Benbecula is a small island – eight miles by eight miles – squashed between North and South Uist in the Outer Hebrides. It’s generally flat, more loch than rock, with its high point, Rueval, at 406 feet not much of a challenge. Still, we climbed to the top and here I am gazing out at the landscape spread before me. For the full story see Hebridean Hop 14: Benbecula.
Today is the last day of Becky’s April Squares – #SquareTops – so huge thanks to her for running another successful challenge. I’ve enjoyed looking back at some of the tops we have stood on in the past in lieu of being able to revisit them in the current lockdown.
What next? I wondered in March if I would be able to write another Glasgow Gallivanting post, given that I’m not gallivanting anywhere. Turns out I could, so that will be out tomorrow. Also, I’ve finally had time to write up our trip to Berwickshire last summer, so that series will be starting next week. After that, who knows? Perhaps some limited gallivanting will resume. Let’s hope so!
I’ve decided that these last four days of Becky’s 
After an early start, we were in the ferry queue at 7am ready to depart Castlebay at 0755. Once on board, we positioned ourselves near the restaurant ready to beat the rush for breakfast when it opened. That rush didn’t materialise, and wandering round the ship later we found out why. Many people had brought their pillows and duvets and were catching up on sleep! When we got to the top deck, we were amazed to have it to ourselves most of the time. The howling wind might also have had something to do with that …
From the church it was a short walk back along the coast to find Father Macmillan’s grave in the cemetery. The scenery was stunning, and the neighbours friendly.
As the path climbed, we could see down to Halaman Bay at the side of which perches the Isle of Barra Hotel – this is where we stayed during our 1990s trips to Barra.
We’d been here before! The first photograph below shows me with our friends John and Pat in 1993. I remember then there were lots of abandoned cars in the dunes. We didn’t spot any this time, but they are probably still buried there – the next photograph of the fence at the top of the dunes on the way back to the car shows how quickly the sand can shift.
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We also looked up to Heaval and the white marble statue Our Lady of the Sea.
I know this is a terrible picture – visibility was very poor – but I wanted to include it for comparison, because on our previous visits we climbed Heaval both times. Not this time – the weather and dodgy knees were against us.
A nattily dressed scarecrow and some bale art. You might just be able to make out the military installation on the hill in the background.
Although it was still early, there was nothing for it but to return to the hotel to dry out, and to pack up. The next morning we were heading off for the last island of our Hebridean Hop – Barra.
Just one more day on South Uist. So far, it had been cold but reasonable dry. Would our luck hold?