Anyone live on the Western Isles?

[Deleted User]

Due to out increasing annoyance at the local chav population,and a few other factors, we have decided to move.

We intend to move to Benbecula, we have a friend out there that will rent us a house.

But we would like more information on island life, and experiences from anyone that does, or has lived there.

any_name_will_suffice

No, but my FIL lives on S Uist.

I would be quite interested to read any responses you get to this thread, as our retirement dream is to move there.

Certainly, from visiting FIL, it is a different way of life!

Just out of curiosity, whereabouts are you moving from?

[Deleted User]

Near Worksop

wik

Hi, I spent 12 years living on one of the inner hebrides with a population of about 3500, I still spend holidays there, and love it...
I hope oneday to head back up there, but at the moment life dicates differently.

One word of advice, Have you spent anytime there? I would suggest spending some time there in the winter, the islands are so very beautiful in the summer, but can be a very harsh place to live in during the winter months. One thing that is very hard to get used to is the dark winter days, and then you have the days when the ferries dont get into port!

Having said that... If its for you, go grab it by the horns! Its the most fantastic way to bring children up
wik xx

dizziblonde

Relatives that moved there were given the above advice - go up there in the most dismal, wet, cold months of the year before making any decisions.

They love it - but logistically it's a pain in the rear for relatives to visit them now, and for them to get to visit their family in a short-notice emergency.

withabix

I spent a year on Lewis, which was quite an eye-opener.

Benbecula or any of the Uists would be a step too far in my opinion!

Dunroamin

What sort of work would you be able to do there?

Savvy_Sue

I know nothing about life on Benbecula or any other island, but

wik wrote: »

One word of advice, Have you spent anytime there? I would suggest spending some time there in the winter, the islands are so very beautiful in the summer, but can be a very harsh place to live in during the winter months. One thing that is very hard to get used to is the dark winter days, and then you have the days when the ferries dont get into port!

this is very good advice, please DON'T do it in a way which burns all your boats this summer!

As well as what work you'd be able to find, have you considered how you'd cope with food and household shopping etc? If you're used to a choice of shops on your doorstep, will you find it frustrating if every purchase of school shoes requires a trip to the mainland?

Do you KNOW you're a family who could happily live in that situation? When we moved, I was constantly told how many lovely little villages there were in our chosen area. But why would I have wanted to live in a lovely little village with three boys approaching the teenage years? I'm a city girl, and I know it. They're city boys, and they know it. Only the other day DS2 was home for the weekend, and started complaining that he's now used to living somewhere where it's easy to get everywhere, whereas one of our bus routes doesn't operate on Sundays, and the little train stops running at 10 pm (6 pm on Sundays), which means there's only one bus left!!!

zaxdog

I lived on Lewis for years and then on Lismore (inner Hebrides) before moving to the mainland last year.

My advice would also be to go in the winter, understand you need a large store cupboard, memorize ferry schedules, try to achieve a basic grounding in Gaelic and learn how to pronounce place names properly (it's loch,a lock is something you put a key in :eek:) and also try to speak at a lower volume, lots of people from down south seem to speak at a very high volume and islanders tend to be softly and beautifully spoken.

Also accept that it may take you a good while to become part of the community but DON'T push too hard, it won't help you just be willing to help out when asked and you'll get there :T

scottish_lassy

I do and I love it!! Although not on Benbecula which even to me seems quite remote. It is definately a WAY of life. I would agree to rent a house for a year to see if you like it. After the VERY long summer days (where you can be working outside till nearly midnight), dark windy evenings when you can hunker down in a cosy house are very welcome. You tend to have to make alot of your own entertainment - fishing, walking, ceileidhing etc. Being friendly, but not pushy is the key with the locals. Good luck

RAS

Hi

How will you earn money?

You will need to learn some Gaelic if you want to fit in locally. Internet shopping is your friend but a lot will charge extra postage for the Highlands and Islands.

South Uist and Benbecula are largely Catholic and North Uist is largely Protestant so there is some tension although less than there once was. Bear in mind that Lord Mackay was thrown out of the church for attending the funeral of a Catholic peer and the rumblings from that are still going on in places.

Do you have children? Scottish and English education and exams are different, so you need to look at that before you make a decision.

And they do have their own chavs, although generally everyone knows who they are and what they are doing (as they will what you are doing when).