In the far northwest of Scotland, out in the Atlantic Ocean lie the Outer
Hebrides. I'm on the island of South Uist. Welcome to a little piece of heaven!
I really couldn't wish for a better base from which to explore South Uist and the
neighbouring islands. The peace and tranquility is only disturbed by the
birdsong and the distant humming of the sea.
Just off the southern edge of South Uist is the beautiful island of Eriskay.
Until 2001 you had to go on a boat like this over treacherous waters. Luckily
there's now a causeway. I've crossed the causeway and I'm now in a very blustery
Eriskay!
So why is Eriskay's pub called The Politician? Well it's all down to whiskey.
In 1941 the SS Politician, laden with thousands of crates of whiskey, and bound
for America came aground just off the island. The incidents that followed, and
the Islanders rush to get as much whiskey as possible (well it was wartime)
became famous through Compton Mackenzie's book Whiskey Galore and the
following film and forever put Eriskay into Scottish modern folklore.
This is Eriskay's Church of St. Michael
Wherever you go on Eriskay or Uist even on a sunny day like today, you are
never far from the howling of the wind!
I'm here on the west coast of Eriskay, and not only is this one of the most
beautiful beaches you can imagine but it's also a very historic beach because
this is where in 1745 Prince Charles Edward Stuart also known as Bonnie
Prince Charlie landed and began the ill-fated attempt to retake the Scottish
throne on behalf of his father James Stewart. From here ,events unfolded that
would change Scotland forever. This is where we resume the story of Bonnie
Prince Charlie. After the catastrophic defeat of the Jacobites at Culloden he
escaped back to the Western Isles but here he was hotly pursued by Government
forces and he had to try and escape again! To his rescue came a young lady
from South Uist whose birthplace is just over my shoulder. Her name was Flora MacDonald and they took a boat across the sea to Skye with
Bonnie Prince Charlie disguised as her maid.
I've come up to North Uist and specifically Lochmaddy the main
settlement and there's a fantastic arts center here called Taigh Chearsabhagh which
also has a great cafe. Before I pop in there, there are sculptures to find!
Time for a well earned soup and coffee in North Uist's finest cafe.
There are countless amazing beaches in the Outer Hebrides, but you'll have to go a
long way to beat this one at Baleshare on North Uist.
Iif you like your beaches crowded with cafes and bars then this may not be the
right place for you!
Do not leave North Uist without stopping at the Hebridean Smokehouse for the most
exquisite smoked salmon and sea trout!
you
So why is Eriskay's pub called the Politician? well the answer is all down
to whiskey and Eriskay's historic claim to fame. Back in 1941 the
SS Politician laden with whiskey bound for America came aground just off
the island. It was wartime, there wasn't a lot of whiskey around and,
wel,l what were the Islanders going to do but try and salvage as much as they
possibly can and keep it?