Vatersay Things to Do

Allt Chrysal

Although not on Vatersay, this ancient site sits on the base of Ben Tangasdale and over looks Vatersay. This site has evidence of being occupied from the neolithic period to the 18th century.

The site was discovered in 1990 when the land was being surveyed for the causeway to be built.

With various structures on the hill, it is clear to see that numerous generations of people who chose to settle and work the land over looking Vatersay.

Dun a' Chaolais                    Image by David C. Weinczok

Built on a rocky, the broch is nearly all collapsed however you can still see the exterior and interior walls as well as the courtyard wall. 

There is a 3D model of the site online, giving an animated view of the building and surroundings. This site can be visited here.

Cille Bhrianain                      Image by David C. Weinczok

Out on the Uidh peninsula there is the remains of a burial site and the foundations of an old church. The site is also known as the Caibeal Moire nan Ceann which means Chapel of Mary of the Heads. Mary or Marion was the wife of the first Clan MacNeil Chief. She got her name as it is rumoured that she killed her stepsons to ensure that her sons would take over the Clan seat on the passing of her husband.

Catalina Plane Wreckage     Image by David C. Weinczok

The Catalina Flying Boat Wreckage lies between the road and the shore. The World War 2 plane crashed into the hillside of Vatersay in May 1944. The training flight left Oban with nine men aboard, and the crash killed three of those men.

A car park and path lead down to the site where a monolith has been put with the names of the men aboard the plane.

Annie Jane Memorial

In 1853 the Annie Jane ship left Liverpool, heading for Quebec with 450 people on board.

The ship was de-masted and against the will of the passengers, it kept on sailing and got into some bad storms. The vessel eventually wrecked on the shore of Vatersays west beach where over 350 passengers died.

Two mass graves were dug into the dunes for those who passed away - although the locations are unknown - and the remaining passengers were not met with great hospitality due to lack of resources on the island, but it took up to a month for all 100 survivors to make it off the island and back home.

Traigh Siar

Vatersay's west beach is the sight of the wreckage of Annie Jane, and when you climb over the dunes you can feel the power of the wind and waves which hit this beach. A mix of sand and stone, this beach is in contrast to the neighouring bay.

Vatersay Bay

This is one of the most famous beaches on the islands - with the photographic gate down to the crystal blue sea. This bay is much calmer than its neighbour beach and even on a dull day, it looks tropical with white sand and blue sea.

Cuithe Heillanish                   Image by David C. Weinczok

Sat 150 meters above sea level stands a 5 foot tall by 2 foot wide standing stone of gneiss.
It is unclear if the stone was placed as a standing stone originally, or if it was part of stock enclosure as there is signs of it as an enclosure.

With lovely views over to the southern islands and over Vatersay over to Barra, a walk to the south of the island is well worth it.

Eoradail                                Image by David C. Weinczok

In 1912 when the islanders from Mingualy left the island for the last time, they resettled on Vatersay and created the village of Eorasdail. The village was abandoned in the 1970's, so the ruins of the houses are all that stand now of the old village.

Bagh a' Deas                        Image by David C. Weinczok

Vatersays South Beach is a secluded beach at the very douth of the island. With views over to Sandray - the next island over which is uninhabited - this beach is worth the walk through the village and visiting to have this quiet beach all to yourself.