Travel to the Hebrides in Scotland – Episode 567

Hear about travel to The Hebrides as the Amateur Traveler talks to Matt Higgs about his trip to these remote islands in Scotland.

Matt says, “The Hebrides are great because they offer a really great opportunity for someone who likes to get away from it all, but it’s actually pretty accessible. But it’s still very remote, very natural. There’s also a whole bunch of history ranging all the way back to prehistoric times. One thing that I love about Scotland and particularly The Hebrides is how much ‘hands-on’ opportunity there is. There’s not a lot between you and the history. You could walk right up to the ruins, step inside them.”

Matt starts us on the Isle of Skye at the fairy pools at Glenbrittle, Rubha an Dùnain with a side trip to the island of Raasay. We talk about the history of the area include crofting villages and The Highland Clearances. We also talk about great hikes on Skye.

From there we take a ferry further out to Lewis and Harris where we find standing stones older than Stonehenge, old churches, and spectacular white sand beaches that look like they should be in the Caribbean.

If you think Lewis and Harris are remote then wait until Matt talks about heading out by boat to the now-abandoned islands of St Kilda. St Kilda is one of only two dozen global locations to be awarded mixed World Heritage Status for both ‘natural’ and ‘cultural’ significance. You will find abandoned houses, flocks of birds, chocolate brown feral sheep, and a spectacular tree-less rocket coast. One the way back to Lewis and Harris, the boat will sail past the remote rocks of The Stacks which have only ever been inhabited by birds.

Hear why Matt has fallen in love with this place that is easy to reach but feels like it is a world away.

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Show Notes

milesbyfoot.com
The Hebrides
Travel to Scotland – Episode 549
Skye
Fairy Pools at Glenbrittle
Sligachan
Portree
Rubha an Dùnain
My Heart’s in the Lowlands: Ten Days in Bonny Scotland
Crofting
Ferries in the Hebrides
Lewis and Harris
Callanish Stones
Dun Carloway
Seallam! Visitor Centre
Leverburgh
Rodel
St Clement’s Church, Rodel
St Kilda, Scotland
Cleit

Booking.com

Community

Hi Chris,

Just letting you know that your podcast has been an inspiration to seek out opportunities to travel. My wife and I just planned a last-minute trip to Montreal for this coming weekend and we enjoyed listening to your Quebec episode as preparation. In fact, we thought Ira Bernstein was such a funny guest that we’ve been listening to his earlier appearances.

You have a great format for the podcast and keep a nice balance between loose, free-ranging discussion and more focused questions.

Regards,
Mike

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