The Outer Hebrides.
It’s where I spent the majority of this month, and where I will always feel at home, no matter where life takes me. While there will be plenty blog posts to come from my recent time in the islands, I wanted to try and tell a more visual tale of my three weeks at home in the Hebrides.
Thanks to my upgrade to an iPhone (how did it take me so long?!), I’ve been playing around with travel videos, recording moments everywhere from a rainforest in Puerto Rico to the mountains of the Isle of Skye.
Naturally, I wanted to try and capture my home (a place I consider one of the most beautiful in the world) on film too. While I work on the words and stories to come, here’s a little video preview: my highlights from three weeks in the Outer Hebrides.
Music: The Story, by Runrig (one of my all-time favourite songs, from an album I highly recommend!)
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What are your thoughts on travel videos? Have you ever visited the Outer Hebrides, or would you like to?
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If you enjoyed this video, you might like:
A Boat Trip to the Shiant Isles – On Video!
A Local’s Guide To Visiting the Outer Hebrides
21 Must-Have Travel Experiences in the Outer Hebrides
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I can’t believe that was done on an iPhone. It’s exactly the ‘short’ that would introduce so many people I know around the world to ‘my’ world. And I think that the choice of that Runrig number was a superb one. You are inspiring me to greater efforts. In the meantime I shall point friends in this direction.
Thanks Graham, glad you liked it! I only got an iPhone recently, but I’m amazed at what it can do. And I love that Runrig song – it always makes me think of home 🙂
Well I did as I was told and followed the link from your blog GB. I certainly wasn’t disappointed.
Excellent writing, fabulous photos/videos and a brilliant choice in music. I’m a huge Runrig fan (saw them recently in Sheffield) and I actually think your video is a better visual for that track than the official video! I really must make the time for a trip to Lewis to see all these places for myself.
Thanks so much for the kind words, Mark! Glad you enjoyed the video 🙂 And hopefully you make it there for a visit someday!
Took the liberty to share it on Facebook. Very well received.
Thanks Catriona 🙂 !
A nice start to the week. A lovely short reminder of a favorite part of the world.
Thanks Chris 🙂 It’s my favourite part of the world too!
Beautiful film Katie, you even managed to get the snowy mainland hills in. Couldn’t be more different from your new home (but New York is pretty special too).
Love reading your posts and can’t wait to hear more stories about your time here.
Thanks Catherine! I love the days when you can see across to the mainland from Point – glad you enjoyed it 🙂 Plenty more stories to come too!
Fantastic video of home. So pleased I’m heading that way at the weekend. Well done.
Thanks Marion 🙂 I hope you have a wonderful time at home!
I have the great fortune of living on the beautiful Isle of Lewis and I was delighted to see this lovely video on facebook today and recognize many places that I love to visit myself, even though I live here. We love our visitors and I’m sure that, like many before you, you will return because you know there’s always a welcome for you here. Lots of love xxx
Thanks Annmarie! Glad to hear you enjoyed it 🙂 I always think that visiting places close to home can be just as good as a trip abroad!
Wow, great capture from an iPhone! Didn’t realise the quality was as good as that! It looks like a really awesome place, deserted beaches in the sun are always a winner! 🙂
Thanks Kylie! It’s one of the reasons I love my new iPhone so much – it’s really easy to film on too. And the Outer Hebrides are one of the best places on earth… but then again I am completely biased 🙂 !
This was marvelous; brought me to tears. I long to go back but unable to do it so I love all your blogs/posts. Thank you so much and so glad you had a wonderful holiday back “home.”
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Christine 🙂 I hope I can bring you a few more bits of ‘home’ in the next few weeks!
Glad you got down to Uist, and enjoyed your stay at Margarets. Although the weather was poor, I’m sure it was a worthwhile and eventful trip.
Thanks Donnie -we had a brilliant time at Margaret’s! And even though the weather was dreadful there’s lots to write about 🙂
Great film. sometime it takes a visitor to remind those of us who live in Scotland what a wonderful country it is
Thanks Alan! I completely agree. I’m from the Outer Hebrides, but it was going back after living away for a few years that made me look at it differently, and appreciate what a wonderful place we live in.
Having visited Stornaway a few times I can say that is just as we remember it , been to Harris as well . September is a good month to go , the video is exellant well done.
Thanks Eddy! Glad to hear you enjoyed it and that it brought back some good memories for you 🙂
I loved your video & Runrig track. I am doing the Island hopper this summer & looking forward to it so much….something ticked of my list of places to visit
Thanks Teresa! I hope you have an amazing time island hopping (and that you get some good weather too!)
Hi Katie,just got back from North Uist and to see your film is So fitting,great choice of song.Brilliant
Thanks Neil! I love that Runrig song – always reminds me of home and the islands!
Wow! Brilliant video and great choice of song! Trying to make more videos on the iPhone here – but still a way to go! Loved the video – still to try Harris Gin! Cheers Donnie
Thanks Donnie! I’m still amazed at how good the iPhone is for capturing and creating videos. I didn’t use it for this video, but the Cameo App by Vimeo is great for iPhone videos – it’s what I’ve used for all my previous travel videos, and it’s really easy and intuitive to use.
And Harris Gin is delicious – I definitely recommend a sip or two 🙂
Love the video, on my list 2017 for sure
Thanks Janette – delighted to hear the Hebrides are on your to-visit list!
Katie, this video has given me so much pleasure today I keep watching it over and over…… I am Scottish from Old Kilpatrick and I just want to go home more when I watch this video especially the music by
Runrig. Thank you for posting
Thanks so much for your kind words, Janette 🙂 I’m delighted to hear you enjoyed the video!
Love the video and the music compliments it perfectly. I’d love to visit (and try the Harris Gin!)
Thanks Suzanne! I highly recommend visiting (and I definitely recommend trying the Harris Gin! You can even order it online from the distillery…)
Love the video, Katie! I’ve not been to Scotland yet, but it’s so high on my list. This makes me want to pack my bags and go!!
Thanks so much, Lynne! I hope you make it to Scotland sometime soon 🙂
Absolutely beautiful! I think when you spend time away from the island, you come to appreciate its beauty with new eyes … that was true for me at least. We spent the first twelve years of our married life on the mainland, but were so glad to spend the next twelve years ‘back home’. It was wonderful to be able to give our own kids a similar experience to the lives we’d had growing up.
To us, and to them, Ness will always be home….. as you say, no matter where our suitcases take us.
Anne x
Thanks so much for your lovely comment Anne 🙂 I completely agree; after being away from home, you really do appreciate it more when you return. We are so lucky to have grown up somewhere so beautiful. And I’m the same – Lewis will always be home, no matter where I end up! x
Stunning video set to perfect music. Thoroughly enjoyed my visit to your home. Growing up there, did you appreciate the views or did you have to leave and return to see what you had? I often wonder if I had grown up someplace beautiful, would I have become immune to it? I certainly find the beauty now.
Thanks for a glimpse into your Scotland…
Thank you, Carolyn! As a child I appreciated it – it’s a wonderful place to grow up – but as a teenager I felt ready to leave. So yes, returning as an adult made me love the islands more than ever 🙂
Hi Katie, just returned totday from my holiday
In Scotland. Was in Lewis and Harris for 1 week. My third time. I looooooooove it. The beauty is beyond words.
Try to go back in the summer. Your film is so Nice! I can show my friends where i have been. Thank you so much! Greetings from Holland!
Hi Elizabet, thanks so much for your lovely comment! I’m so happy to hear you loved Lewis and Harris – and that you enjoyed the video too 🙂
Hi Katie,
What a wonderful and inspiring video. Hope it’s OK that I shared it with my friends and family on Facebook for them to see my coming destination? I am one of the lucky ones to visit the Hebridies this year and was very grateful for your 21 must sees Great blog!
Hi Anne-Mette! Thank you for your kind words about the video – I’m so happy you enjoyed it! And I’m delighted you shared it with your family and friends 🙂 I hope you enjoy your trip to the islands this year!
Fantastic. Was in stornoway last year meeting relatives I didn’t know existed until last year . long story! ! Going to see Runrig at Edinburgh Castle in July. It’s truly in my heart now. beautiful place beautiful people.
Thanks Karen! I’m happy to hear you enjoyed your time in Stornoway (and I’m very jealous of you going to see Runrig!)
That was wonderful. My grandfather was Alexander Murdoch MacLeod, my father was James Finley McGonnigal.
Thanks Ian – I’m so glad you liked it!
Enjoyed reading your blog and also your article on the BBC website. I visited Harris and Lewis in the 80´s long before the arrival of social media. I stayed on Harris at a place called Geocrab. What an amazing lunar landscape! I did quite a bit of sketching there. I have developed a passion for islands since my departure from Scotland in the 80´s As a child my parents took me to Tiree on the Inner Hebrides. That was an experience I won´t forget. In those days the island was undevloped. I remember lying on my back on the machair stargazing, watching the shooting stars, with the cattle sleeping next to me, not so far from Scarinish. ….