Kinloch will no longer be a B&B / Guest house from 2026.

Kinloch House Bed and Breakfast

 

Sadly Kinloch is closing to paying guests from next year 2026 due to a range of personal issues. Friends and long standing guests (the regulars – you know who you are!) will continue to be welcome.

Wegg is still active and preparing his magnificent breakfasts and dinners.

Maxi has sadly passed away and is sorely missed – but will not be replaced.

The garden continues to improve each year and, with new assistance, the vegetable patch is expected to be even more prolific in the future.

The fishing remains as productive as ever – if anything the machair trout ae getting bigger. The Sea Trout runs continue to be good , but as ever fishing is very much dependent upon the weather.

HRH 1963 edited 2 663 2His Royal Highness Prince Philip is on the oars on the Loch in 1963. Accompanied by the then retired blacksmith Murdoch MacRury who was the first warden of the recently formed Nature reserve. Kinloch was not built then so HRH stayed at the nearby Grogarry Lodge.

RSPB write in their magazine Nature’s Home – and I quote – “A new community nature reserve has been created on South Uist after 1,100 acres of land was transferred by SNH (Scottish Natural Heritage). Loch Druidibeg is surrounded by moorland and peat bogs, havens for white–tailed and golden eagles, merlins, hen harriers and short eared owls, as well as wintering whooper swans. We are working with local organisation Stòras Uibhist to develop the new reserve for visitors.”

 

Fly Fishing

Trout in water with Rod 600South Uist truly offers some of the finest wild Brown Trout and Sea Trout fishing in Europe.

For those interested in reading more about fishing at Kinloch link to “Eight Days in South Uist” written by an American visitor after his weeks fishing, also “Machair Magic” published in Fly Fishing and Fly Tying, written by well known angling writer Neil Patterson and again a chapter from his recent book Flyfishers Chronicle “Ian’s Bumble”. Finally an article "An Obsession with South Uist", which first appeared in the Piscatorial Society Journal, written by the highly respected fisherman Robin Mulholland.

There is not a stocked rainbow on the island. Whether fishing from a boat on one of the Estate machair lochs for specimen Brown or Sea Trout; or walking the hills, fishing the literally 100s of lochs run by the local Angling Club, for smaller wild trout this will be a unique fishing experience.

Fly Fishing and Fly Tying Magazine cover

April2021FlyFishingandFlyTying sharp 300

 

 

 

Trout & Salmon publication, Fly Fishing and Fly Tying magazine, recognised master ghillie Ian Kennedy netting a fine grilse for Dave Westburg from Seattle at the Loch Bharp burn mouth. For full details about the fishing see the relevant section on this site: The fishing.

Bird Watching / Wildlife

Corncrake Cropped450The bird watching on the island is spectacular; most particularly for raptors and a very wide range of wading birds, plus a range of occasional rarities.

Kinloch is perfectly placed between the machair and the high ground on the East to take advantage of the full diversity of birds and wildlife.

I highly recommend Steve Duffield as a guide to show you the best of the birds and wildlife – www.western-isles-wildlife.co.uk – he will take you out and show you the birds and wildlife.

In summer the days are very long and from June onwards the machair is at its best.

In the Summer the machair is home to many corncrakes – they can be heard calling on most days – actually seeing them is more difficult.

The flora and fauna of the machair can truly be described as “unique” – this is a very rare environment.

The island has a large head of pure Red Deer and an abundance of otters. There are no foxes or badgers on the island.

Shooting / Stalking

There is some excellent stalking available from August 12th and that can be organised for my guests by arrangement with the head keeper. This encompasses both culled hinds and trophy heads.

Askernish Golf Links

 

Golf

The links at Askernish, some 15 minutes' drive from Kinloch, was originally laid out by "Old" Tom Morris in 1891 and is now fully restored.

Some regard this as the finest 18 holes links course in the world.

Visitors are welcome and golf clubs are available for hire.

See www.askernishgolfclub.com for an update of progress.

 

Walking / Climbing

There is a very wide range of walking and climbing opportunities. The whole of the East coast side of the island is largely uninhabited and one can spend as many, or as few, hours as one chooses walking in wild places; with only deer and eagles for company.

Horse Riding

There are 2 stables on the islands offering horse riding, and a range of rides on and off road, including the beach.

Check out www.uistcommunityridingschool.co.uk which describes some of what is possible and is the web site for the Uist Community Riding School - the main stables on South Uist and Benbecula.

A Uist BeachThe Beach

The west coast has 20 miles of silver sand beaches stretching from the Ardivachar headland to the southern tip of South Uist, broken only by one or two rocky headlands – OK maybe the weather is rarely suitable for sunbathing – but you may be surprised how few people you meet. You will however see the large flocks of waders, a wide range of ducks and gulls, lots of seals and even the occasional otter that all feed on or off the beach.

Boat trips

Nick Ingledew offers an excellent boat trip from Kallin on Benbecula. Just 3 hours off the East coast. Expect to see Sea Eagles etc. 

Dun Vulan

 

Cultural activities

There are a range of opportunities to get involved with Gaelic culture and a rather fine local museum at Kildonan. There are also a very wide range of archaeological sites on the island including Neolithic dwellings, Viking round houses, chambered cairns, "brochs" and "duns".