Western. Isles

[Doone]

Some of the family are planning a trip to the Western Isles area in the autumn. They'd like to see the islands. They have a Bongo but it's not a camper and would prefer to stay in a static caravan/cabin/lodge/cottage. Does anyone have ideas where would be the best place to use as a base? Or any advice?

[scanner]

As the distances and travelling times can be huge staying in one place could be even more expensive that travelling from hotel/guest house to hotel/guest house and the latter is likely to allow more of the area to be seen as they will not have to keep doubling back to get "home" every night.

Accomodation isn't cheap - especially on the Islands - but then fuel/time isn't cheap either (especially on the Islands). A double back that involves a ferry can be VERY expensive.

It's 6 on the swings or half a dozen on the roundabouts.

[Doone]

Thanks, that's very useful, something they didn't know so won't have considered.

[scanner]

We made the same mistake for our honeymoon ** years ago, just suffice to say I worked for a car hire company then and we went in a nearly new Mk 3 Cortina.

We went to the Highlands and thought a mobile home in Grantown - on - Spey would be a good central location.

It was central OK, somedays we had a 200 mile drive back home and we didn't even try visiting any islands.

Luckily petrol was 4 gallons to the £ in those days.

[clutha]

http://www.calmac.co.uk/

They do a good value island hopper ticket.

[Simon Jones]

Calmac ferries are not too expensive on the grand scheme of things. To go from Uig to Tarbert (Harris) and then Stornoway (Lewis) to Ullapool cost a smidge over £100 a few weeks back. That was with a backbox on so classed a 6m motorhome. Island Hopper tickets are good value if you do about 3 or more journeys, but you will probably find as we did that two singles are cheaper.

Must get round to posting some pictures of our Scottish tour...

[Doone]

Thanks everyone, lots for them to think about.

[clutha]

Son and g/f are just back from a cycle rip from Barra to Tarbert, Harris.

They camped beside the hostels, very cheap and had use of facilities.

http://youtu.be/UXegv8ueO6E