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Today I discovered that you can’t brake on a cattle grid. The discovery was made as I approached the aforementioned cattle grid at a decent speed in the nippy Ford some poor fellow had rented me. On the otherside of the grid was an oncoming car, which had considerately stopped to allow me past, as it was a one-car-at-a-time job. As I happily jabbed the brakes, the Ford obediently slowed, hit the wet cattle grid, Continue reading Driving in the Outer Hebrides
Choosing your holiday destination based on the type of airport you arrive at may not seem like the most sensible option. But to my logic, it made perfect sense. You see, unless I wanted to waste two days on a ferry (from Oban on the Scottish mainland to Lochboisdale on South Uist takes five hours on the ferry) I’d have to fly in. And on Barra, you land on a beach. Now, this takes some Continue reading Barra, Outer Hebrides
I have often said that Monarch is the only airline for me. I have often joked about Ryanair, and even gleefully published on this blog bad news reports about the cheaper airlines. However, Monarch doesn’t fly to Glasgow. From Spain, Easyjet flies to Glasgow. From Alicante. So, I was stuck between taking the direct flight, or flying into London and then taking the overnight train. Now, both have advantadges. The only time I have slept Continue reading A trip on Easyjet
I’ve decided to give the inhabitants of the western isles a treat. All the way from Southern Spain – a sassenech who isn’t too smelly from not having enough clothes. Yes, the prognostics have proven correct, and the rucksack, upon investigation, proved incapable of holding more than two pairs of trousers, two t-shirts, three pairs of pants and 10 pairs of socks. I shudder to think of the condition of those clothes by day six Continue reading A treat for the Hebrides
I’m still concerned about the lack of Otter repellent in El Corte Ingles. When I asked the nice girl in the hunting and fishing department, she just looked blank and offered me some mosquito repellent. No, I explained, I want nutria repellent. She hunted through the database, and eventually came up with some shark repellent. Not quite the same, as this has to disperse in water. By now, I was afflicted with the acute embarrassment Continue reading Preparing for the otters of the outer islands…
Reading the (otherwise quite excellent) guidebook Hebridean Island Hopping: A Guide for the Independent Traveller by Martin Coventry, I’m starting to form a strange impression of the Outer Hebrides which I hope won’t be born out by the trip. I mean, just look at these little gems: There is a walk up to Ness, proving that “the Bridge to Nowhere” does actually lead somewhere. Overnight visitors to the island are advised to camp outside, as Continue reading Some gems about Hebridean Island Hopping: T-6 and counting!