Machair

This audio guide tour, commissioned by the Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Arts Centre, explores the traditions and ecology of the Machair of Uist. Machair, a Gaelic word for fertile, low-lying grassland, is one of the rarest and most species-rich habitats in Europe, found only on the exposed, west-facing coasts of Scotland and Ireland, with 70% of it located on Uist. Generations of extensive farming have shaped this unique landscape and supported wildlife for millennia. Developed in collaboration with the local community, this work combines spoken narratives, field recordings, and compositions with archival audio from the School of Scottish Studies at the University of Edinburgh, documenting vibrant traditions over 70 years.

The route of the audio walk follows an established path around the Machair at Liniclate. Although the terrain is flat, it can be uneven in certain sections, so suitable footwear is recommended.

The walk takes approximately 40 minutes. The conditions are straightforward, mostly on flat, well-defined paths, with no particular difficulties.

The walk is mapped to a section of the Hebridean Way at Liniclate on the island of Benbecula. Parking is available at the Dark Island Hotel (a 2-minute walk).

We recommend starting the walk at the beach at Liniclate, directly behind the wind turbine (What3Words coordinates: waltz.pressing.save).

Contributors: Alisdair MacEachen, Freddie MacDonald, Seoras MacDonald, and Matthew Topsfield. Production team: Duncan MacLeod (composer), Mairi McFadyen (creative ethnologist), and Sorcha Monk (creative producer).

For questions or inquiries about this audio walk, please email [email protected].