Walking on Water

There's safety in numbers - and even more security by first finding out about the tides - when walking across to Vallay on the north shores of North Uist. This tidal island was purchased by Erskine Beveridge in 1901 and money was lavished on what was then a state-of-the-art house, with central heating and 365 panes of glass to give all-around-views. Beveridge had inherited his father's successful linen-producing company in Dunfermline, but is now remembered as an enthusiastic antiquarian, historian and photographer who died in 1920. His son, George, inherited and lived in the house, but, perhaps, loneliness and drink affected his lifestyle and sense of judgement - for he made a fatal error when rowing home in November 1944 and drowned. The house is now a ruin that is visible from a great way off.

Scottish Islands Explorer - cares about getting to islands