大象传媒

Travelling nearly 300 miles by land and sea, across moorlands, by lochs and through villages, Calum (Malcolm) MacAulay and his wife Claire finally manage to make their homeward journey from Glasgow to Skye and then North Uist, having spent the last year pining for the sound of the sea and the warmth of their family homes. Like so many others during tight Covid-19 restrictions, the MacAulay鈥檚 felt imprisoned and exiled in the city - unable to travel back to their homeland.

We join Calum and Claire on their homeward journey, packing their bags, filling the car with all necessities and bidding farewell to their furry friend 鈥淟exie鈥�, who is blissfully unaware of her owners鈥� excitement as they turn their back on the city streets and hit the road to the isles.
On their way they stop off for quick refreshments and a pit stop, bargains and good food keeping Calum in fine tune singing along to popular island band 鈥淧eat and Diesel鈥� and their quirky, unorthodox lyrics.

Before long it鈥檚 over the bridge to Skye, passing sunny Kyle for a short stop off at Claire鈥檚 parents - where they receive a much longed-for embrace from her mother and grandfather. Then it鈥檚 on the road again to Uig pier, gateway to the Outer Hebrides. A short walk to stretch tired legs, a phone call home, and a final dose of ferry queue panicking are par for the course, but all is well and they board the MV Hebrides to sail the last leg of their journey 鈥� a trip across the Minch to North Uist, Calum鈥檚 homeland.

Once again they become familiar with the smells and sounds of the car deck and ferry company Caledonian MacBrayne鈥檚 on-board announcements. A walk on deck taking in the smell of the sea and the hills of North Uist in the distance is a sure sign that home is near at long last. From tourists to fellow exiles, tired passengers gather their belongings and make their way to their vehicles as the ferry berths at Lochmaddy. And finally, in the small hours and dim light of a summer morning, we hear Calum and Claire deal with an unusual traffic jam 鈥� a neighbouring crofter鈥檚 sheep on the road, the A867. But it鈥檚 worth all the driving, sailing, snacking and singing when at long last, the young couple return to the warm welcoming party of Calum鈥檚 parents.