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Outer Hebrides Unearthed

We just got home from our three week trip, and I thought I'd point this out incase someone is traveling to the Western Isles. Sorry if everyone already knows about this. It will take a few weeks to create my usual detailed trip report.

There is an ad-free phone app call Outer Hebrides Unearthed that has taken a high tech approach to several attractions on Uist.
There are currently six of these sites on Uist with more to come on Barra, Harris. and Lewis over the next years.

After nicely guiding you to the start of the specific walk, your phone offers "signboards" at a few waypoints along the short hike, then VR (virtual reality) links of the actual structure. Some are rubble piles and some are simply in the middle of a farm field. In any case, once you're in position, your phone shows whatever you point towards, allowing you to see structures, walk into them, see blazing fires, skeletal remains, artifacts, and even a sleeping dog. If your companion joins you, you can take screen shots superimposing the images (they can pet the dog).

The technology is pretty cool, but it does worry me that it will cheapen experiences once you can do it without being onsite.

Posted by
2103 posts

Thanks. We are considering this destination for some time within the next year.

Posted by
12206 posts

Thank you so much, jj! I have the Outer Hebrides on my itinerary for next year when I visit Orkney and Shetland, as I would like to get to some of the islands I have not been to, and will possibly make another trip to Lewis and Harris.

I just downloaded the app and it looks great. I like how it links to Google Maps. According to the app, Barra and Lewis will be coming in the summer of 2026, and Harris in 2027. Just in time for my trip! 😊

Posted by
2035 posts

Thanks, JJ! We were in Barra 7 years ago and hope to go to Lewis and Harris in the not too distant future.

Posted by
6131 posts

Oh that’s cool! I haven’t looked at it yet, but I think I would like it.

I am headed to Shetlands and Orkney next month and paid for (inexpensively) what I thought was just an audio guide for Skara Brae when I bought my ticket there. But it actually has 15 sites on the main island and then something on 8 other islands (all for Orkney) overseen by Historic Scotland. I’m not sure what it all does but for places with no guided tour, I think it’s going be great.

Posted by
1921 posts

My wife and I are heading for the Outer Hebrides at the end of June. I'm cycling the Hebridean Way so won't have a lot of time for sightseeing as well but my wife will be driving the team car so will be able to when not searching for swimming spots. It's a pity that the app only currently has the Uists live - I'm guessing that we might be too early for the Barra and Lewis Summer 2026 updates.

Posted by
1163 posts

The Cill Donnan and Bornais sites are on the Hebridean Way (or within a few hundred feet) as we talked with a couple of hikers as we visited. Cladh Hallan is not far off, and it wouldn't surprise me if the others were as well - we just didn't run into any hikers nearby. The Leverburg ferry had broken down and a lot of northbound hikers/bikers had time on their hands.

Posted by
1921 posts

You're right that there are a number of sites close to the route and I will have spare time as the cycle is not huge distances every day (at least the way I'm doing it!). Depending on the wind of course........