This part of the Western Isles has a charm all of its own. The islands seem to be
split down the middle: boggy moors and craggy hills rule the east,
whilst the west is softened by a sandy coastline and green pasture.
If it's beaches you want, there are plenty of them to choose from.
If you want to go hiking, remember that it can be very wet
underfoot, but there are tracks in some places. In fact it's hard to tell whether the moorland is sprinkled
with lochs or the sea dotted with islands. On a sunny day, the
landscape is truly sparkling.
The Uists don't get as many visitors as some of the other
islands, perhaps because they are quite remote. The road signs
are in Gaelic and the food supplies depend to a certain extent on the ferry.
The main road runs down the middle of this chain of islands
from Lochmaddy to Lochboisdale. There is a local coach service
and post bus. It is also a great place to cycle - start in the south and pedal your way north up the islands.
North Uist and South Uist both have nature reserves and are
full of ancient monuments - many dating back thousands of years.
Benbecula is a small island sandwiched
between the Uists and linked by a stone causeway. Its main claim
to fame is the airport and Army rocket range.
The North Uist Highland Games are usually planned for mid July, followed by the South Uist Highland Games.
Agricultural Shows take place on North and South Uist around late July or early August.
North Uist hosts the Twin Peaks Race in early August too.
The annual Ceolas (Gaelic music festival / summer school) is held in South Uist in July.
