The starting gun has been fired on this year’s Uist and Barra cross-country running season, which got off to a flying start at Lionacleit.

The North Uist Athletics Association is organizing a series of four meets, three in Lionacleit and one in Barra, over the coming months.

The race series is intergenerational, with events spanning an age range from under nine to senior men and women. Four different routes around the Lionacleit machair are being used, the longest loop being 3.2 km and the shortest 1 km. 

The first event at Lionacleit, on November 5, saw a total of 78 runners pound their way around the machair, with many coming up from Barra to compete.

But eyes are now on the next meeting on Saturday November 19. The deadline for entries, which cost £2 per runner, is midnight on Thursday November 17. No entries will be allowed on the day. Queries should be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The start times, subject to change, are 11.30 am for the U13, U17, and seniors. The U11 and U15 races start at 12.30 pm, with the U9 heading off at 1 pm.

After this upcoming meet, the series closes for the festive season but returns to Lionacleit on January 28, 2023, before closing the season with a final cross-country event in Barra on February 11, 2023.

Photographs by Seonaidh Macinnes and Spatch.