Calbhaigh

The owner of this croft has done a superb job in constructing a series of good paths, picnic and rest areas etc, and has also planted a wide variety of native and exotic plants. This is the main path that leads from the road end towards Bagh Lathach.

Taken from the tiny 'harbour' in a corner of Loch Aineort with the southern flanks of Beinn Mhor rising steeply in the background. This was an unusual afternoon for weather conditions, for while much of the island was rather grey and misty, the mountains broke up the cloud and made Loch Aineort a sun trap.

Grey seals saving energy on a rocky reef in Loch Aineort.

Loch Aineort runs halfway across South Uist with a sheltered entrance from the Minch. The view is across the loch towards Stulabhal [374m] which is the highest of the hills in this shot.

The view near the head of the sea loch looking towards where it begins to widen.

Heading south east towards the second of two causeways across arms of this complex sea loch.

At this point one is only 4km from the west coast, but this long and convoluted sea loch is one that has its mouth on the east side of the island.

A small nameless lochan draining into the nearby Loch Ceann a' Bhaigh (Bayhead).

The remains of wrecked fish farm pontoons and cages on the shores of Loch Ceann a' Bhaigh. Apparently the remaining fish farm cages are to be removed from the loch, whether all this junk gets cleared up along with them is another matter...

This view at Taobh a Deas, looking South-east - a former 'black house' which had been modernised, but is now roofless, can be seen in the distance

The road along the southern side of Loch Eynort ends at Unasary. Similar peat cuttings are a frequent roadside sight in South Uist.

Lazybeds are the traditional way of growing crops in small patches of soil. My thanks to Angus Campbell, who tells me that these ones were made by his father Neil, and that his father still cultivates them in 2008, albeit not on this site. NF7728 : Former Lazybeds by Loch Aineort shows the same piece of land in 2008. Only potatoes can be grown, and Neil always plants Kerrs Pink. He starts by spreading seaweed on the ground in February, and then turns the soil to create the lazybeds. The seed potatoes are planted in April, and the crop is harvested from September onwards, depending on the weather. Angus also makes lazybeds, but he says they are not as good as his father's ones.

Small lochan with reedbed in foreground - looking NE across A865 (main N-S road in South Uist) towards Beinn Mhor.

The track is used for access to the fish farm.

In the early 1900's, many houses were constructed using corrugated iron then v-lined inside with wood.