Machair and croft with a crofter

Machair is the low, flowery grassland behind the Atlantic beaches of the Hebrides. It is made of crushed shell blown inland, and it exists in very few places on earth. It stays that way because crofters still cut and graze it in rotation.

In June and Julyverify it flowers: bird’s-foot trefoil, clover, orchids and wild pansies, with the corncrakes calling from the iris beds.

A crofter or a local naturalist walks the machair with you on South Uist, Barra or North Uist, explains the rotation and the birds, and stops for tea. It is unhurried and depends on the weather.

Evenings are for the corncrakes. We send you out late to listen at Balranald.