Tuesday 14th September
Destination: Bayhead
Because of yesterday’s campsite mix up, we have booked another site as quickly as possible. We rang round a couple of places and found one that’s not exactly a campsite, but a ‘pod’ site.
We book the site in the morning, leaving us the rest of the day to explore. We soon discover another gorgeous, tranquil beach nearby. It’s not deserted for long as a group of friends roll up in a couple of vans to do some kite-surfing. They have come from various parts of northern England and Scotland, but the reason they are here is because they meet up every year during the second week of September.
They all get kitted up but unfortunately, there’s not quite enough wind and only manage short bursts of travel. Usually this beach is a windy spot, but sadly not today.
After a lunch of Scotch Broth soup, we continue to explore this North Uist beach, as the clouds begin to part and we are enveloped in warm sunshine.
By 4pm we are heading to our campsite which is called The Old Tractor Shed based in Bayhead. It has small sheds available for rent which are actually converted hen huts that are just big enough for a double bed. On the front end is a covered verandah and a log/peat burner that looks out onto some smashing countryside. Plus you have a well equipped kitchen and dining area.
There’s all the amenities of showers, toilets and laundry. Priced at £56 per night for 2 including wood and peat for the burner, we thought it was very good value and because there are only 8 hen huts and 3 shower blocks, it meant that nobody was kept waiting.
The site is run by Duncan and Marion who have put much effort in getting the site up and running. On arrival, we immediately make use of one of the outside washing machines. After loading, the machine doesn’t work and then find we cannot open the door to retrieve all our clothes! But all is okay after calling the owners as it turns out there’s a knack to opening the door. We swiftly take out our clothes and use another machine.
The pods are great. After tea, we settle down to a long game of Scrabble on our hen hut verandah. Our wood burner glows with heat, there’s a vista of Scottish hills in the distance and with several hens clucking and pecking nearby, another day ends on our Hebridean adventure.
