May 24th-31st 2025
OUTER HEBRIDES ADVENTURE with SIMON KING
Imagine a land where white-tailed and golden eagles rule the skies. Where grasslands are quartered by short eared owls and heathlands host hen harriers and merlins.
Imagine a spring evening vibrating to the rasping calls of corncrakes and a coastline patrolled by otters and vast flocks of wading birds.
These are just a few of the wild jewels that grace the string of islands along Scotland's western seaboard known as the Outer Hebrides.
This seven night trip is hosted by myself, Simon King, and I'll be thrilled to show you around the islands that have become my home.
Drawn to the promise of a land less spoiled than almost anywhere else in the UK, I first ventured to the outer isles in the 1980's to visit the grey seal colonies of the Monach Isles.
Fast forward more than 30 years and we have made this magical place our home.
I know of nowhere else in the UK where the sense of living harmoniously with the wild inhabitants is so pervasive. Fields of pasture still throng with breeding lapwing and other ground nesting birds. Miles of white shell-sand beaches stretch into the distance with barely a human soul upon them.
Wherever you tread, there is the sense that you may encounter a wild spirit - be it an elusive otter, an elegant diver or a stately eagle.
You will join me and a maximum of nine other guests, to explore our island home and share in the natural marvels that the week will hold.
ACCOMMODATION
You will be staying in an extraordinary Lodge on South Uist - with the Machair Coastline before you and the hills behind.
Grogarry Lodge has been used as a hunting lodge since the late 19th century and is run very much like a family home. Whilst part of the economy of the Islands still depends on the interests of those who come to hunt and fish, I passionately believe that there is a sustainable financial future to be found from the benign interests visitors have in the natural world and as such am thrilled to be able to utilise this community owned asset as our base.
It should be pointed out that there will be a maximum of 10 guests on this trip (including yourself) and whilst there are 10 bedrooms at the lodge there are only 5 bathrooms. Those sharing a bedroom will have a bathroom to themselves. Those who are travelling on their own will have their own bedroom but may be asked to share a bathroom with a fellow guest. The Lodge is exclusively ours for the duration of your visit
Meals are served in the historic dining room and whilst we will be keeping the menu simple the kitchen has a reputation for creating some of the most delicious food on the Islands and any dietary requirements will be catered for
I shall be guiding you throughout your stay here and, with the use of a mini bus, be driving you around the islands. If you have arrived by car on the ferry there is ample parking at the Lodge for you to leave your car for the duration of your stay. I shall be sleeping in my home which is a short drive away from the lodge but will join you throughout the day and some of the evenings to enjoy reflecting on the encounters of the day.
ITINERARY
Saturday 24th May
Guests arrive on the Islands by their own means. Access to the Islands can be made by ferry (either as a foot passenger or with your car) or by air. Caledonian MacBrayne runs ferry services to Lochboisedale on South Uist (our home Island) - usually from Mallaig or Oban, or to Lochmaddy on North Uist from Uig on the Isle of Skye (you can drive on to Skye from the mainland via the Skye bridge).
Travel to the islands by air involves flying to the Isle of Benbecula with Loganair from Glasgow.
We will meet you and bring you to your accommodation if you arrive by air or as a foot passenger on a ferry.
To clarify, the string of Islands from Berneray in the north, through North Uist, Grimsay, Benbecula, South Uist (home) and Eriskay in the south are all connected by causeways which make it possible to drive between the Islands. We will not be visiting Harris and Lewis on this adventure, which require another vehicle ferry trip and separate accommodation.
Once you arrive at the Lodge on the Saturday, you can settle in to your room and then we will gather in the lounge with comfortable furniture and cosy fires to get to know each other over a drink and supper and have a brief introduction to the plan for the week ahead.
Sunday 25th - Friday 30th May
The week will be filled with trips around the string of Islands from Berneray in the North to Eriskay in the South and everything in between.
This is not intended to be a tick list of 'been there done that' for the various locations but instead to maximise our chances of having wonderful wildlife encounters with the best the islands' have to offer.
The one exception to this flexible plan will be an exclusive boat trip aboard the Lady Anne from Grimsay which will allow us to explore some of the otherwise inaccessible areas on the eastern coastline.
I have had wonderful encounters from this boat with a wide range of creatures including White-tailed Eagles and Golden Eagles, Black and Red-throated Divers, otters, seals and swimming red deer. If conditions allow we may venture away from the protection of the islands where we may encounter dolphins or other cetaceans.
Otherwise, we will be planning each day according to weather conditions, the wildlife we have witnessed thus far and how each may affect the species we are yet hoping to see.
This is THE best time of year to hear the rare and elusive corncrake on the Islands, and, with luck and patience we may even catch a glimpse of one or two of these cryptic birds.
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Eagles will be well into their nesting period by now so, whilst we won't approach any nests (they are schedule 1 species and protected by law), we are very likely to see both species from time to time in various locations around the Islands.
We will visit key reserves - Balranald in North Uist and Druidibeg on South Uist, each of which have very different habitats and characters with a range of species in each. The Machair (sandy, flower rich grassland along the west coast) dominates Balranald and is an important site for breeding waders, corncrake and other birds.
The heather, hills and freshwater lochs of Druidibeg are eagle country but also great for encounters with hen harrier, short- eared owl, divers and maybe even merlin.
We will certainly put time into some coastal locations where we will scan for a range of seabirds and always be on the lookout for otters amongst other wild inhabitants.
Throughout the week I will be hoping to bring you to places which will give you a real sense of the beauty and richness of these magical isles.
To list all the species I regularly encounter might whet your appetite but I hope you would agree with me that it is the sense of unexpected serendipity that makes trips to wild places so enriching. Suffice it to say that all of the images accompanying this overview were taken by me on the Islands you will be visiting.
Of course, I will be on hand to identify all that we encounter and to give detail about the lives of those that we see.
After long days in the field (we will be armed with packed lunches on most if not all days) the welcome comfort of the lodge will await you. There may even be one or two surprises planned here through the week...
Saturday 31st May
This is where we have to say goodbye - for now at least. We will organise transport for anyone who needs to get to the airport or is a foot passenger on the ferry. Those with their own vehicles will need to vacate their rooms by 10am so that they can be prepared for the next guests.
If you have any questions about the trip, don't hesitate to get in touch with me - I'll do my best to answer in a timely fashion.
The cost of the trip for the week is £2985 per person. This includes your room, all meals, soft drinks (there will be a pay as you go bar available at the Lodge), the exclusive trip aboard the boat ‘Lady Anne’ and all transport costs once you reach the island.
It does not include the cost of getting to or from the islands, alcoholic drinks or any sundry extras that you may need during the week.
To book a place on this adventure, go to the Booking page on the website (link below) and send me an email. I'll get back to you as soon as possible with details.
I hope to see you soon!