Benbecula campus
Our Benbecula Learning Centre is located in the beautiful chain of islands directly to the south of Lewis and Harris.
Benbecula is a small island surrounded by North Uist and South Uist. Imagine studying your course knowing you’re a five-minute walk from white sandy beaches. Well, here you can! Our courses offer a unique cultural and educational experience and attract locals as well as many from the mainland and beyond.
Our Benbecula campus, formerly known as Colaisde Beinn na Faoghla, is located in Lionacleit, at the southern end of Benbecula. It’s a perfect base for exploring all three islands, as well as studying in a peaceful environment. A wide range of courses are available to study directly from Benbecula via video conferencing.
Full-time courses delivered on campus include:
Part-time courses include:
- Gaelic Language conversation classes
- Ulpan
- A variety of short courses in music and CPD activity
Facilities
You’ll find all the facilities you’ll need to successfully complete your chosen course and plenty of staff members ready to help you along the way.
The campus contains:
- A range of video conference and computer suites available to support remotely delivered and networked courses
- A purpose-built studio, to which students have full access during the academic year
Contact us
Archina Maclellan
UHI Outer Hebrides
Benbecula Campus
Lionacleit
Isle of Benbecula
Outer Hebrides
HS7 5PJ
t: +44 (0)1851 770500
e: benbeculalc@uhi.ac.uk
Location
Lionacleit High School and community centre is adjacent to the college and houses a canteen, sports centre, gym, swimming pool, library.
The local authority covering the Outer Hebrides is Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and their website contains large amounts of information on the local area and services.
Uist is home to various festivals and cultural events including:
- Ceolas festival of Gaelic music, song and dance
- Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum and Arts Centre
- Visit Hebrides has a large amount of information pertaining to the Outer Hebrides and is well worth a visit
- Eilean Dorch Festival - a family-friendly, two-day festival within a five-minute walk from the college
Accommodation
There is a wide range of different accommodation options in the Uist, ranging from B&B and self-catering in family homes, to house rental. Upon acceptance to the course, students are sent a list of accommodations from the college to assist them in locating suitable housing.
Many of the hosts on the list are fluent Gaelic speakers.
Travel
Benbecula has no direct ferry. However, it can be reached via North Uist. Sailings leave from Uig, Skye and arrive at Lochmaddy. The journey takes 1 hour and 45 minutes. If you’re coming from the Isle of Harris, you can get a ferry from Leverburgh to Berneray, and drive south through North Uist and onto Benbecula. Information on ferry timetables to North Uist.
Another option is to sail from the mainland to South Uist and drive up to Benbecula. The ferry leaves from Mallaig and Oban and arrives at Lochboisdale. This crossing from Mallaig takes 3 hours and 30 minutes. The crossing from Oban takes 5 hours and 10 minutes and only operates during the winter. Information on crossings to South Uist.
Benbecula has its own airport, operating flights to and from Glasgow and Stornoway.
Cars can be hired at Car Hire Hebrides.
Local links
Information on exploring Benbecula can be found on the island's own website.
Visit Outer Hebrides also has a wealth of information on the island.