Here are some extracts from the
guestbook found at Silversands.
2006
Silversands, a luxury cottage complete with a unique and truly spectacular
“vista” onto the beautiful and ever changing cocklestrand
Beach. Barra folk have been friendly, welcoming and so helpful. Wonderful
memories and so thrilled to hear Corncrakes and to see such an abundance of
wild flowers. Barra, a gem of an island full of treasures.
Royston
and Helen Abbott - Carlisle. June~ 2006
A wonderfully
comfortable and well equipped house (you really have thought of everything)
with what must be the best view on the island. We had a great week thank you.
Kate
and Giles Dove - Dunblane. July~ 2006
A beautiful well
equipped house on this scenic island. We have really enjoyed our stay and the children have had a
great time on the beach.
McFarlane
and Byrne families - Dumbarton. July~ 2006
As someone once said : “If you once set foot on Barra, guard your
heart if you would not leave it there.” Iain F.Anderson
1937. How true ! We will all leave a bit of our hearts
here. Had a great week - hope to return soon.
Thomson
and Warrender families - Fife. August~ 2006
Beautiful house, tastefully decorated and equipped with absolutely
everything. Barra is a true gem, and selfishly we hope that not to many people discover it as we would hate to see it
change. Many thanks for an unforgettable week.
Mary
Chalmers and Bryan Langley - Yorkshire. September~ 2006
Far over the mountains, far over the sea there lies a small
island that’s so dear to me. Its Barra of splender
and beauty devine, a heaven indeed is that dear home
of mine. Wherever I wonder, wherever I roam, my heart lies in Barra, my dear
Highland Home. Thank you Annemarie and Hector for letting my Family and I share
so many wonderful memories- will be back for sure.
David
and Fiona Cranston – Glasgow July~ 2006
2007
No better place
to watch a sunset with a dram.
Sandemans, Stewarts, and Mensies
~ Edinburgh May
~ 2007
Tastefully decorated comfortable house
and in superb location with fantastic views, and were also very lucky with the
weather 7 days of warm sunshine. If I ever get the chance to return here to
Barra I will certainly look to stay at Silversands.
George and Evelyn McLean ~ Cambuslang Glasgow June ~ 2007
A wonderful fortnight despite
indifferent weather, we would recommend Donald Macleod’s boat trip to Mingulay we always see the eagles. This is the most
pleasant and comfortable house we have ever stayed in the Western Isles. Paul and Christina Aston ~ Essex June ~2007
This is our 6th visit to
Barra and each time it gets better and better, the week was fantastic from
glorious sun to tornado, the house was excellent peaceful and tranquil, with
unbelievable view of our favourite beach thank you. Rob
and Maria Earl ~ Cheshire July~2007
Excellent house and wonderful location
,sometimes difficult to drag the children away from the vast Simpson’s
video collection, but they loved the beach and the beach behind the airport,
which proved popular for the body boarding, glad we brought the wet suits
though. Many thanks for helping me make this an enjoyable week. David
and Caroline Potter ~ Frenchay Bristol Aug ~2007
By far our favourite Isle thus far,
Barra exceeds expectations coupled with such outstanding accommodation surely a
winning formula, thanks Hector for all your help. Simon and Rebecca ~ Sanley Derbyshire Sep
~ 2007.
Just to compliment you
on Silversands. The house and location were great and
every need was catered for. The interior furnishings and decorations are
absolutely beautiful. We all had a
lovely stay and hopefully we will book again in the near future. The added
bonus was that the weather was really good which doesn,t always happen. Mary MacKinnon ~ Eastkilbride. June ~ 2007.
2008
What an excellent place – visit
the wee church past the airport its weird. Vatersay
is fun. We all wrote stuff - were on a writers retreat. The air the light and
the people all so different – friendly You
can get a great fry up at the
airport. I did lots of walking – walked over the hill behind the house and along the
coast – magical, in the sun dreamlike.
Knotbrook~Taylor Arbroath~Angus ~ April 2008.
It has
been 20 years since our last
visit to Barra, There have been lots of improvements without loss of any charm
or friendliness. Silversands has provided all that we
needed ~ peace
relaxation comfort and a view we shall always remember.We
hope to be back next year with some of the family. The Church of Scotland on
the west coast road between Silversands and Castlebay provides all the needs of both Anglican,Presbyterian,Methodist etc worship ~ very friendly welcome there. Hilda &
Ray Saville ~ Moffat ~ Dumfries & Galloway. June 2008.
Great house,we
have we have explored most of the island. It is great to be able to go out to
the beach whenever you like and we had a great view. The beaches were beautiful
and tranquil also they were great for boarding, swimming and sliding down the sand
dunes. Perfect family holiday. Anne,Callum Roddy, Kate, Eilidh, &
Duncan. Edinburgh. June 2008.
Another fantastic stay at Silversands,
weather has been great lots of swimming,crabfishing
and bodyboarding hope to see you next year.Thanks The best house in Barra!
Donald,Gillian,Fiona,Danny &
Catriona Boyd. Giffnock Glasgow. July
2008.
Hectors House: Fantastic views,Fantastic House. Weather as
always wet,Dry, and sunny
but mainly wet, teenagers loved the beaches and the swimming. Adrienne , Ian~ Emma~ Matthew,& David. County Durham.
August 2008.
A beautiful house with
a beautiful view. We have enjoyed exploring this
beautiful Island. The weather has been so kind to us this week. We were warmly
welcomed on Sunday at the Church of Scotland and was extended an
invitation to their official opening of a new extension to the church on Friday
evening~What a night”We
were in need of a rest, and Silversands has certainly allowed us to do that. Thank you Hector
& Annemarie.
Graham& Marion Craig Helensburgh. September 2008.
A beautiful house in a beautiful location.The house met every expectation, and we hope to be
back next year.
Stuart, Laura, Jamie & Ava Green,
Brian, Ewen & Tessa Minshull.
Edinburgh October 2008.
2009
Just a note of thanks for the level of comfort provided at Silversands .We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and could never
tire of that view! The house was warm and spotlessly clean.
Best wishes Julie Tom & Nicola Northwich Cheshire. Feb 2009.
The weather has been perfect,had a lovely day visiting Mingulay
but could not land ashore to much swell,enjoyed the
trip though and visited the heritage centre in Castlebay
very intresting.Silversands is comfortable and had
everything we wanted,A lovely place to stay.
Kay & Jon Dobson. May ~ 2009.
Lots of wonderful memories : Trout
caught in Loch Tangasdale ; Corncrakes heard.For fresh fish,go to the
fish factory at Ardveenish between 11 and 12 in the
morning, Heathbank Hotel was excellent. Gorgeous location thank you. Oh and sticky toffee pudding from the Hebridean Tofee Factory at Castlebay.
Alison & John Sasha, Keith Edinburgh & London May ~ 2009.
We have had a fabulous week we have been to the beach,we also went to Mingulay saw seals and puffins,cycled
to the Airport climbed Benheival.Thank you for
letting us stay at Silversands.
Jessie & Co Nantwich Cheshire. May ~ 2009.
We have had an excellent week, whether it was the gorgeous
weather or the extordinary sights which are truly a
once in a lifetime thing.The beach as a front garden
was awesome we found ourselves in there at eleven o clock at night some times,we would be happy to come again.
Helen & Family
Esher, Surrey. May ~ 2009.
What a beautiful house with stunning views weather not to bad enjoyed
wonderful walks along the beaches, really enjoyed the peace and tranquillity of
this stunning Island.
John & Mary Theresa Bullock. Helensburgh Sep ~ 2009.
2010
This is our
second time in this great house in Barra,fantastic
location everything we could need for a great holiday. Janice,Ray Adam & Emma McGarvey.Muirend
Glasgow. April~
2010.
This comfortable
house far exceeds our expectations,especially
the location the incredible ever changing view,lots
of great walks day and night. Geff & Sophie Parcell ~ Penselwood ~ Somerset.Chris &
Sophie Parcell ~ Shawlands
~ Glasgow. May ~ 2010.
Hoping to return soon to this beautiful home with
glorious views, loved walking on the beaches and watching the oyster catchers
foraging along the tide lines. Barratlantic sells gorgeous scallops & langoustines for
you to cook yourself. Rose & Ed Murphy ~ Rochdale ~
Manchester. May ~ 2010.
A much belated “Thank you” for Silversands. It was everything we hoped for and we
had a splendid quiet break, We have been joking with all our friends about
being under the flight path of an Airport; We had excellent views of corncrakes
this year, I had a fantastic climb up Heaval and the
primroses put on their best show, Mussels from the bay at Vatersay
and cockles from the strand opposite the house were just lush, It must be ten
years since we were last on Barra and tho,there have
been some changes, they are mainly superficial. Pity about
the loss of the organic café at the airport, but the co-op improvements
have enriched the availability of good quality food-and we were able to
get lovely fresh fish from Barratlantic fish factory
round the bay. Thank you for providing a perfect holiday base with such
excellent quality accommodation. Stephen G wright.Mungrisdale Cumbria.May ~ 2010.
2011
Thank you for sharing this wonderful house and Island with us. I
hope we get the chance to come back, fantastic weather spent hours on the
stunning beaches, the kids braved the sea for a short while (even in a wet suit
this not for the faint-hearted. Karen,Mark
Ben,Hannah and Ellie Webster. April ~ 2011
2012
We had a beautiful sunny week in Barra,
and did lots of things my favourite was sledging down the Sand-dunes and
picking cockles. It was great to see the plane coming in from our window, I also loved the beach at cleat, where we walked
along to the cave that was in Whiskey galore. Silversands
is a lovely house and I would love to stay here again. Oh I almost forgot. I
loved the table football in the garage even though my dad won every game, Thank
you. Laura, The Watt family Stirling April 2012.