Uibhist a Deas (South Uist) travel guide

Background

The dominant family in South Uist was Clanranald, who also owned Benbecula. They were descendants of the first Lord of the Isles, who was a MacDonald. The island’s connections with Clanranald came to a sorry end, however, in 1837, when it was sold, along with Benbecula, to pay off bad debts, and became the property of the infamous Lieutenant- Colonel John Gordon of Cluny. Though all the southern isles suffered during the brutal Clearances of the 19th century, the experiences of people on South Uist were particularly cruel and inhumane. Between 1849 and 1851 over 2000 were forcibly shipped to Quebec in Canada. Those who refused to board the transport ships were hunted down by dogs and bound, before being thrown on board and shipped to Canada, where they were left to starve. Today, owned by the community, the destiny of South Uist fortunately lies in the islanders’ hands.

Ins and outs

Getting there

The island’s main ferry port is Lochboisdale, which is reached from Oban four times a week (arriving at night) and twice a week from Castlebay on Barra. There’s one direct sailing from Oban on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday (five hours and 20 minutes), and one via Castlebay (Barra) on Sunday (six hours and 30 minutes). There are also early morning departures (0700) from Castlebay on Wednesday and Friday, and at 2010 on Sundays. A Oban to Lochboisdale one-way ticket is £21.95 per passenger, £81 per car, and a five-day saver return is £37.50 per passenger and £137 per car. A private passenger-only ferry sails from Barra to Ludag, at the southern tip of South Uist, on Sunday. There are limited bus services on Sundays.