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@danielchance2217 un-real isnt it, and that's only South, I've still to do North Harris, spend a few days there, and I've got lots of ideas for it so it should be good and you'll get ideas for your holiday here ha. Lets not tell the Hearaich (people from Harris) that we love Harris tho😜 😂 Ix

@danielchance2217 haha I know, we were delighted with it, one minute drinking outr vino then we jsut looked behind us and we were like wow. Aye the microphone and the buffer are so much better isnt it. I didnt see any Corn crakes tho so I need to find one this year. Ix

@dieselbushcraft1299 oh I know, its hard isnt it. I'm home sick in Uist! Where would you like to go next, back to Barra do you think? A wee cycle round the east of the Island as I only went west last time but I loved it. Hope the weather is good this weekend. Ix

@ Well I think you will get your wish for nice weather as we are set fair for a while with High Pressure stuck over the top of us and the jet stream has a large amplification so it’s well to the north of us. I think the weather will be cold but calm. The west coast of Barra can be a bit wild straight off the Atlantic. Honestly I would need to visit Barra again and possibly rent a property for six months and see how it goes. For the moment all I can do is dream, pleasant dreams though.

@G_Dhom haha exactly, low flying sheep😂 Well I am wating for the weekend and i hope to go cycling round Barra, that's the plan so if its like it is today, I wont even get over cos there are no ferries. One day I will go out in the worst day ever but that would be good around the Butt of Lewis, not really around here where the coastline isnt very impressive. One day! Glad you enjoying and seeing a wee bit of Norht Uist in this video. North is very beautiful. Ix

@@IonaMacinnes I hope to get upto Lewis and Harris sometime this year weather, ferries, permitting. As I do not go abroad these days, hot sun does not agree with me. Gx.

@Mmmmmmmmmmhmm ah I know, I was too nervous to do that, I was in the regular off the hanger clothes but they really didn't seem for budging on that price. Haha, so much for a cheap(er) dress in HoiAn. Next time I won't bite ha. Thanks for watching, it was such a fab experience anyway. Ix

@progster999 that way you would get the loch Nevis to the small isles, you could go to Armadale in Skye for a few hours on the Coruisk from Mallaig too bagging that ferry, then the LOTI then the Loch Portain and the Loch Seaforth so you'll get a fair few in doing that journey, excellent. Oh heart surgery, I hope you are well soon after it and this would be a good way to recuperate, just dont take too much luggage, dont be like me ha. Ix

@tezzah... I know that what I was thinking too so Ive decided, I'm going to go to Lunga in July when I go to Tiree so I'll see the Puffins there then, I'm so excited about that already ha. Yeah the prices are good actually, and they do stuff like local over 60's get 3 or 4 journeys a year free, as a foot passenger, no car tho but still good. When we went on the cruise it was the Loch Seaforth then, not sure if I showed a lot of it but it's my favourite. When I hear the Isle of Lewis is on I don't sail unless it's a summers day and flat calm. The poor Barra folk have a 5hr journey on the Isle of Lewis to Oban. I'll do it but only as a last resort. Next time I'm on the Loch Seaforth I'll make more effort to film some of it for you to see again. Ix

@@IonaMacinnes Can't wait to see what 2025 has instore for you , me and your followers, You've certainly got a packed diary, and I'm loving every minute you share, I really can't thank you enough for everything you do.. ❤Tx... P.S. your next challenge for 2025 is filming both Puffins & Otters....

@alanlister8810 hi Alan, another wee perspective of the islands for you. Glad you enjoyed it, Scotland isn't looking quite as beautiful today, in fact so wet I could hardly see anything out my car window. Drove to Eriskay and couldn't see the causeway on its approach, no ferries, nowt. I'll be out again once it dries up a bit. Ix

@Mo_goes_miles thank you, it's lovely to have so many supportive people watch my wee videos. Oh I wonder if you had the Alfred? There was no food service on that boat, she came from Orkney on loan for a while so no CalMac & Cheese on that one. Ix

@IonaMacinnes yes I think it was, it was on loan from Pentland

@oupintu2071 it is very much winter here but the mornings are brighter and not so dark getting home after work so it won't be long. Is Punxsutawney Phil your trusted weather man? Ix

@IonaMacinnes No, he is a little furry groundhog that he officials of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, bring out to the public to make his predictions every February 2nd. His predictions are not reliable, but they gain national attention here, and people hope he predicts the end of winter and the start of spring.

@oupintu2071 haha thats hilarious, but probably as reliable as what we have here😂 Maybe we can borrow him if he's going to predict the end of winter sooner for us! Ix

Deagh oidhche agus aislingean miles. ❤Px.

@oupintu2071 oh gosh soooo crowded wasnt it. I couldn't think about driving one myself and I wasn't thinking id end up on one when I booked the food tour but she arrived with one so I had to go for it, after a while it was so fun, one I trusted her driving ha. Ix

@G_Dhom ah thanks for sharing that with me, he'd have had good Gaelic I imagine. Did he pass it on to you? Glad you enjoyed it. A fascinating island with so much history isn't it. Ix

@@IonaMacinnes He was a scholar with higher Gaelic when leaving Portree high school, English and History as well, He wished to become a history teacher, but settled to be a policeman instead, in Aberdeen. No sadly, I do not possess the gaelic at all. 😏 My heart is in the Hebrides, feet planted in East coast Scotland.

@G_Dhom a lot of men from the Hebrides went to be policeman, I've watched documentaries made I'm sure. Oh well, if I can bring a wee bit of the Hebrides to you over there where the weather is much much better than it is here😉 then Im happy to do that, but I can't promise you'll learn a bit of Gaelic ha, maybe the odd phrase gets thrown in for good measure now and again esp if Mum is with me. My father is also from Skye, if you watched the Skye video you'll have seen some bits of Portree and Portnalong where my family were from. Ix

@@IonaMacinnes It is true my father knew many from the isles who became policemen, Gaelic in my day was not taught in Aberdeen, even the Doric was forbidden, daring to speak it was met with the strap, times 6 of the best. Ye ken fit a meen? Slainge Var. Gx

@G_Dhom ah right, up North Uist in Clachan, aye, I wonder if they have a museum or anything I can visit and see if any sign of your aunty there, being a school teacher back then was a big deal wasnt it, very well respected in the community, as I dare say they still are today, I hope so anyway. I haven't been around there on foot, only by car so I'm looking forward to a dry day to get up and walking. Are you a MacDonald I guess? Ix

@@IonaMacinnes Hi Iona, Yes, full Macdonald of North Uist, even related to King Sommerled, 1st King of Scotland (rubs hand on chest while blowing it) 😂lol. Pictures of my aunt can be seen in the Lochmaddy museum, I wished I had spent more time in there as it is really well presented, a definate worthwhile visit for yourself. Gx.

@G_Dhom haha, yes I was thinking so much, good craic! Do we need to call you Mr MacDonald of North Uist now😂 oh yes in Taigh Chearsabhagh, brilliant. I'll be going there maybe even this Saturday I might go, if the weather is rubbish so I'll be looking out for her picture. Im glad you managed to spend some time in it tho and see around, we always regret not spending Lon enough in places done we, life here isn't too rushed, I'm never on time for anything here, I'm on the laid back Hebridean time🤪 I want to go round all the beaches in North Uist to see what they're all like so I'll film it for y'all here. Ix

@progster999 hello, nice to hear from another Norwegian. No way, you've done all the scotrail routes, how long have you taken to do that and which one has the best views would you say? I'll need to take some advice from you, think you're qualified to say. Have you seen my wee short of Berneray to Leverburgh? or the first video on my cruise, a lot of that is getting to Lewis from South Uist so you might like to see the weather in that one over the Sound of Harris crossing, haha. I agree the Berneray to Leverburgh is a good one too. I'll be on it soon to do a wee video so you can come back and look for that one later. Nice to chat with you, and the small isles crossings are so great, so I hope you enjoy them when you get round to it. I loved all the islands but Canna then Eigg might just have topped it for me. Cheers. Ix

@@IonaMacinnes Hi. I have been in UK for the last 28 years and it took me 25 years to complete ScotRail (after I by accident completed NorthernIrelandRail... not many routes), including the brand new River Leven railway in Fife. The best one is Glasgow - Mallaig followed by Inverness to Thurso and Inverness to Kyle Of Lochalsh. Honourable mention to the 50 minutes long new old The Borders railway line. I am planning to stay some days in Mallaig to do the Small Isles and then go to Lochboisdale and up to Stornoway by bus. I guess it will take me some years to complete CalMac. Nice to chatting to you. torodd

@progster999 I was thinking that would be the best one. I've driven but not taken this train so i'll be doing that too one time, thanks for giving me your faves, I bet a lot of folk would agree with the first one anyway. I've done the Kyle of Lochalsh to Inverness before and that was lovely. I might get the train up to Thurso one time, maybe when I decide to go back to visit Orkney so that will definately be fun, maybe i jsut hire a car in orkney insteda of driving up. Ive driven it in a camper van years ago but cant really remember it so thats a good shout. Ix

@danielchance2217 haha aye right. Can you imagine me doing that😂, I need the class myself! Ix

@markstothard630 Hi Mark, beautiful isn't it. All the crossings out of Mallaig are pretty spectacular on a day like this. Haha what a laugh them fishing tho. Thank you, how nice to have more people on board and its nice to get to 1k. Ix

@daviemcf yeah, I think so. Until I have crossed all the islands and cruised all the calmat ferries between them I better keep quite but itll take a lot t beat this. There are a lot of sailing this year so Im looking forward to rating them from now on, maybe against this one. Glad you enjoyed it. Mind I said I had a few up my sleeve for bad weather situations. Cheers. Ix

@danielchance2217 you're going to have to go to Muck arent you, ha. Well it wasnt today thankfully as the weather is pretty rubbish now. Ix

@oupintu2071 It's spectacular on a clear day isn't it. Glad you liked it. Ix

@G_Dhom those are the kind of stories that stick in your head, the memories you make on your travels, what a laugh tho with the kettle ha. Ix

@AndrewFulton my pleasure, wanted to share it with you all, a beauty day on the ferry. Ix

@andrewmcdonald793 South Africa, amazing! I was in East Africa in '23 and had been wanting to go SA but haven't yet, brilliant! Did you love it, where did you stay? I haven't ruled it out yet. The animals are the best thing in some countries. Glad you think so, me too. Thanks for coming to chat again Andrew, hope youve had a good w/e so far. Cheers, Ix

Hi Iona, I went with a friend to South Africa, we stayed at his cousins place outside Johannesburg, he runs a business there and his wife has a office in Johannesburg, the first week we went to Sun city and stayed there, we went to Kruger national park and saw the animals there, elephant, giraffe, zebra, rhino etc, on another day we went to the crocodile park, they also had the meer cats there, at night we went to the bars etc for something to eat and a few drinks, well more than a few drinks lol, it did not cost us much to eat and drink there, the second week we went to Durbham and stayed there, it was even warmer there, it was nice to get into the pool to cool off, at Durbham we went and seen this big old ship that has tanks with different types off fish that you can whatch, we went and seen the Dolphins jump throw hoops, my friend cousins wife does not agree with keeping the dolphins in captivity to do this, if your into surfing Durbham is good place to do it on the sea, the food, the fish are really good there, yes i did love it in South Africa, I think you would love it as well Iona, I hope you had a good weekend also. 🙂❤

@andrewmcdonald793 wow that sounds super cool, how fun having friends who like to travel with you who have an added bonus of having relatives to bunk in their house haha, now thats my kind of frineds. Oh the elephants and giraffes, and all the zebras, how cool is that. I would be goign daft seeing all that. I did see some of these animals in Uganda we went on Safari there but i didnt see elephants. Ok all of this is great tips isnt it. Now did you feel safe in Johannesburg I guess would be my next question? Id be on my pwn, would that be a bad idea or would Cape Town be safer d'you think? Ill have to look up Durdham, not heard of there beofore so maybe that would be good place, near the sea. i was supposed to go to Capetown in 1998 on a Uni Elective but I went to Calgary, Alberta instead, that was pretty cool, up the rockies but i feel I've missed out not going to South Africa up unitl now even. Thanks for all your chat on it tho, great to hear from someone who has been. Ix

@wendym-mu5dw oh flipping heck a whisky with strawberry, vanilla, almonds are you kidding me on! oh I need to taste this somewhere, maybe when I go to Glasgow for country to country in March before the cruise. ohh good tip thanks. I haven't even tried whisky since Raasay 🥃 Cheers, Ix

@IonaMacinnes 😄 Cheers!

@nathanaelmcinnis exactly, fabulous views as far as the eye can see. I'm hoping to go back soon for a few days and hike around it more,. Ix

@Trond_travels You’ll need to check that it’s running first tho, ha I failed to mention how unreliable it is if the wind gets up slightly ha. Yey! You had the question and I was making up the answer at the same time. Ix

@IonaMacinnes Good point. Always check the weather and if it’s running. Anyway, I have to first start with the flight to Edinburgh and the train to Mallaig 😀

@Trond_travels plenty to organise isnt it. Yes getting in to the country is a good start then you can work it all out from there. Ix

@G_Dhom yes a new buffer and microphone so makes it more bearable to listen to me. Im delighted you're enjoying listening, how kind of you and good you watched all 4 of them. Which one would you visit 1st would you say? Canna perhaps? Ix

@@IonaMacinnes Hi Iona, I wish to visit all of those Isles, but on my trusted Adventure touring bike, if possible. Your videos gives me insight if it would work.

@G_Dhom I hope so! Best of luck, make sure you let me know what you thought of them. Ix

@ Only been to North Uist so far, hoping to go again this year. If the ferries are running.

@declanconway2903 too good not to share I thought. Yeah I know, it's beautiful, glad you watched to see it. Ix

@shiskinegreenkeeper2782 isn't it brilliant, I know it was such good weather I was so lucky, dont think its been that good since I filmed this. Ix

@ericthearfaviking7579 Mums staying firmly on Lewis soil while I go galavanting with a friend this time. I just need some sun so the Canaries are a good bet in March. I agree, nowhere will beat the views we have here. Ix

@IonaMacinnes Totally understand, great to get guaranteed sun, change of scenery, food and seeing your tub of nuts travelling the seas lol. X 😉

Haha👍 Ix

@G_Dhom hello there and thank you for such a compliment, much appreciated. Rum was super cool place, even if I didn't spot any otters...the ongoing saga with me! Where are you from? Cheers. Ix

@@IonaMacinnes I am From Aberdeen, Father was from Glasgow his father was from North Uist. Seen any sea eagles yet?

@G_Dhom I have seen some sea eagles, I saw one in Vatersay early this year, maybe the only one I'll see this year, it was huge. I used to see Owls every day, maye 2 a day and i have nt seeeon one for months, maybe they go somewhere in the winter, I'll need ot check cos its so weird not seeing them, or mabe its cos its jsut so dark in the am and pm when im driving i dont see them. 4 Buzzards flying about my house yesterday, they are always here, they nest in quarry by my house, nice to see them. Ix

@G_Dhom 😂😂 oh man alive, sheep with bladders like mine haha, what a laugh. Ix

@ Was a wee play on words. Blahh'ders.🐏🐏🐏

@ 😂😂😂👍

👍

@shiskinegreenkeeper2782 👍 cheers again, this is where I need to go back to to see a corncrake.Ix

@shiskinegreenkeeper2782 you're having a lazy Saturday, good craic. Thank you so much for chosing my videos to watch while you keep warm today, it's wild out there. Ix

@shiskinegreenkeeper2782 Mull was pretty cool, bit of a sickener that the castle closed early. Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed it too. Ix

@danielchance2217 I know, you're right. You need a lot longer than what I had tho to go and see the Puffins too. Im so gutted I didn't have longer but the views are spectacular. Ix

@daviemcf hey David, I know its so lovely to have so many people to chat to, I mean not everyone does, mostly you guys and you know who you are so its so nice. Image getting money for making videos of where you're going on your days off, holiday and cool places around where you live, now that's the best business model ever! Ix

....and thank you very much❤️ 🥂 Ix

@nathanaelmcinnis Im a MacInnes, haha how funny. Where are you from? Oh good, when you coming for a visit? They are beautiful but be prepared for the temperatures and the wind, oooft! Thanks for coming to say hello. Ix

@IonaMacinnes haha it's fun to meet another MacInnes. I am from Texas. Scotland is on my bucket list. So it's a hopefully someday dream visit. My grandfather was adopted into the MacInnes. Our name used to be McInnish, but the "h" got dropped, and now it's McInnis. I believe a lot of them are from the Inner Hebrides. This is probably a big reason I am drawn to Scotland apart from its beauty and culture.

I'm a new subscriber, btw. I love your videos. Keep on making great content.

No way! I was in Texas in 2017, was so cool. Dallas and Fort Worth. Oh it’s too late on Friday night for me to message properly cos I’ve had some bubbles ha, but I’ll come back to this tomorrow, promise. Brilliant so glad you messaged. Ix

Amazing! Thank you👍 Ix

@oupintu2071 I know, if there's a boat, I'm on it. No idea but I guess we were always surrounded by boat being brought up on an island. I mean if we arent talking about the ferries sailing then we haven't had a conversation that day. Ix

haha, me neither but he was good wasnt he. Ix

@IonaMacinnes Yes, definitely, and you got a front row seat for his performance 👏 💕😘💕Px

haha I know! What a laugh, this is the night I was eating chicken feet, I mean what on earth! Ix

@@IonaMacinnes I think that happened 🤔 because you were the prettiest girl in there and he was singing a love song.❤️Px

@dieselbushcraft1299 I know, right. Every experience is a positive one isn't it, and you're just so happy being there. I'm glad you have lovely memories of your time there. Amazing when the sun shines or blowing a hoolie down by the rocks, beautiful. Ix

You're up early!!

@brucemcintosh7466 haha you noticed. I'm not usually on here in the middle of the night but before I slept I had 1k subscribers, woke up to double check just incase it was a dream. Haha, it's Friday too so that can only mean one thing....wait till we see the nik of the next video haha, I'll be in the coop after work today and it's not for milk😂 Ix

@oupintu yes they are daft for scooters in Vietnam but I should show you some clips of Kampala in Uganda, now that’s another level of bonkers on scooters I’ve ever witnessed. Boda-boda they call them there, crazy. Ix

​@IonaMacinnes Have a great day Iona. I am going to turn in now.❤😊💕

Sounds like them doesn’t it, but it’s Valtos according to my trusty notes; although they can’t really be trusted. An old old song I’m very familiar with which I like. Niteworks have called it a day now haven’t they, that’s a shame they were really popular. Ix

@vivellasmum Oh thank you so much. Don’t usually reply at this time of day, Thank you very much, I really appreciate it. And it’s Friday, supposed to be editing tonight but there will be bubbles so wait till we see what the video ends up like haha🍾🍸🤪😂😂🎉😀 Ix

@willmcdonald1524 no I did not know this at all, how did I not know this! Ok, great, I'll be away out to find it once the weather allows at the weekend. Ok I will take pictures for you when I get to the standing stone, who knows when, but I will for sure. Thanks for the directions, I appreciate that. It's wild now and weekend looking rubbish so it's editing for me. It's getting brighter in the mornings and not so dark getting home from work so better days are coming as they say. Cheers glad youre still here enjoying them! Ix