Island 17 -Eriskay, 4th July 2014

Sign to Eriskay on Barra

On the ferry to Eriskay

The ferry to Eriskay is only 8 miles from Castlebay on Barra - eight fairly hilly miles but I didn't have my panniers. That was lucky as they now contain a range of distillery tee-shirts, a party frock and shoes and a ceramic image of Skerryvore lighthouse, bought at Tyrii Pottery. They are not as light as they were - pardon the pun.

It's quite amazing to me how close and yet distinct each of these Hebridean islands are. They would not be so close in very bad weather although the causeways from Eriskay to the north have made travel between the islands very much easier. It might be hard on the otters trying to cross the road though - I do love that sign.

I sat by the causeway trying to see otters but it was the wrong time of day.

Eriskay has a shop (something for which we must always be grateful) and a café in the Community Hall. Like other
community cafés, it was hospitable and comfortable. Eriskay also has a pub, romantically entitled 'Am Politician' after the ship which sank with all that whisky in 1941. It is a very unprepossessing place but the food was nice and the view is Hebridean - i.e. fabulous.

The weather has brightened up considerably and I had an easy two mile ride to the causeway for Island 18, South Uist, keeping a careful eye out for otters crossing!