Mingulay, Berneray and Pabbay

Mingulay, Berneray and Pabbay are three islands of unrivalled wildness and beauty.

Located at the southern tip of the Western Isles (South West of Barra and Uist), they have some of the finest coastal landscapes in Scotland and an exceptional natural and cultural heritage, including internationally important seabird colonies. They are designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Though Mingulay and Pabbay have been uninhabited since 1912 (and Berneray since its lighthouse was automated in 1980), the well-preserved villages and field systems provide fascinating evidence of the challenging lifestyle of the generations who managed to survive here over many thousands of years.

Wandering among the abandoned settlements on this remote group of islands is an evocative reminder of those who once lived here. The last of the inhabitants left in 1912, leaving behind a precarious existence based on crofting, fishing and fowling, including some Iron Age remains.