Isle of South Uist and the Isle of Eriskay

The Isle of South Uist has thus far been a bit neglected in terms of filming - although it has been reccied for many productions in recent years, it has lost out to its more famous neighbours, Barra and Harris. But it must be only a matter of time - with over 20 miles of brilliant white shell beaches running continuously down the west coast, South Uist is a stunning island, from the land, sea and air. The incredible machair lands and dunes alongside these beaches are brimming with flowers and wildlife such as corncrakes and otters. Long and linear, the east coast of South Uist is composed of fjordic inlets and bays. The Loch Druidibeg Nature reserve is a fantastic day out on a crisp winter's day. Also of interest to filmmakers is the culture: South Uist has a community who preserve their Hebridean traditions. In this laidback, friendly island, community crofting activities like peat cutting, wool dying and seaweed gathering are still part of everyday life.

Eriskay has also missed out on filming in recent years, but way back in the 1930's it was the subject of the first documentary with a Gaelic soundtrack: A Poem of Remote Lives, directed by Kissling. Eriskay is also the real life setting for the story behind Whisky Galore. Now linked to South Uist by causeway, and to Barra by car ferry, the island is more accessible than every before, which makes it easy for fans of the classic movie to pay pilgrimage to the island that inspired the film. The highlight of the visit might well be Eriskay's pub, restaurant and guesthouse, "Am Politician" named after the real cargo ship full of whisky that sank off the Isle of Eriskay back in the 1940s.