Loch Druidibeg and the landscapes surrounding it present one of the best places in the Hebrides to see the full range of island wildlife and habitats. The 1677 hectares that form Loch Druidibeg National Nature Reserve stretch across South Uist from the Atlantic coast almost to the Minch.

‘S e Loch Druidibeg agus am fearann mun cuairt air aon de na h-àitean as fheàrr anns na h-Eileanan an lar airson farsaingeachd fiadhbheatha agus àrainnean nan eilean fhaicinn. Tha an 1677 heactair a tha a’ dèanamh an àirde Tèarmann Nàdair Nàiseanta Loch Druidibeg a’ sìneadh tarsainn Uibhist a Deas bho oirthir a’ Chuain Shiair cha mhòr chun a’ Chuain Sgìth.

Where opposites meet

The scenery could not be more different at the two extremes of the reserve. The western shores of the Uists are graced by miles of sandy beaches backed by the distinctive coastal grasslands – known as 'machair' – that are unique to the north of Scotland and west of Ireland.

These habitats form a vivid contrast with the landscape to the east where heather moorland and rough grass extend to the summits of the hills. Hecla (606 metres) is one of the highest hills and forms an impressive backdrop to the reserve. Golden eagles often hunt along its slopes, where red grouse and golden plover are not uncommon, and you may also see red deer, which are a recent reintroduction to South Uist.

Seallaidhean-tìre eadar-dhealaichte

Cha b’ urrainn don t-sealladh-tìre a bhith na b’ eadar-dhealaichte aig dà cheann an tèarmainn. Air taobh an iar Uibhist gheibhear mìltean de thràighean gainmhich le talamh feurach na h-oirthire – ris an canar machair – a tha sònraichte do cheann a tuath na h-Alba agus taobh an iar na h-Eireann.

Tha na h-àrainnean sin glè eadar-dhealaichte bhon t-sealladh-tìre chun an ear far a bheil mòinteach fhraoch agus monaidhean gu mullach nan cnoc. ‘S e Hecla (606 meatairean) aon de na cnuic as àirde agus tha e na chùl-ionad drùiteach don tèarmann. Bidh iolairean-buidhe tric a’ sealg air na slèibhtean far a bheil an fheadag agus a’ chearc fhraoich cumanta agus cuideachd ‘s dòcha gum faicear fèidh a chaidh an toirt a-steach do dh’Uibhist a Deas às ùr o chionn ghoirid.

Gneiss and salty

Most of the Outer Hebrides are made up of gneiss (sounds like 'nice') – the oldest rock in Europe at over 3000 million years – which gives rise to acid, peaty, unproductive soils. As a result, the eastern end of Loch Druidibeg supports only a limited range of plant and animal life. However, as the loch drains out towards the Atlantic on the west, it is influenced by the sea and becomes not only more salty, but also less acid due to the shell sand blown in from the seashore. The loch is shallow and very large, and it is possible to trace the gradual change in the plants and insects of the loch from salt to fresh water.

Gneiss agus saillte

Tha a’ chuid mhòr de na h-Eileanan an lar air an dèanamh suas de gneiss – a’ chreag as sine san Roinn Eòrpa a tha còrr air 3000 millean bliadhna a dh’aois – a tha a’ toirt dhuinn talamh searbh, neo-thorach, rèisg. Ri linn seo ‘s e àireamh beag de lusan agus de bheathaichean a gheibhear aig ceann an ear Loch Dhruidibeg. Ach, mar a tha an loch a’ traoghadh chun a’ Chuain Shiair air an taobh an iar, tha buaidh na mara air agus chan e a-mhàin gu bheil e a’ fàs nas saillte ach chan eil e cho searbh air sgàth na gainmhich shligich a tha air a siabadh a-steach bhon chladach. Tha an loch eu-domhainn agus glè mhòr, agus faodar an atharrachadh anns na lusan agus na beathaichean anns an loch bho shàl gu fìor-uisge a leantainn ceum air cheum.

Atlantic fringe benefits

The famous white beaches of the Uists are made up of crushed seashells. The sand from these beaches has been blown inland to create the lime-rich coastal plain or machair that plays a vital role in the traditional agriculture of the islands. Crofters use the machair to grow small oats and rye for fodder crops, and to graze cattle and sheep in winter. Seaweed cast up by storms is spread to fertilise and stabilise the thin sandy soils. Crofts tend to lie in the area between the machair and the moor, sometimes referred to as 'blackland'.

Sochairean iomaill a’ Chuain Shiair

Tha tràighean gheala ainmeil Uibhist air an dèanamh suas de shligean-mara air am pronnadh. Chaidh a’ ghainmheach bho na tràighean sin a shiabadh a-steach bhon chladach a’ cruthachadh blàr oirthire làn aoil, no machair, a tha cudromach ann an àiteachas thraidiseanta nan eilean. Tha na croitearan a’ cur coirce agus seagal air a’ mhachair airson fodar agus airson a bhith ag ionaltradh chrodh agus chaorach sa gheamhradh. Tha feamainn a tha air a cuir air tìr le stoirmean air a cleachdadh airson todhar agus gus an talamh tana gainmhich a bhunailteachadh. Mar as trice tha na croitean suidhichte eadar am machair agus a’ mhòintich anns an earrann ris an canar 'talamh dubh'.

Loch accolades

Loch Druidibeg's importance as a natural heritage site has brought it a clutch of designations:

1958 - National Nature Reserve (extension 1962)

1976 - Ramsar Wetland Site

1976 - Biosphere Reserve

1978 - Part of NNR in South Uist Machair National Scenic Area

1982 - Special Protection Area for Birds

1987 - Site of Special Scientific Interest

1988 - Part of Uists Environmentally Sensitive Area

In addition, part of the reserve is covered by two Geological Conservation Review Sites.

Cliù an loch

Tha cudrom Loch Dhruidibeg mar làrach dualchas nàdarra air iomadh sònrachadh a chosnadh:

1958 - Tèarmann Nàdair Nàiseanta (leudachadh 1962)

1976 - Làrach Talamh Fliuch Ramsar

1976 - Tèarmann Bith-chruinne

1978 - Pàirt de NNR ann an Earrann Bòidheachd Shònraichte Nàiseanta Machair Uibhist a Deas

1982 - Arainn Dìon Shònraichte do Eòin

1987 - Làrach Annasach a-thaobh Eòlaidheachd

1988 - Pàirt de Sgire a tha air a chomharrachadh Sònraichte a-thaobh na h-Arainneachd ann an Uibhist

A thuilleadh air an sin, tha pàirt den tèarmann a’ toirt a-steach dà Làrach Lèirmheas Glèidhteachas Geòlais.

Leafing through the centuries

Until about 4000 years ago, there was woodland and scrub in many of the more sheltered areas of the Western Isles. A change to a wetter, windier climate encouraged the spread of peat and killed off the trees. Remnants of this ancient scrubby woodland still exist on the islands of inland lochs, usually well away from grazing animals like sheep and red deer. Loch Druidibeg has a number of islands with this native woodland, which features species like birch, rowan, juniper, bluebell and royal fern.

The only other tree cover on the reserve occurs in a small enclosure beside the Loch Skipport road, which was planted earlier this century. Unfortunately, it is currently dominated by rhododendrons, but struggling to survive amongst them are other trees and shrubs, both native and foreign – you can even see a monkey puzzle tree! The area provides welcome shelter for a variety of insects and small birds.

Tro na linntean

Gu mu 4000 bliadhna air ais bha coilltean agus preasan ann an iomadh ceàrnaidh fasgach sna h-Eileanan an lar. Nuair a dh’fhàs an aimsir na bu fhliche agus na b’fhuaire bha I na bu fhreagarraiche airson mòine fàs agus bhàsaich na craobhan. Gheibhear beagan de na preasan seo fhathast air eileanan ann an lochan air falbh on mhuir far nach ruig mar as trice beathaichean feurach mar chaoraich agus fèidh orra. Tha grunnan eileanan ann an Loch Druidibeg leis a’ choille dhùthchasach seo anns a bheil seòrsachan mar beithe, caorann, aiteann, fuath-mhuc agus raineach rìoghail.

Tha na h-aon chraobhan eile anns an tèarmann rim faighinn ann am pàirce bheag ri taobh rathad Loch Sgioport agus chaidh an cuir na bu thràithe anns an linn seo. Gu mì-fhortanach, ‘s e ròs chraobh as motha a tha ann, ach tha craobhan agus preasan eile a’ strì ri fàs nam measg, an dà chuid dùthchasach agus coimheach – chì thu fiù ‘s craobh toimhseachan a’ mhuncaidh! Tha an earrann seo a’ toirt fasgaidh fheumail airson iomadh seòrsa meanbh-fhrìde agus eun beag.

Blooming machair

Scottish Natural Heritage has owned the part of the reserve that extends east of the main road since 1958, while the machair section was added in 1962 under an agreement with South Uist Estates. The patchwork of cultivated, fallow and uncultivated wet and dry areas on the machair becomes a riot of colour during the summer months, when plants like corn marigold, wild pansy, thyme and a host of orchids come into bloom. The coastal areas and croftland are also important breeding areas for wading birds such as dunlin, redshank, lapwing and ringed plover, with corncrakes – rarely seen but often heard – skulking in the hayfields.

Machair fo bhlàth

Tha seilbh air a bhith aig Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba air a’ phàirt den tèarmann a tha air taobh an ear an rathaid mhòir bho 1958, agus chaidh earrann a’ mhachair a chuir ris ann an 1962 le aonta Oighreachdan Uibhist a Deas. Tha na brèidean de earrannan àitich, bàn, fàs, fliuch agus tioram air a’ mhachair làn dhathan fad mìosan an t-samhraidh nuair a tha lusan mar a’ bhile-bhuidhe, goirmean-searradh, lus-an-rìgh agus iomadh moth-ùrach fo bhlàth. Tha na ceàrnaidhean mun oirthir agus fearann croitearachd cuideachd nan àiteachan briodaidh cudromach do eòin-grunnachaidh leithid a’ phollarain, a’ cham ghlais, a’ churracag agus an trìlleachan-tràghad, le traoin – nach fhaicear ach ainneamh – a’ falach anns na h-achannan feòir.

On your visit

You are welcome to explore the reserve as you wish – the only restriction on access is around the southwest corner of Loch Druidibeg during the bird breeding season (April to end of August). Please remember to respect the rights of the crofters, keep dogs on a lead and try to stay on the existing paths. Fishing on the lochs is by permit only.

There is a self-guided walk around part of the reserve – you can get a leaflet from the local Scottish Natural Heritage or tourist offices. Please leave wildlife undisturbed.

Air ur turas

Tha sibh di-beathte an tèarmann a rannsachadh mar is toigh leibh – chan eil bacadh a thaobh ruigsinneachd ach aig ceann an iar-dheas Loch Dhruidibeg nuair a tha na h-eòin a’ briodadh (bho thòiseach a’ Ghiblinn gu deireadh an Lùnasdail). Cuimhnichibh gun cuir sibh suim ann an còirichean nan croitear, cumaibh coin air iall agus feuchaibh ri fuireach air na frith-rathadan a tha ann mu thràth. Feumar cead airson iasgach air na lochan.

Tha cuairt fèin-treòrachaidh timcheall pàirt den tèarmann agus gheibhear bileag fiosrachaidh mun seo bho oifisean ionadail Dhualchas Nàdair na h-Alba no bho oifsean turasachd. Feuchaibh gun dragh a chur air fiadhbheatha.

No place like home

Wind-blown shell sand brings further benefits by enriching the freshwater lochs scattered throughout the machair. Not only do these provide excellent trout fishing, but they are also important to wildfowl, both as breeding sites and as winter feeding grounds. Loch Druidibeg has long been an important breeding site for greylag geese, which remain in the Uists throughout the year. They form one of the few populations of these birds in Britain that do not fly north in the spring to breed.

Chan eil àite coltach ris an dachaigh

Tha gainmheach shligeach air a siabadh leis a’ ghaoith a’ toirt tuilleadh shochairean le bhith a’ mathachadh nan lochan fìor-ùisge a tha sgapte air feadh a’ mhachair. Chan e a-mhàin gu bheil iad fìor-mhath airson iasgach bhreac, ach tha iad cuideachd cudromach airson eòin fhiadhaich, an dà chuid mar làraich briodaidh agus mar làraich geamhrachaidh. Tha Loch Druidibeg air a bhith na làrach briodaidh chudromach o chionn fhada do ghèoidh ghlasa a tha a’ fuireach ann an Uibhist fad na bliadhna. Is iad seo aon den bheagan thuineachais de na h-èoin seo ann am Breatainn nach eil a’ dèanamh imrich gu tuath as t-earrach gus briodadh.

Getting There

The reserve spans the A865 in central South Uist. A daily (except Sundays) bus service runs from Lochmaddy to Lochboisdale.

Loch Druidibeg National Nature Reserve

Tèarmann Nàdair Nàiseanta Loch Druidibeg

‘Where Opposites Meet’ ‘Seallaidhean-tìre Eadar-dhealaichte’