I am looking for accommodations for a family of four in the Outer Hebrides this summer. Any recommendations for a self-catering cottage, preferably near a beach? Has anyone ever stayed at the Gearrannan Village?

There is a pretty wide choice available. It's difficult to recommend without a little more guidance as to where.<BR><BR>I have stayed in a small chalet on North Uist which is about 20 minutes walk from the beach-location not great.(belongs to Mrs MacDonald) but I know there's a wee house on Berneray, where my brother has stayed, but I can't find it on the web.<BR><BR> You might want to have a look at http://www.northuist.net/<BR><BR>One problem is that lots of accommodation providers in the Outer Isles don't register with the Tourist Board.<BR><BR>However, you can get the information it has on http://www.witb.co.uk/accom/accommodation.htm

I'm not sure where, exactly, and would love some suggestions. My idea is that we will have a week or a week and a half to enjoy the Outer Hebrides. I'd like to stay a couple of places for three nights, and then toot around some. What I think would be fun would be to stay in a couple of places where it's a quick walk to the beach. We'll be ferrying over from Skye. Please advise. Thanks for the websites -- I'll check them out.

Cindy,<BR><BR>leaving out the tiny islands, the Outer Hebrides stretch from Lewis and Harris in the north (one island, but culturally very different) through the Uists (Berneray, North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist) and have Eriskay and Barra at the south. Everything from Berneray to Eriskay is now linked by causeway (Frank, that's right, isn't it? the Eriskay causeway is now open isn't it?)<BR><BR>There are ferry links from the mainland direct to Lewis from Ullapool, to Harris and North Uist from Skye, and to Barra and South Uist from Oban. In addition there are inter island ferries from Harris to North Uist and from South Uist to Barra<BR><BR>The timetables are on Caledonian MacBrayne's web site- www.calmac.co.uk<BR><BR>Each of the islands has its own culture and attractions and its own afficionados.<BR><BR>For myself, I've never been to Lewis or Harris, and have no desire to go to Lewis at all. I see it as a grey sort of a place, with a stern Presbyterian, frankly hypocritical approach to life.<BR><BR>Harris has the best hills of the outer isles and allegedly some of the best beaches and somewhere rouns Scarista might be good.<BR><BR>I have been to the Uists and they are lovely. Berneray only go its causeway a couple of years ago, and is still very unspoilt. North Uist is more water than land, I sometimes think. Lovely beaches and machair all along the west coast.<BR><BR>Benbecula is a bit of a nowhere place<BR><BR>South Uist is very pleasnat too, again with good beaches and machair.<BR><BR>I've not been to Eriskay or Barra but Frank@hotmail, who posts here is a great fan and obviously vists frequently.<BR><BR>I think you will have difficulty getting a summer let for less than a week. You COULD do a day or two on Harris, a week on the Uists, and a day or two on Barra and do very well.<BR><BR>Hope that helps.

Just remember that you probably won't have beach weather, so being located on a beach may not need to be a priority. Check the websites already mentioned for accommodations. I've been to Lewis, Harris, Skye, North and South Uist, Berneray, Eriskay (yes the causeway is now open) Barra, Mull, Iona and Staffa. The beaches in the Uists and Berneray are beautiful (but very cold water). Lewis is a wonderful place to visit with the Callanish stones, Butt of Lewis (Ness), Carloway Broch, the machair in Barvas to name a few of my favourites. The Uigean area has some of the most beautiful beaches.

Here a is a site put up by a privite individual renting a cottage on Barra.<BR>http://members.aol.com/user375951/<BR><BR>Barra is probably the prettiest island in the chain.Eoligarry is at the north end, has a ruined 13th century church, a small passenger ferry to South Uist & beaches.