Nice Wee Sites

We’ve both been up to our necks in work since the new year started. John has been assisting a Barra/Eriskay enterprise with their existing website, while in the other geographic direction assisting an artist on Harris define what she requires in terms of ICT and a website for her business. Ruth has been working on a local accommodation website and discovering new plugins for use on future projects, as well as continuing her proofreading commitments.

It looks like this busy-ness will be continuing for a while. Over the next few months we’ll be helping local organisations and businesses launch three new websites, which will appear in the portfolio:

• one a new build self-catering establishment
• one a Uist organisation
• …and the third focusing on Uist sporting and leisure pursuits

Hence, we can’t start any new works until mid-April at the earliest. In the meantime, people seriously wanting a website can still get in touch, and we wish everyone good weather for the spring months ahead.

Grogarry Lodge is the centrepiece of the South Uist Estate buyout. Modernised over 120 years ago, the lodge (a seemingly endless collection of buildings) takes private parties for shooting, fishing, golf and other outdoor activities on the Uists. The lodge offers full board, with generous meals made from local produce by Bella, the lodge keeper; guests are kept very well watered by probably one of the best wine collections in the Scottish islands.

This was particularly interesting work, especially touring the lodge to take pictures for the website. The remoteness of the buildings gives a sense of privacy that’s difficult to find in much of the modern world, and the views from some of the rooms across the machair to the endless South Uist beach are spectacular. One day, we may stay there ourselves!

Stòras Uibhist were very happy with the level of service provided by Nice Wee Sites. They offered a refreshingly quick and easy route to getting a new website not only up and running, but delivering potential customers within weeks for the unique Lodge accommodation we offer. – Huw Francis, Chief Executive, Stòras Uibhist

Polochar Inn stands at the southern tip of South Uist, with sea views and easy access to the island’s beaches. It offers a friendly and relaxing place to stay while exploring the Uists, Eriskay and Barra, and its restaurant serves locally sourced fish and meat dishes. More details on the website.

Ruth has finally moved into the Web 2.0 era with a new personal website for her proofreading/web design work. The new site (www.scotproof.com) integrates her Flickr photo gallery, incorporates a blog and is intended, over time, to become a useful resource rather than just a static web presence.

After a pleasant summer in which one half of the Nice Wee Sites team conferenced in Chicago and Seattle, we are both back on Berneray and looking forward to an autumn and winter of Uist-based website designing.

At the moment we are producing a website for a well-known South Uist tourist business. However, we can proceed with the development of several websites at the same time, so if you want a website – or are seriously thinking you may need one – then get in touch.

Also – look out for our advert in the September issue of Am Paipear!

The “Isle of Berneray website” celebrated its 2nd birthday on 3rd May. During the two years there were 2,756,334 page accesses, from people in 173 of the 192 member states of the UN.

In that time, we also received 840 email enquiries through the website from around the world.

The Berneray website serves as our voluntary contribution to the island community. It remains independent of any group, organisation, or tedious politics. We thank many Berneray residents for their support and contributions over the last two years.

Nunton Steadings on Benbecula is a centre for food, culture, media and the arts in the Uists. The Steadings is located in the middle of the Uists, close to both Balivanich (Benbecula) airport and a white sandy beach.

Its new website is intended to keep locals and visitors informed about events at the Steadings, from open mic nights and concerts to films and exhibitions – subscribe to the RSS feed and have updates delivered direct to your desktop! Or let people know what you thought of an event by leaving a comment.

There is a growing gallery of photographs, and a link to Radio Nunton, the internet radio station. The website also describes the extensive facilities on offer, including the tearooms and shop, wireless broadband internet access and audio-visual equipment, and gives a short history of the building and its owners. There is an online form for booking the Steadings for functions. More content will be added by Phil and Mairi at the Steadings over time.

Visit the website: www.nuntonsteadings.com … then visit the centre. (Highly recommended by Nice Wee Sites: superb homemade lemon curd, available in the shop.)

Very impressed with the site, a big thank you from Nunton Steadings. – Phil Ladyman, Nunton Steadings. It’s so clean and easy to move around and one of the best sites I have seen for being attractive to the eye. It portrays a high class image. – Angie Johnson

Nice Wee Sites is one year old today. To celebrate, we’ve revamped our website.

These are busy times for Nice Wee Sites. Currently, we are at various stages of developing three websites:

• Nunton Steadings, a multifunctional tea room, meeting space and function centre in Benbecula;
• Seal View Bed and Breakfast, a luxury accommodation on the island of Berneray;
• the Uist Council of Voluntary Organisations (UCVO), based in Benbecula.

Watch this space for updates on progress…