South Uist
Uibhist a Deas
The largest island. Hills on the east, a long run of west-coast beaches, and the Mallaig ferry at Lochboisdale.
South Uist accommodation is the biggest choice on the chain — self-catering cottages, a handful of hotels, B&Bs and campsites along the west coast. Stay near Lochboisdale if you are coming off the Mallaig ferry; stay further north (Iochdar, Howmore) if you want quieter machair and easier access to Benbecula.
Names people look for: Lochboisdale Hotel · Borrodale Hotel · Polochar Inn · Askernish Golf Club · Kildonan Museum · Carnan Stores · Co-op, Daliburgh
- Getting here
- CalMac into Lochboisdale from Mallaig (the main route), with occasional Oban sailings. Benbecula Airport is about 40 minutes north. Ferry timetables →
- Townships
- Lochboisdale, Daliburgh, Howmore, Iochdar, Askernish, Polochar and the townships along the west machair.
Beaches & walks
Published places on South Uist.
Howmore Beach
Wild machair-backed beach near the historic Howmore chapels and thatched hostel.
Polochar
Rocky shore and sandy stretches by the Polochar Inn standing stone, looking to Barra.
Beinn Mhòr and Hecla
South Uist's mountain ridge (620m) — a serious full-day round with eagles overhead and sea views to St Kilda.
Loch Druidibeg
Way-marked trail around a national nature reserve of moor, loch and woodland — red deer and raptors.
South Uist accommodation
96 places to stay
Benderloch
Escape to the tranquil south Uist coast at Benderloch, a charming self-catering retreat offering stunning views and a haven for nature lovers and those seeking a peaceful island escape.
Uist Travel Accommodation
Stay in comfort on South Uist at Uist Travel Accommodation, with self-catering rooms, apartments, and pods for up to 50 guests.
Borrodale Hotel
A friendly hotel in Daliburgh offering comfortable rooms and good food in a quiet South Uist village.
Frobost Lodge by Interhome
Comfortable Accommodation: Apartment Frobost Lodge by Interhome in Daliburgh offers two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
The Toolshed
Comfortable Accommodation: The Toolshed in Daliburgh offers a ground-floor holiday home with one bedroom and a bathroom.
Sealladh Lingeigh
Comfortable Accommodation: Sealladh Lingeigh in Pollachar offers a 3-star holiday home with four bedrooms and four bathrooms.
South Uist property
14 listings from local agents
Offers over £78,000
28 Kenneth Drive, Lochboisdale, Isle of South Uist, HS8 5TJ
For sale · House
None £220,000
Scalligarry, Clachan, Iochdar, Isle Of South Uist, HS8 5RA
For sale · House
Offers around £215,000
Sealladh Mara, 479 South Lochboisdale Isle of South Uist, Western Isles, HS8 5UB
For sale · House
Offers over £395,000
The Anglers' Retreat, 1 Ardmore, Isle of South Uist, HS8 5QY
For sale · House
On South Uist
71 businesses in the directory
Aitkins Island Travel
Taxi and private hire service based at North Locheynort, South Uist
An Carra Standing Stone
Tall Neolithic standing stone on the slope of Beinn a' Charra near Ormacleit, South Uist, a short walk up from the A865
Angus MacDonald Joinery
Angus MacDonald Joinery on South Uist.
Art by Sheila
Art by Sheila on South Uist.
Askernish Golf Club
18-hole links course on the machair at Askernish, South Uist, laid out by Old Tom Morris, open to visitors
Barp Frobost Chambered Cairn
Neolithic chambered cairn on a knoll east of the A865 at Frobost, South Uist, reached by a boggy farm track
Stories from South Uist
All lore →Britain's most westerly mountain has the wrong name on the map
Beinn Mhòr on South Uist, 620 metres, is the most westerly mountain in Great Britain. Locals will tell you its proper Gaelic name is Gèideabhal; Beinn Mhòr just means big hill.
FactBritain's only prehistoric mummies came out of a South Uist field
The only prehistoric mummies ever found in Britain were dug up at Cladh Hallan on South Uist. Bronze Age islanders had preserved bodies in a peat bog and then buried them under their roundhouse floors, about 3,000 years ago.
FactHowmore has one of Scotland's biggest clusters of thatched houses
Howmore on South Uist has one of the largest collections of thatched buildings in Scotland, medieval chapel ruins that once housed a college of learning, and an 1858 church with its communion table in the middle of the room, one of very few in the country.
FactLoch Bì nearly cuts South Uist in two
Loch Bì on South Uist is eight kilometres long and all but cuts the island in half. The main road crosses it on a causeway first built in the 1600s; the current one dates from 1990.
South Uist — common questions
Is South Uist worth visiting? ▾
Yes, for twenty miles of near-continuous beach on the west side, hills to climb on the east, Kildonan Museum, Askernish golf course laid out by Old Tom Morris, and the islands' strongest Gaelic and Catholic traditions.
How do you get to South Uist? ▾
CalMac sails from Mallaig to Lochboisdale in about three and a half hours. You can also fly to Benbecula and drive south over the causeway, or arrive at Eriskay from Barra on the Sound of Barra ferry.
What is the main town on South Uist? ▾
Lochboisdale is the ferry port and Daliburgh, three miles west, has the shops, medical centre and Borrodale Hotel. Balivanich on Benbecula is the nearest larger centre.
Are there hills on South Uist? ▾
Yes. Beinn Mhòr at 620 metres and Hecla at 606 metres rise on the east coast, the highest ground in Uist, with red deer and eagles and views to Skye.
How do I get to South Uist accommodation? ▾
The main ferry is Mallaig–Lochboisdale. You can also fly to Benbecula and drive south (about 40 minutes), or come via the Uig–Lochmaddy ferry and continue down the causeways. The Barra–Eriskay ferry puts you ten minutes from South Uist.
Where should I stay on South Uist? ▾
Lochboisdale and Daliburgh for shops and the ferry. Howmore, Askernish and Kilphedar for beaches and walking. Iochdar if you want to be halfway to Benbecula. Almost everything is a 20–30 minute drive from everything else.
Is South Uist property a good place to buy a holiday home? ▾
People do — but treat it as a real house, not a lock-up-and-leave flat. Weather, access, heating and local demand for long lets all matter. Look at the live South Uist property listings below and speak to the selling agent about occupancy and services.