great trip if you go I,m sure you'll enjoy it

 

[Jay20cali]

Absolutely stunning photos
Would love to get up there in the near future

 

[Beeechke1]

Absolutely stunning photos
Would love to get up there in the near future

Thanks and don't put it off too long.

 

[BeagleMum]

Wow , i'm wanting to go up to Scotland for a few years but we are held of by that "thing"
Shame as now i just heard the news and seems they delayd it again....
We got a few weeks off begin november , wondering if booking a last minute trip to Scotland is worth this time a year , weather....

To wet your appetite a little more some photos from one of our Western Isles trips. We love Scotland & go every year particularly the West coast & its islands. In November you losing the light by mid afternoon, we would suggest April through to October would be better for your first trip.

 

[Jay20cali]

To wet your appetite a little more some photos from one of our Western Isles trips. We love Scotland & go every year particularly the West coast & its islands. In November you losing the light by mid afternoon, we would suggest April through to October would be better for your first trip.

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WOW
Our daughter lives in Elgin so this is definitely on our list for next year

 

[Anthony1]

Having just returned from our first trip to the Outer Hebrides I though I would share a few photo's and thoughts on our trip. Due to Mrs B having only 2 weeks holiday available we did manage to spend 10 days traveling through the islands from Barra in the south to lewis in the north and this felt a relaxed pace. We used ferries as per the map below, its well worth setting up an online account with www.calmac.co.uk we then booked our ferries on the go a few days before travel, there is also a good free app with status updates on sailings, delays, cancellations. We stayed on campsites and small campervan/motor home aires, we did not book anything ahead of our trip, just turned up and always found plenty of space. It is worth ringing ahead on the day to check, as not every where is still open in October. We used Martin Dorey "Take The Slow Road Scotland" as a reference for planning the trip. Our best trip to date, a reminder of how stunning our Island home is.

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Excellent photos and a trip I will be doing in the near future. Scotland and its Islands are superb and just what the Cali is designed for.

 

[Anthony1]

Thanks and don't put it off too long.

Because they might build a border soon!

 

[BeagleMum]

WOW
Our daughter lives in Elgin so this is definitely on our list for next year

We know Elgin we have good friends in Turrif
Another of many destinations in Scotland we can recommend is Orkney

 

[California128]

Absolutely inspirational! Please can someone tell us, are the midges a problem in July and August?

 

[Jay20cali]

They really are stunning shots
Definitely on my list for sure
Keep em coming pls beaglemum ...definitely inspiring...
For the midgets use skin so soft creme
It apparently works well?
And don’t wear lime green for some reason they love that colour?
We was in Tain visiting family in May and the midgets wasn’t a problem .our scotch family never have any problems on the coast

 

[Kenb17]

Thanks for this post and the tips we have a similar trip planned for next year. We will go before the midges, we avoid the summer period as in our experience west coast (especially but not exclusively). They don’t bother everyone and many consider the trip worth the hassle.

we go to Scotland each year travelling from Hampshire, this year twice but have always been distracted before we got to the Hebrides. For those who have not got to Scotland yet there is much to see and all amazing, not to mention very friendly folk.

ken

 

[BeagleMum]

Absolutely inspirational! Please can someone tell us, are the midges a problem in July and August?

We go to Scotland a couple of times a year, always April, May, September & October to avoid midges, school holidays & heat. They can be a problem in July & August in some areas.

 

[BeagleMum]

They really are stunning shots
Definitely on my list for sure
Keep em coming pls beaglemum ...definitely inspiring...
For the midgets use skin so soft creme
It apparently works well?
And don’t wear lime green for some reason they love that colour?
We was in Tain visiting family in May and the midgets wasn’t a problem .our scotch family never have any problems on the coast

Few more from Outer Hebrides

 

[Pips Dad]

Absolutely inspirational! Please can someone tell us, are the midges a problem in July and August?

Midges can be a problem during this period but if you arm yourself with some ‘Jungle Formulae’ deer repellent it’s is possible to survive the beesties.

 

[CannonDale]

Isle of Harris, September October of this year. such a lovely place to visit with a Cali with great places to camp.

 

[Jontymo]

What a great place, our 1st holiday in our new Cali!!

 

[gvick]

Absolutely inspirational! Please can someone tell us, are the midges a problem in July and August?

We went end of June and first week of July
We had mossies on the odd camp site but stay close to coast and buy the local mossie cream and you’ll be just fine.

 

[gvick]

Having just returned from our first trip to the Outer Hebrides I though I would share a few photo's and thoughts on our trip. Due to Mrs B having only 2 weeks holiday available we did manage to spend 10 days traveling through the islands from Barra in the south to lewis in the north and this felt a relaxed pace. We used ferries as per the map below, its well worth setting up an online account with www.calmac.co.uk we then booked our ferries on the go a few days before travel, there is also a good free app with status updates on sailings, delays, cancellations. We stayed on campsites and small campervan/motor home aires, we did not book anything ahead of our trip, just turned up and always found plenty of space. It is worth ringing ahead on the day to check, as not every where is still open in October. We used Martin Dorey "Take The Slow Road Scotland" as a reference for planning the trip. Our best trip to date, a reminder of how stunning our Island home is.

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Lovely phots
Reminds me of our first trip in our Cali to west coast - got as far as inner Hebrides

 

[Skylark2.0]

Absolutely inspirational! Please can someone tell us, are the midges a problem in July and August?

It is often windy on the islands so there is less of a problem as midges can't fly in light wind. When the wind drops they are as ferocious as anywhere!