This post is part of a paid partnership with West Coast Waters to promote the many ways you can immerse your senses around the Scottish west coast

Back in August I was sat in the ferry queue in Uig in Skye bursting with excitement and anticipation at the prospect of another west coast adventure. The last time I waited in this queue was on a trip to Harris and Lewis, this time I was sailing to North Uist. My excitement levels were ramped up to the max because not only was this my first trip to Uist, it was also a proper holiday which meant I could truly immerse myself in the real-time beauty of the Hebrides without any online distractions or work commitments.

I deleted my social media apps from my phone, ensured my e-mail out of office was switched on and took some deep breaths before fully embracing vacation mode. Before long I was stood out on the deck of the CalMac ferry with the wind whipping my hair and the sea breeze reenergising my soul. On the horizon, Uist and new adventures awaited.

In case you didn't know, Uist is a chain of islands linked by causeways, stretching from Eriskay in the south to Berneray in the north with South Uist, Benbecula, Grimsay and North Uist between them. There are also other smaller islands linked by causeways off of the main islands so if ticking off Scottish islands is your thing this is a good place to start, I managed 9 on this trip!

The following week saw a new chapter of wondrous west coast memories added to my Scotland travel journal and I'm sharing some of my favourite island highlights from Uist in this blog which might be just the inspiration you need for planning your next Scottish adventure.

If there is a beach nearby, you can be sure I'll visit it! I love being by the sea, padding barefoot through the sand and dipping my toes in the water. In Uist I had countless beaches to choose from and although I couldn't possible visit them all, I did discover a few crackers including -

• Hougharry Beach, North Uist - This was a highlight not just because it was closest to our accommodation which meant we visited most days, but also because it is typically pretty in a Hebridean way. My husband spent his time snorkelling the clear waters while I hunted for Groatie Buckie shells, a favourite pastime back home in Orkney. Our dog Willow flitted between us both, bounding about the beach before splashing in the sea for a paddle.

• Baleshare Beach, Baleshare - I had heard that the beach on this tidal island was impressive but I'd say that was an understatement. The view is obscured by dunes right up until the point you arrive on the rocky fringes of the coast. From here the vast sweep of sand stretches as far as the eye can see, along the entire island and all the way to Benbecula. It has a wild feel to it and I had an urge to walk along its length into the far distance but that will have to wait for another visit when I have more time.

• Princes' Beach, Eriskay - Although this is a beach worth visiting in its own right, it is a must visit for anyone interested in Jacobite history like myself. It was here on the 23rd July 1745 that Bonnie Prince Charlie first set foot on Scottish soil. In Gaelic the beach is known as 'Coilleag a'Phrionnsa', translated to the Prince's cockleshell strand. Standing at the starting point of such a significant sequence of historical events and trying to imagine it through the eyes of Charles Edward Stuart was quite a feeling.

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• West Beach, Berneray - Even though I visited West Beach on a day so windy that the sand blasted several layers of skin off, I was still stunned by its beauty. Voted as one of the top beaches in Europe and previously used by mistake in a campaign to promote a beach in Thailand, it seems I'm not the only one that appreciates its gorgeousness. With miles of pristine sand, turquoise water and backed by the hills of Harris in the distance, this is the epitome of a photogenic Hebridean beach. Although the beaches of neighbouring Harris are regularly touted as the best in Scotland, I'd say they have a real competitor in Berneray.

If, like me, you're starting to plan your Christmas shopping and looking to shop local for unique gifts that also do good, this post is for you.

Buy Social Scotland is an amazing initiative with a directory of local and ethical gifts from social enterprises across Scotland. There is something for every budget and you can find everything from a Build Your Own Ukulele Class to Christmas Spiced Gin.

At a time when many of us are looking for ways to be more environmentally friendly, there are also lots of eco gifts to choose from including reusable snack bags, reusable glass coffee cups and plastic free Christmas crackers.

I love this website as I have been able to source some unusual gifts and support businesses that actively reinvest their profits to do good in the community.

I've listed 15 of my favourite picks below but with over 200 items in the directory, this is just a wee taste of what is available.
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Check out the full gift directory here

Chutneys are a great versatile foodie gift as they go with so many things. I personally put chutney on just about everything from sandwiches to scrambled eggs! These handmade chutneys from The Kitchen at Langloch Farm sound delish with flavours that include Spiced Plum, Green Tomato & Apple, Green Pepper & Chilli, Beetroot.

Buying them supports the Clydesdale Community Initiative, an award winning Social Enterprise with a core mission to enable anyone who would like to make a contribution to their community to do so with the support of Placement Support Workers. All production processes are carried out by participants and volunteers and all ingredients and raw materials are sourced locally (many grown on site at Langloch) and eco friendly packaging is a must for all finished products.

These sound totally yummy, with a fresh passion fruit filling encased in the finest Belgian chocolate and drizzled with a luxurious ruby chocolate. I'm sure any chocolate lover would be very appreciative of these, I'd certainly be happy to find them under my tree this year.

Grace Chocolates are handmade by women who have touched the Scottish criminal justice system and are choosing to make positive changes in their lives. Through making and selling chocolates the women receive support, training, work experience and the opportunity to raise their self- esteem and resilience which helps lower the barriers they face in finding meaningful work.

This selection of Scottish cheeses includes Loch Arthur Farmhouse, Lanark Blue, Paddy’s Milestone, Bonnet goat’s milk cheese and a packet of Galloway oatcakes and will please any cheeseaholic. I'm also thinking a wee jar of the chutney from The Kitchen at Langloch Farm mentioned above would be a perfect addition.

Loch Arthur Farm Shop and Cafe is a working community near Dumfries, South West Scotland, which includes men and women with learning disabilities. Loch Arthur is a shared way of life in a modern rural Community which offers security as well as support for through the challenges of daily life. They are committed to the fulfilment of the individual through a diversity of relationships and activities which create authentic social integration.

This is an ideal gift for anyone wanting to make their garden more wildlife friendly. Right now, 35 bee species face extinction. Many plants would not be able to fertilise without bees and we need bees to fertilise many of our crops. Wildflowers not only look lovely but they help bees to survive and thrive so this is a win win garden gift.

Buying one also supports the Cambo Heritage Trust was established in 1998 to promote horticulture, education, arts and heritage at Cambo Estate. Over the last three years Cambo Heritage Trust has engaged with over 2500 children, 500 young people, 3000 adults and 1000 supported adults through their learning & engagement programmes. They have facilitated over 5,500 days of volunteering or a range of horticultural, environmental and traditional skills projects.

​I don't know anyone who doesn't love a scented candle. The aroma and flickering flame add a relaxing ambience to any home and add a bit of coorie in the winter. Personally, I always have one lit on my desk when I'm working to keep me calm! I chose this one as not only do I love the sound of the scent 'Lemongrass & Ginger with notes of Sicilian lemons, juicy limes, nutmeg and eucalyptus', I also love that it is is designed for your 'Happy Place'.

Nicola, the founder of social enterprise Kindness & Co started the South Ayrshire School Clothing Bank in 2017, a charity which supplies new school uniforms and warm coats to children and families experiencing financial hardship in South Ayrshire. Through this work she met many more charities that she wanted to be able to help and so all the profits from the sale of her hand poured candles, room diffusers and wax melts go to helping a range of local organisations that deliver a positive impact in the community.

A couple of months ago I was sitting on a bench in the pretty hamlet of Strathcarron, scooping up small mounds of cooling ice-cream dispensed in a tub at the local shop. The Scottish summer was doing what it was supposed to for once. It was warm enough to ditch my jacket (a rare occurrence!) and the azure blue sky was dotted with enough white cotton ball fluffs to stop my pale skin from burning. Gazing across the echo of crumpled brown hills on the still waters of Loch Carron, I mindfully celebrated my first west coast trip of 2021.

This was the start of my summer holidays and my next stop was the Isle of Skye. The last time I had followed this route was back in 2019, before the world was gripped by a pandemic and the freedom to travel was something I took for granted.

In the two years since I last wound my way along Scotland's west coast and over the sea to Skye, much has changed, but as I sat quietly inhaling the salty tang from the loch I also realised how much has remained the same. The timeless landscape of Wester Ross was exactly as I remembered and the feelings it inevitably stirs up in me hadn't disappeared. It all felt familiarly reassuring.

On my last trip here I made a detour to Plockton for an overnight stay before crossing the Skye Bridge. My relationship with Plockton goes way back to the mid-90s, to a time when a Highland policeman named Hamish Macbeth was a regular fixture on tellies around Scotland. The quaint TV village with a breathtaking backdrop was quickly added to my travel list.

Even though I've visited many times since, on my West Coast Waters Campaign in 2019, I got to experience the village and coastal scenery from a whole new perspective. Guided by Alison from Sea Kayak Plockton I absolutely loved every minute of my first sea kayaking adventure, despite being more than a bit apprehensive at the beginning. Rounded off with a seal spotting cruise with legendary local Calum Mackenzie and a locally landed seafood dinner at The Plockton Inn, I don't think my day could have been any better.

However, on this trip I was heading straight to Skye for a unique overnight stay in Boris the Military Pod, a converted army radio repair workshop in Kylerhea on the south east coast of the island.  Located within walking distance of the shoreline, I spent the evening sat on the rocks watching bobbing seals in the Kyle Rhea strait, the narrowest point between Skye and the mainland. Sitting by the calming waters of the west coast was quickly becoming a theme for this holiday.

I could also spot the characterful Glenelg Ferry - the short journey from the mainland on the last manually operated turntable ferry in the world is my favourite way to travel to Skye.

All too often, visitors make a beeline for the same cliched sites that seem to appear on every 'must do' Skye list and consider the island ticked off their bucket-list, often within a day!

As someone who has visited Skye many times and stayed in a different area each time, I can tell you there is much more to see and do, I'd even go as far as saying there are some better things to do.

On my last trip I stayed in Waternish and joined Divers Eye Boat Trips on one of their short cruises to the now uninhabited Islay Island. Wandering around the ruins of a long row of waterfront cottages and the laird's house which has a murderous past was a real highlight. I was the only visitor that day and despite being a stone's throw from the rugged and bustling Skye coast, it felt a world away as I stood alone among the remnants of past lives.

From a trip around the Sleat Peninsula to a boat trip to reach the remote Loch Coruisk, there are countless unique and memorable experiences to be had in Skye if you are willing to let go of your FOMO and break away from the crowds.

This post is part of a paid partnership with Film on Forth, to try out their filming location itineraries and write about my experience.

I vividly remember sitting in the cinema watching Braveheart and leaving with the overwhelming urge to learn more of my country's history and explore the many places mentioned that were still a mystery to me. Before you start shouting about its gross historical inaccuracies and Irish backdrops, I'm well aware, but to this day I still love that movie and I'm not ashamed to admit it! 

In more recent years I've joined the swelling rank of Outlander fans inspired to track down some of the atmospheric filming locations in Scotland that starred in the TV show. From Harry Potter to James Bond, the dramatic and characterful Scottish landscape has not only attracted countless film crews, but also fans, creating a growing industry centred around film tourism.

From my personal experience I know that destinations on screen can ignite a powerful desire to not only visit a place but also to find out more about it. Featured attractions are almost always even more interesting in real life than their fictional alter egos.

When I was invited to visit some of the Scottish filming locations less than an hour from Edinburgh and Glasgow, I jumped at the chance, especially as there were a few places that I had never been before.

Film on Forth is a project that encourages visitors to explore filming locations across West Lothian and neighbouring Falkirk through a range of self-guided itineraries. Many of the places have featured in Outlander, along with some other well known Scottish films.

You don't have to be a TV or movie buff to enjoy these places as they are all attractions in their own right, but if you are a fan, you'll definitely love seeing these screen stars for yourself. 

Taking in the historic town of Linlithgow and views of the famous Forth Bridges, spend a day or two exploring the old and the new attractions of West Lothian.

Midhope Castle aka Lallybroch or Broch Tuarach is instantly recognisable to any fan of the Outlander TV series and is the holy grail among Scottish Outlander filming locations. You can't go into the castle but it is a 'must photograph' spot for any fan and an astute entrepreneur has designed these Lallybroch keys which make for a brilliant photo prop.  You can buy them for £1 in an honesty box next to the castle and they make a fun souvenir to take home too, so you know I just had to have one!

Midhope Castle dates back to the 15th century but has been derelict since the 20th century. However, thanks to its TV fame and funds raised from the entrance fee, it is due to get a new lease of life with plans to restore the building, adding visitor accommodation and a new whisky distillery in the grounds.

The castle is located on the sprawling Hopetoun Estate and close to Hopetoun House which has also made several Outlander appearances so you might want to add a tour of the house to your itinerary if you have the time.