Bosworth Court Care Home - Aspire Magazine

Discover
Spotlight On The Hebrides
Island Life
©VisitBritain/ Britain on View
Wild, dramatic and largely
untouched by human hands,
the Hebrides are a unique and
inspiring part of the British Isles.
Located off the west coast of
Scotland, the Hebrides are a chain
of charming islands steeped in
history and tradition, and a visit
to any of these promises to leave a
lasting impression.
The Hebrides can be divided into two
main groups:
• Inner Hebrides - including the islands
of Islay, Jura, Skye, Mull, Raasay, Staffa
and the Small Isles
• Outer Hebrides - Barra, Benbecula,
Berneray, Harris, Lewis, North Uist, South
Uist, and St Kilda
Situated off the west coast of mainland
Scotland, the Isle of Skye is the largest
island of the Inner Hebrides. Skye is an
excellent holiday destination for anglers,
watersports lovers, divers, sightseers,
birdwatchers and even those who
love a good fish dish. The coastline of
Skye is a series of peninsulas and bays
radiating out from a centre dominated
by the Cuillin Hills. The highest point
of the Cuillin, and of the Isle of Skye,
is Sgurr Alasdair in the Black Cuillin at
992m (3,255 ft). These hills beckon those
with a passion for heights at their most
dramatic, offering serious challenges to
walkers and climbers alike.
The most populous of the Outer
Hebridean islands is Lewis, with over
20,000 inhabitants, 8,000 of which
live in Stornoway. Stornoway often
surprises first-time visitors; it boasts all
the amenities and industry of a small
mainland town, as well as a lively and
vibrant social scene, with lots of pubs,
restaurants and clubs. Home to one of
the best prehistoric sites in Scotland,
Lewis is steeped in history and culture,
making it an ideal holiday destination
for history buffs. The contrast of the
ages and cultures is experienced all
over Lewis, both in the towns and out
in the hills and mountains. On the
northwest coast you’ll also find the
islands’ best-preserved prehistoric
Cuan Siar, Eriskay
The Island of Eriskay has some of the most
beautiful and evocative scenery in the Outer
Hebrides, or Western Isles, of Scotland.
Cuan Siar is a large, modern & comfortable
self-catering house, with accommodation for
eight or more people, providing an ideal base
from which to immerse yourself in Eriskay's
special charm and atmosphere; it's a truly
idyllic location, complemented by the equally
fascinating neighbouring islands of South
Uist and Barra. We hope this brief preview will
inspire you to come and holiday on Eriskay,
this romantic & unforgettable jewel amongst
the ‘Islands on the Edge of the World’.
remains - Dùn Charlabhaigh broch
(which perches on top of a conspicuous
rocky outcrop overlooking the sea, as
it has done for almost 2000 years) and
Calanais Standing Stones (a fascinating
group of nearly 50 megaliths dating
from around 3000 BC which never fail
to impress) - as well as a smattering of
ancient crofters’ houses in various stages
of abandonment.
Separated into North and South Harris
by a narrow isthmus, the Isle of Harris
boasts some of the best beaches in
Scotland, making it ideal for family
holidays. The mountains of North Harris
contrast with the rolling moors and
lochans of the north of Lewis, while
South Harris offers some of the most
dramatic scenery in Scotland, with wide
beaches of golden sand trimming the
Atlantic in full view of the mountains
and a rough boulder-strewn interior
lying to the east.
With over 20 miles of brilliant white
shell beaches, South Uist could easily
be mistaken for a tropical paradise.
The incredible machair lands and
dunes alongside these beaches are
brimming with flowers and wildlife and
The Loch Druidibeg Nature Reserve
presents a fantastic day out for all the
family. The island was once home to a
thriving Neolithic community; evidence
of this remains today thanks to the
numerous archaeological sites including
chambered tombs, Beaker sites, a Bronze
Age hoard, roundhouses, brochs, cairns,
ogham inscriptions, Viking settlements,
medieval longhouses and post-medieval
industry, scattered across the island.
The resident population, of 1,818 (2001
Census), uphold many of the island’s
traditions and the crofting industries of
peat cutting and seaweed gathering are
still an important part of everyday life.
To enjoy The Hebrides at the slow pace
the islands deserve, you really need five
to seven days; after that, you will have
fallen in love with the islands and will
probably want to return for a fortnight,
or more, on your next visit! Discover the
wonder of these stunning islands by
logging onto www.visithebrides.com
Top
Recommendation
Tel: 0141 954 0218 or 07776 144161.
Email: djm@cuansiar.com
www.cuansiar.com
The Rowans Bed & Breakfast
4 star Bed and Breakfast with a difference
Visit www.TheRowansOnSkye.com
©VisitBritain/ Britain on View
With a resident population of just 1,818 (2001
census), South Uist in the Outer Hebrides offers peace
and tranquillity in abundance. It’s the perfect place
to escape the hustle and bustle of living in the city,
enabling you to relax and unwind and enjoy life at a
slower pace.
A stunningly beautiful island of crystal clear waters with
white powder beaches, South Uist can be reached by
ferry from Oban or Skye. Set just 50 metres from the
sea, Tarantum House is a 2002-built property, which
sleeps eight to ten people in four en-suite bedrooms.
Two of the bedrooms contain king-sized beds, whilst the
other two have doubles; the house also boasts a wellequipped
kitchen featuring a dishwasher, microwave
and washing machine, a dining room, a living room, a
sitting room, a bathroom and a utility room. There is
plenty of parking next to the property and the garden is
ideal for relaxing after a long day exploring.
Property owner, Alice Mackinnon, told Aspire: “As
we’re only 50 metres from the sea, most of the rooms
boast glorious views over the sea and to the islands
beyond. Everyone who stays with us raves about the
breathtaking views of the bay from the house; it really is
something else!”
Children and pets are catered for at Tarantum House
Editor’s Choice
The Rowans
Bed & Breakfast
4 star Bed and Breakfast
with a difference
The Rowans is different to most B&Bs. We
offer 4 star service and comfort, but with
the added flexibility and privacy of a selfcontained
suite.
Your accommodation is a one-bedroom
annexe with its own shower room,
kitchen/diner and separate entrance, so
you can come and go as you please. We
supply you daily with everything you
need to make a substantial continental
breakfast and packed lunch, in your own
kitchen, so that you are not restricted to
fixed breakfast times and don't have to
choose from menus the night before. So
if you are walking or climbing, you can
be in the hills at first light, or if you are
having a lazy day you can enjoy a leisurely
breakfast in your pyjamas.
The Rowans offers unrivalled comfort as a
base for climbing, walking, birdwatching
or exploring Skye, or just a lazy break from
the frantic pace of modern life. We look
forward to welcoming you at The Rowans!
Tel: 01478 640478
Email: Jenny@TheRowansOnSkye.com
www.TheRowansOnSkye.com
Tarantum House in South Uist:
Utterly Amazing
and prices for a week’s stay start from £500 per week.
Tarantum House is open from January until September,
but is closed this July.
There is so much to do in and around Tarantum House.
Firstly, the beaches along Uist’s coastline span for almost
30 miles, making them a paradise for walkers, families,
surfers, wildlife watchers and adventure seekers,
as well as artists and photographers, thanks to the
unpolluted light and endless skies that penetrate the
sea, transforming the Atlantic Ocean into a mesmerising
vision and a kaleidoscope of colour – it’s not hard to
see why so many people imagine they’re in a tropical
paradise and not in The Hebrides!
The island is home to a number of sites of archaeological
interest, including the only location in Great Britain
where prehistoric mummies have been found. For
nature lovers, the island is a must-visit destination; it’s
home to thousands of birds during the spring, summer
and winter season and, with three nature reserves and
endless miles of beach and coastline, there’s an array of
flora and fauna to see.
Thanks to an abundance of freshwater lochs, intertidal
sea pools and brackish sea lochs, fishing on Uist is
plentiful. Uist boasts excellent trout fishing in the island’s
numerous hill lochs, as well as some of the best sea
fishing the Hebrides has to offer.
For further details, call
01878 700348 or write to
Alice MacKinnon,
Tarantum House,
12 East Kilbride, South Uist,
The Hebrides HS8 5TS
24 ASPIRE
ASPIRE 25