Sport

Hebridean Football

For those of you are concerned that your holiday in the Outer Hebrides may deprive you of your regular fix of football, worry not.  There is a highly-competitive and well-supported football league that operates in Harris & Lewis, with nine teams from across the islands.  Conveniently for our visitors, in the Hebrides, football is a summer sport. Carloway, Point and West SIde are among the in-form teams in recent seasons.

Eriskay Football Pitch

Football is taken equally seriously further south, with Eriskay entertaining its neighbours from South Uist, at their ground which was recognised by FIFA as one of the eight most remarkable football pitches anywhere in the world

Tennis

While Eriskay lays claim to one of the most scenic football pitches in the world, Harris probably has one of the most spectacular locations for a tennis court anywhere - just past Bunavoneadar, on the road to Huishinish

Shinty

Football's popularity has meant that although the islands are one of the strongholds of Gaelic culture, shinty has not had the profile or popularity enjoyed in Highland communiites on the mainland.  If you fancy swinging a 'caman' (a shinty stick), Camanachd Leòdhais has been part of the National League for the past 10 years and there is also a shinty club based in North Uist, but drawing players from across Uist

Cricket

Most cricket on the Outer Hebrides is restricted to sunny days at the beach. However, one of Scotland's best cricketers of recent years, Calum MacLeod comes from a South Uist family, and was famously banned from discussing tactics with his brother, Allan in Gaelic during a match.  Called up during a test match in 2009 against Australia, due to injuries, he is beleived to be the only Gaelic speaker to have ever played cricket for England.