If you arrive on South Uist by ferry, you will arrive in Lochboisdale: services from Mallaig and Oban come here. The village is South Uist’s ferry terminal and marina. This makes it a clear reference point for planning your trip. Check the current timetable for your travel date to coordinate your arrival.

A ferry port with a long history

The history of seafaring goes beyond today’s ferry services. In the 1950s, scheduled sailings from Lochboisdale connected it with Oban, Castlebay, Mallaig and Lochmaddy. This means Lochboisdale brings together different periods: the ferry terminal as an arrival point and the village’s historic role as the starting point for several shipping routes.

Historic houses and monuments

472b South Lochboisdale is a rare, largely complete and remarkably unaltered example of a Hebridean thatched cottage dating from the mid to late 19th century. Until 2000, it was the home of the local bard Dòmhnall Aonghais Bhàin; it has been unoccupied ever since. The cottage is accessible only on foot. Seann Taigh also preserves a significant part of its historic fabric. Boisdale House and Post Office was probably built largely in the first half of the 19th century.

At Castle Calvay, the remains take centre stage: they stand on a small island off Calvay, on the south side of Loch Boisdale. The monument is of national importance. Another place of remembrance is the permanent Marloch Memorial in Lochboisdale’s Gateway Garden. Its ship-like shape commemorates the Marloch; stones from the houses and settlements of the people who left on the ship were used to build it.

In South Lochboisdale, the Listening Place Sculpture stands on the site of the former village school. It draws on the area’s history, bards and agricultural character, and is part of the Uist Sculpture Trail. The mission church also adds a historic touch: built in 1905, it overlooks Lochboisdale Harbour.

Trails and trips out to sea

When choosing activities, you can distinguish between walking routes and boat trips. The circular route over Laisger starts in Lochboisdale and returns to its starting point. Another route from Lasgair leads to the Barp, a chambered tomb, crossing Loch a’ Bharp along the way. The descriptions give different destinations and landmarks, but no walking times or difficulty ratings.

Uist Sea Tours offers wildlife trips from Lochboisdale. Boat trips include excursions to St Kilda, the Monachs, Mingulay and other offshore islands. If one of these trips is important to your plans, check the available dates and services in advance. This lets you choose Lochboisdale based on your interests: arriving by ferry, visiting historic buildings and monuments, or exploring trails and taking trips out to sea.

Discover more destinations: Lochboisdale, Creagorry, Isle of North Uist, Isle of Harris, Isle Of Lewis, Castlebay, Barvas.

Return to the main travel overview: Outer Hebrides.