Facilities in Eriskay and nearby

Rubha Bàn (10 mins walk, 5 mins cycle from Carrick)
> Well stocked community Co-op shop with post office
> Community hall - occasional dances and other events,
café in summer, occasional events
> Bus stops for main services south to Eriskay-Barra ferry and north to South Uist (bus will generally stop on request anywhere along the route if it is safe to do so)
> St Michael’s church (Roman Catholic) ^

Am Baile (The Village) - a few minutes beyond Rubha Bàn)
> Am Politician pub and restaurant
> Sandy beaches, Picturesque graveyards ^

Coilleag (30-40mins walk, 15mins cycle, or by bus)
> Calmac vehicle ferry to the Isle of Barra
> Waiting room with public toilets, shower, water tap, waste disposal. ^

South Uist (10-20 mins by car; 15-30 mins by bus)
> Ludag: Kilbride Shellfish - direct from the pier. (01878 700342)
> An Gàrradh Mòr, Cille Bhrìghde (The Big Garden, West Kilbride) - Free-range eggs, fresh garden produce, preserves, Hebridean lamb, all direct from the growers. (01878 700828)
> Poll a Charra: Inn, with bars and restaurant - excellent food and service. (01878 700215)
> Dalabrog (Daliburgh): Co-op supermarket; Filling station with Fish and Chips (01878 700029); Borrodale Hotel with bars and restaurant; Doctor’s surgery (01878 700302); Post Office; Catholic and Church of Scotland churches
> Loch Baghasdail (Lochboisdale); Tourist information; Police station; Royal Bank of Scotland; Filling station and car wash; Post Office with internet café; Small shops; Lochboisdale Hotel; Calmac office (01878 700288); Laing Motors (01878 700267) garage services and car/van hire; Dentist; B&Bs; Free Church of Scotland;  ^

Attractions in Eriskay

Beaches - all of dazzling white shell-sand:
> Bun a Mhuillin - Bàgh na h-Aibhainn Dubh, just before the road end.  Wonderful scenery
> Roisinis - follow the old township path from the Bun a Mhuillin road end. Spectacular scenery, intriguing remains of old crofting township. (Strong shoes required for path)
> Rubh’ an t-Seana Bhalla (Old Village Head) at the west side of the causeway-end. 10-15 mins walk, 5 mins cycle. Very scenic. Right by the main road, so popular - but limited parking.
> Am Baile: extensive beach beside the Am Politician bar. Not the most attractive but has its compensations!
> Coilleag: The famous Princes Beach (Coilleag na Phrionnsa). 20-30 mins walk, 10-15 mins cycle. Very picturesque - and a fantastic beach for a family outing. Where Bonnie Prince Charlie first stepped on Scottish soil. Can you spot the rare white-striped pink bindweed? They are reputedly descended from seeds brought by the Prince from France and scattered when he landed. If you find one, take a photo but not the plant!  Also look out for the minute baby shells - especially tiny scallops no bigger than a drop of water.^

Cycling.  The main road between the causeway and ferry terminal can be quite busy in summer, but there is an extensive network of side roads, old pony tracks, grassy lanes and paths, stretching from Bun a Mhuillin and Roisinis to Rubh Bàn and Am Baile, and along to Coilleag and Aicairseid Mhòr. Bikes can be hired from Rothan Cycles, Howmore. ^

Walking. In addition to all the side roads, lanes and paths, walkers can explore the extensive tracts of hill and moor on which even an Eriskay pony would have to be led. Beinn Sciathan (Ben Scrien) is the highest and most rugged point in Eriskay, with extraordinary panoramic views. To the south of Acairseid the landscape is less rugged and elevated, but with stunning views to the south.   Great for wildlife. ^

Kayaking, Sailing. The seas around Eriskay are a paradise for those who bring their own boat: turquoise seas, remote sandy beaches, scattering of islands, rocky coast lines and sheltered coves, , remote beaches, small islands ... ^

Fishing. The seas around Eriskay offer a wealth of opportunity for fishing, whether from the beaches or rocks, or afloat. There’s an abundance of shellfish: razor clams from the low-water sands in the Sound of Eriskay, mussels and winkles from the shore-line rocks; shrimps in shallow water; cockles from Glendale (just across the water in South Uist). Loch fishing requires a permit, but there’s no fish to be caught in Eriskay - South Uist is the place to go. ^

Wildlife. Eriskay boasts some of the best opportunities in the islands - at least for fairly moderate effort - to encounter rare and impressive wildlife, on land, in the air, and at sea, including -
> Seals most commonly seen on the rocks near the causeway and along the Bun a Mhuillin shore; also in the water by the ferry terminal - they seem quite intrigued by human goings-on;
> Basking sharks have been seen in the shallower warmer waters off of the west coast;
> Dolphins and whales seen most commonly from the ferry
> Gannets dive-bombing shoals of fish - this can be almost anywhere there’s a current;
> Eagles, buzzards, kestrals and falcons - seen mostly in the hills and the rocky east/south coastline of Eriskay;
> Corncrakes - principally heard May to July around Rubh Bhàn and Haun.
> Lapwings - Nest on lower more level aground, often amongst rushes and rough grazing of the lower ground; Extraordinary aerial displays with musical accompaniment.
> Astonishing variety of wild flowers, orchids and herbs,  both on the machair of the west coast and the unfenced upper croft land (but below the hill fence); Locally naturalized flowers including mombretia also put on a stunning show.
> Native Eriskay ponies - Easter to October up in the hills of Ben Scrien and Ben Stack;  At other times hanging around by the bus-shelter, posing majestically on the sky-line, larking around in the middle of the road! They should get themselves proper jobs, like they had in the good old days!
> The greater blue boiler-suited crofter - resident, occasionally migratory; frequently to be seen on outlying crofts, often with bales of straw or similar - believed to be used as nesting material; reported as seen perched on the seat of a tractor, or leaning on spade handle (latter perhaps in imitation of the Robin).  Having become accustomed to humans, this otherwise shy native species may be seen at or even within the village shop. It may be enticed to sip whisky from a glass tumbler, though may be reluctant unless liquid is two fingers deep or more.  ;~)  ^