Off to the Outer Hebrides - Ideas welcome

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I'm going to be staying over at Amhuinnsuidhe (Harris) and with photography in mind I wondered if anybody had any suggestions photography wise.

Anybody walked up to the the nearby North Harris Eagle Observatory ?

Hopefully St. Kilda is on the agenda but any suggestions are welcome - landscapes, wildlife or interesting locations.
 
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Any other wildlife / landscape suggestions welcome.
 
St Kilda is amazing but difficult & expensive to get to. Worth it if the weather's good.

On Harris there are lots of lovely places. Luskentyre Beach is a must. The "Golden Road" is worth exploring. If you can get out there the islands of Taransay and Scarp are worth a visit.

Catching the ferry across the Sound of Harris to Bernaray is worth it if you like endless white sand beaches.

It is a spectacular place, I'm jealous!

Mike
 
Cheers Mike

I think St Kilda is going to be about £170 and by the looks of it - a 12 hour day. My wife has given me the OK for that but as you say much will depend on the weather and the window I have.

Luskentyre (I went there years ago) is already on my list in fact I came very close to renting a place there this time around. I suspect I'll be taking the kids to a few of the beaches.

Taransay is in view of where I'm staying at Amhuinnsuidhe. Golden Road down the East side looks good so thanks for that.
 
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Good luck Phil, I've dreamed about visiting St.Kilda since I was a boy.
I had a holiday based on North Uist two years back with one of the main objectives St.Kilda. Unfortunately the weather gods had decided against me and I never made it. BAH!
 
You lucky, lucky man, Phil.

I can't help on the eagle observatory but hope you make it to St Kilda. We tried about eight years ago but the weather wasn't good (days of force 6 or above).

If you don't manage to get to St Kilda an alternative could be the Shiants -

http://www.shiantisles.net/

We took a trip from Gairloch last year which was great but we could not land. There are trips from Harris that give you some time on one of the islands.

http://www.seaharris.co.uk/shiant/prices.html

Our trip from Gairloch was in early July and the there were lots of birds - puffins, guillemots, razorbills, skuas and a golden eagle. Not sure if the auks have left by now.

Dave
 
Thanks folks

I appreciate it's down to luck so it's good to have alternatives
 
Thread revival - Off in a couple of weeks so just thought I'd throw it open for any more suggestions.
 
Hi
I went to the Isle of Lewis a couple of weeks ago for a photographic week. We hired a car and drove all over the two islands (Lewis & Harris) and had amazing weather. We even got an incredible aurora show as well! I looked at different places to go before we went but when we got there, you are so spoiled for choice it really is a photographers heaven. Just get a car and drive wherever you fancy. The landscape is very different depending on where you are but honestly, we could have stopped every five minutes and spent a few hours at each site!

It was incredible and i loved it. Loads to see and we didn't even have to leave the the two islands to go anywhere else. Caribbean beaches, mountains, peat bogs, tuscan hills, ruined crofts/houses, moorland, craggy coastline the list is endless. Perfect weather is sunshine and showers. The place transforms as the light dances and changes.

We didn't shoot any wildlife but Golden Eagles were easy to see in lots of places.

Have a blast, we certainly did!
 
jerry12953 said:
Just another vote for the white sand beaches down the west coast. Berneray used to be lovely but the atmosphere seems to have changed now that it is connected to North Uist. (nearly said the mainland.......!)
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Rich_Ellis said:
Hi
I went to the Isle of Lewis a couple of weeks ago for a photographic week. We hired a car and drove all over the two islands (Lewis & Harris) and had amazing weather. We even got an incredible aurora show as well! I looked at different places to go before we went but when we got there, you are so spoiled for choice it really is a photographers heaven. Just get a car and drive wherever you fancy. The landscape is very different depending on where you are but honestly, we could have stopped every five minutes and spent a few hours at each site!

It was incredible and i loved it. Loads to see and we didn't even have to leave the the two islands to go anywhere else. Caribbean beaches, mountains, peat bogs, tuscan hills, ruined crofts/houses, moorland, craggy coastline the list is endless. Perfect weather is sunshine and showers. The place transforms as the light dances and changes.

We didn't shoot any wildlife but Golden Eagles were easy to see in lots of places.

Have a blast, we certainly did!
Click to expand...

Cheers folks

My brother was a gamekeeper on Harris back in the 80s so I stayed there a lot as a teenager but haven't been back since and never with any photography in mind.
 
I visit Uist every year, my brother lives there. Are you taking or renting a car? If not I would definitely recommend doing so. The wildlife on all the Outer Hebrides is spectacular particularly birds.

What I would recommend is some Midge repellant or a hat with a net because you will get 'midged' and they can be a real pain depending on the time of year. Also, I don't know if you subscribe to any bird forums but if not it's worth checking when up there if there are any rare visitors about. When up in November last year there was a Gyr Falcon and Snowy Owl up there.

St. Kilda is fantastic and worth the trip ONLY IF THE WEATHER IS GOOD. I'm not sure if you can get there from Harris/Lewis. You definitely can from Uist but only during the summer months. It's 40 miles out. You go in a RIB and it takes about 1.5 hrs each way. You need 'sea legs' and a strong skeleton as it can be bumpy.
If you need details of other places to visit 'pm' me and I'd be glad to help.
 
You can try St. Kilda from Harris - leaves from Leverburgh - but very weather dependent as others have noted. Luskentyre is excellent, and a nice walk (even better mountain bike) is the old postie road back into Tarbert. Photography wise Rodel church is really nice (especially climb the hill behind and look down onto it). The west road up Harris is beautiful in the evening. Even a day over to Uists is really nice, as is the drive up to Lewis (Callanish, blockhouse, point of Ness, Stornoway). There really is endless photography locations - you should have a great time.
 
BMD said:
I visit Uist every year, my brother lives there. Are you taking or renting a car? If not I would definitely recommend doing so. The wildlife on all the Outer Hebrides is spectacular particularly birds.

What I would recommend is some Midge repellant or a hat with a net because you will get 'midged' and they can be a real pain depending on the time of year. Also, I don't know if you subscribe to any bird forums but if not it's worth checking when up there if there are any rare visitors about. When up in November last year there was a Gyr Falcon and Snowy Owl up there.

St. Kilda is fantastic and worth the trip ONLY IF THE WEATHER IS GOOD. I'm not sure if you can get there from Harris/Lewis. You definitely can from Uist but only during the summer months. It's 40 miles out. You go in a RIB and it takes about 1.5 hrs each way. You need 'sea legs' and a strong skeleton as it can be bumpy.
If you need details of other places to visit 'pm' me and I'd be glad to help.
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Chers Bruce

I'l be taking the 7 seven seat Discovery over as I have to fit my wife and 4 children in somehow. We're used to the midgies or we're used to coping with them anyway.
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Moadib said:
You can try St. Kilda from Harris - leaves from Leverburgh - but very weather dependent as others have noted. Luskentyre is excellent, and a nice walk (even better mountain bike) is the old postie road back into Tarbert. Photography wise Rodel church is really nice (especially climb the hill behind and look down onto it). The west road up Harris is beautiful in the evening. Even a day over to Uists is really nice, as is the drive up to Lewis (Callanish, blockhouse, point of Ness, Stornoway). There really is endless photography locations - you should have a great time.
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Thanks Moadib

The trip from Leverburgh is the plan but much wil depend on the weather and what else we end up doing
 
If your staying at Amhuinnsuidhe would that be the castle? If so take your fly rod. The fishing is excellent.
 
Good luck on the Landy making it there and back...................;)

Great place is Harris, very rocky, almost lunar in places. You will love it.
 
fracster said:
Good luck on the Landy making it there and back...................;)

Great place is Harris, very rocky, almost lunar in places. You will love it.
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It will be getting the 'twice over' before we go ;)
 
fracster said:
Good luck on the Landy making it there and back...................;)

Great place is Harris, very rocky, almost lunar in places. You will love it.
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That's the Disco suited and booted.

Full Service, new brakes, MOT pass, roof box fitted (just need a step ladder now) and ready to go.

Off tomorrow so any more ideas welcome (y)
 
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