Vatersay to Eriskay






Wednesday April 25th

Ferry from Eriskay arrives
The rain battered on the campervan roof all night. The portents were not good.

However the day dawned reasonably fine and dry.

 We duly collected Bert and Susan from the Eriskay ferry on time and made good progress to Vatersay.
Without too much ado we set out to conquer the Hebridean Way by 10 am after photos and good wishes from the back up staff (Pauline and Susan)

Only 156 miles to go!
If we had known that this was to be the last good part would we have set off?

The walk across Vatersay passed fairly easily along the island's only single track road. We passed the wreck of a second World War Carolina at the side of the road.

We continued along the pleasant single track road until we come to the Vatersay causeway. Built in 1991, this vital link with Barra is widely credited with saving Vatersay - without it there is a good chance the island would have been abandoned.

  Just as we turned to climb Beinn Langabhal the rain arrived. It was a very steep climb on soggy ground but the way markers were reassuringly close together (at this point) and we got to the top eventually puffing and pecking like two old store horses.

The remains of the Second World War plane
The way markers stopped abruptly and straight ahead was an impossibly steep ascent. So in the absence of any directions we headed DOWN towards the sea. Big mistake! Wrong direction! Several climbs and traverses later we appeared to have rescued the situation when we came across a fresh line of way marker posts leading down towards the sea.

We had just stopped for a drink and to congratulate ourselves on our dogged persistence and to bemoan the standard of way marking when on an innocuously straightforward downhill descent Bert slipped and fell very awkwardly damaging his knee and ankle.

As he lay in a heap moaning to himself I was seriously worried as to how I was going to get him off the hill. We had not seen another human being for hours. We had no mobile signal. Help!!

Fortunately after a short assessment of the situation Bert was able to get himself on to his feet and bear a little weight on the damaged limb. We were about 2 miles from the Barra Beach Hotel which we eventually reached after a painfully (for Bert) slow descent.

Luckily I had a mobile signal and I was able to reach Pauline and Susan and get them to come to pick us up in the support vehicle. Bert was putting a brave face on it but it doesn't look good. I fear the worst and hope for the best.

The community cafe at Vatersay

Our good fortune continued when we turned up in time for the 3.30 Eriskay ferry sailing (we were booked on the 5.30) We were the only vehicle out of around 20 or more cars and vans that didn't get on the ferry and we had to wait for our allotted slot on the 5.30 which was also full.





But neither bad weather nor bad luck nor bad way marking could dampen our enthusiasm for beautiful Barra. The scenery is stunning the people are incredibly friendly and the place has the feel of being on the up.

The Uists have a lot to live up to.

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