The thick, double stone walls and densely thatched roofs of blackhouses were designed to keep out Atlantic storms

South Uist is a peaceful island lying towards the south of the Outer Hebrides, a string of stunningly beautiful islands on the edge of the Atlantic. The island is sparsely populated, with fewer than 2,000 people scattered across townships and crofts. The landscape is an expanse of peatland and lochans, sandy beaches to the west and mountains to the east. Visitors may choose to pass through South Uist on their traverse of the Hebridean Way, or base themselves here for the week and relax in its tranquil atmosphere.

Sailing from Oban or Mallaig, visitors land in Lochboisdale, a small village that saw its heyday with the herring boom. In Loch Baghasdail lies a small island called Calbhaigh on which sit the ruins of Calbhaigh Castle, where Bonnie Prince Charlie once hid (don’t miss a visit to the beach on Eriskay where he first set foot!). From Lochboisdale you can also sail south to Barra and explore the most spectacular beaches of Barra and Vatersay.

Walkers will enjoy the wild, remote feeling of South Uist, with paths across rugged landscapes and unforgettable views. South Uist’s highest peaks, Beinn Mhor, Hecla and Beinn Corradail, can be reached by a boggy yet rewarding trek, for which paths are not always clear and good navigation is needed. There are many lower-level walks exploring sea inlets, sandy beaches and extensive dunes. Keep an eye out for seals, otters and eagles as you go!

The Sound of Eriskay, between South Uist and its southerly neighbour, was the site of a famous shipwreck that inspired the film ‘Whisky Galore!’. In 1941, the SS Politician ran aground in gale force winds carrying no fewer than 28,000 cases of malt whisky. The ship was looted by the islanders and bottles of whisky were hidden across Eriskay and South Uist. Occasionally, a long-forgotten bottle turns up buried in the peat or the dunes – so keep an eye out!

There are small supermarkets and numerous local shops selling local produce, seafood, wool, tweed and more. Local shops are well stocked and so you can easily shop local for your entire stay on the island.

Some fascinating archaeology can be found on South Uist. Cladh Hallan roundhouses, as old as 700 BC, have been excavated and can be seen as you cross the dunes to the beach at Daliburgh. There is evidence that people’s daily lives, and even life cycles, rotate around these dwellings in a clockwise direction, with the sun. More about the history and archaeology of the islands can be discovered at the fantastic Kildonan Museum.

South Uist is the perfect retreat if you’re looking to kick back and let go. Life is lived at a relaxed pace here – so take your time enjoying the wonderful scenery and culture that the island has to offer.