Not everyone has the foresight to save up for a ship called Dignity and go sailing up the west coast through villages and towns. But you don’t have to devote your entire life to only enjoy the incredible scenery, hidden gems and delicious food found there, in your twilight years.
We like to seize the day at OutThere Campervans and if you want to go somewhere, simply start the engine and go. Getting to some of Scotland’s Western Isles does take a little planning but it is most definitely worth it and getting to the islands is all part of the adventure.
A great starting point is crossing from the mainland at the Kyle of Lochalsh over the Skye Road Bridge. It’s a really lovely way to start your island hopping as you go over the sea to Skye, with awesome views all around – keep your eyes on the road though! There is so much to see and do on Skye, from climbing in the magnificent Cullins to sampling local produce and ciders at the Edinbane Inn. We’d recommend swapping campervan cooking for at least one night to experience one of Scotland’s culinary landmarks, The Three Chimneys Restaurant.
The Western Isles
From Skye you can take a ferry from Uig to Lochmaddy on North Uist, part of the Outer Hebrides. This island is a mix of stunning sandy beaches and Viking history with many prehistoric structures, including, the Pobull Fhinn stone circle and the Fir Bhreige standing stones.
Caledonian MacBrayne ferries have a range of ticket options such as ‘Island Hopping’ and ‘Whisky Adventure’ and they sail to 24 Destinations off Scotland’s west coast so it’s worth checking out how you can make the most of your trip with one of their flexible tickets.
For the intrepid explorer it’s always fun to drive to other islands via the causeways. The large island of Benbecula is connected to North Uist by the North Ford causeway which also extends to the Island of Grimsay. It’s possible to drive around Grimsay in about 30-40 minutes via the islands circular road giving you chance to really take in the enchanting island and the white sands it boasts. Combined with the clear, shallow waters it’s hard to believe all this exists in Scotland.
There are so many islands to visit, from the white sands of Vatersay in the South to the Standing stones and Blackhouses on Harris and Lewis where you can catch a ferry back to Uig on Skye or Ullapool.
No matter how you choose to get you and your campervan from island to island, when you get there you’ll know it’s been worth the journey. If you’d like any more tips or ideas let us know when you make your booking and we’ll be happy to help. After all, no man is an island.
