Harris & Lewis

DISCOVER Guided Walks & Events

2015 LEWIS & HARRIS

Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of HMSO ©Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. OS Account Number 0100046653 Guided Walks & Events in Harris & Lewis 2015 Do you want to get more from your holiday? Would you like to explore the hidden corners of Harris that most visitors never find? Would you like to find out about the island’s spectacular landscapes, stunning wildlife and unique Gaelic culture, from friendly and knowledgeable guides? If so, this programme is for you.

General Information for all walks KEY TO WALK LEVEL

GRADE A

Short walks on established paths or over even terrain.

GRADE B

Walking over paths and rough ground, possibly including some steep sections. Reasonable level of fitness required.

GRADE C

Longer distance routes on rough paths, boggy ground and hills. Good level of fitness required.

Come prepared for the outdoors. In order to be prepared for the notoriously unpredictable Western Isles climate you should bring waterproofs and wear walking boots or other sturdy footwear on all walks. In poor weather conditions walks may be modified or cancelled. Eagle Walk EVERY WEDNESDAY 1st April – 16th September︱10am – 1.30pm MEET: Bogha Glas car park (NB 186 115) DISTANCE: 4.5 miles LEVEL: Grade B A guided walk in search of Golden Eagles and Sea Eagles in the North Harris Hills. RSPB and the North Harris Trust are working in partnership to provide an Eagle Walk every Wednesday from 1st April right through to 16th September. The North Harris Hills hold one of the highest densities of golden eagles in Europe and the open landscape provides superb opportunities for viewing this iconic predator. There has been a 95% success rate of seeing eagles on previous eagle walks. The walks will be led alternately by the North Harris Ranger Service and RSPB Scotland. RSPB members , “Friends” & members of NHT and children - Free Non-members - £5 For further information please contact: Matt Watts, [email protected], 01859 502222, or Robin Reid, [email protected], 07920 587 321

Outer Bird of Prey Trail Bogha Glas is one of the viewing locations on the newly launched Bird of Prey Trail. The trail is a self guided journey through the linking some of the best places in Scotland to watch birds of prey in spectacular landscapes. For more information pick up a leaflet at the local tourism information centre or visit the trail website. www.hebridesbirdofpreytrail.co.uk apps.visitouterhebrides.co.uk North Harris Trust Guided Walks & Events

The following walks and events are led by the North Harris Ranger Service. Whether you are interested in learning about wildlife and wildflowers, or just want to get out and explore, there should be something for you.

Harris is an important place for wildlife and the open landscape provides excellent opportunities for viewing many birds, animals and plants. The island hosts spectacular scenery, ranging from rugged mountain tops and rocky shores to rich machair grassland and sandy beaches. These habitats are home to some of Scotland’s most iconic species including red deer, otter, and golden eagle. The walks and events in this leaflet have been put together to raise awareness and encourage enjoyment of the unique island environment.

Finding it difficult to get to the start of our walks? Give us a call. If you contact us in good time lifts will usually be available for up to four from Tarbert to walks in North Harris.

Charges and booking – All these walks are free of charge, although donations are always welcome. No booking is necessary, however if the weather is particularly poor on the day of the walk it is advisable to check if the walk is still going ahead.

For more information contact: Matt Watts, the North Harris Ranger: [email protected], 01859 502222

Check out our webpage: www.north-harris.org

NorthHarrisTrust APRIL Thursday 2nd April︱1pm – 4.30pm RHENIGIDALE TO LOCH TROLAMARAIG MEET: Rhenigidale – start of footpath, just before the village (NB 225 017) DISTANCE: 3 miles LEVEL: Grade B The remote village of Rhenigidale was the last Scottish settlement to be connected by road in 1989. This is an easy walk along the old postman’s path, past a ruined settlement to the head of Loch Trolamaraig. Good for seals and porpoises and there is always the chance of a glimpse of an eagle above the skyline.

Thursday 9th April︱11am – 3.30pm HUSHINISH TO LOCH NA CLEAVAIG MEET: Hushinish car park, by the public toilets (NA 992 121) DISTANCE: 4 miles LEVEL: Grade B This varied circular walk takes you across machair grassland, past white sand beaches, into the North Harris hills. A great walk for sea birds, cetaceans and occasionally sea eagles. The walk follows a rough coastal path with some steep sections. Bring lunch.

Thursday 16th April︱1pm – 4.30pm ISLE OF SCALPAY – EILEAN GLAS MEET: Outend Turning Circle, Scalpay (NG 232 948) DISTANCE: 3 miles LEVEL: Grade B A circular walk around the South-Eastern corner of Scalpay, out to the lighthouse. Excellent views, and a good route for wildlife including seals, otters and seabirds. Some of the route is across rough boggy ground so bring sturdy footwear.

Thursday 23rd April︱1 – 4pm CLIASMOL BEEHIVE DWELLINGS MEET: Cliasmol School on the Hushinish road (NB 086 062) DISTANCE: 2 miles LEVEL: Grade B This is a short walk across the moor to a well preserved bee-hive dwelling. This unique igloo-shaped structure was once used as accommodation through the summer months by people taking cattle to graze the hill ground. Although a very short walk, this is a route across rough boggy ground so sturdy footwear is essential. Thursday 30th April︱10am – 4pm SRON ULLADALE MEET: Start of track just to the east of Castle (NB 052 077) DISTANCE: 8.5 miles LEVEL: Grade C A chance to visit Sron Ulladale, the largest overhanging cliff in the UK. This awe-inspiring cliff holds some of the hardest climbing routes in Scotland and was the location of ‘The Great Climb’ - a live 5 hour climb broadcast on the BBC in August 2010. As well as spectacular scenery the area also offers great opportunities for seeing eagles, deer and moorland plants. Bring lunch.

MAY Thursday 7th May︱11am – 3.30pm HUSHINISH TO LOCH NA CLEAVAIG MEET: Hushinish car park, by the public toilets (NA 992 121) DISTANCE: 4 miles LEVEL: Grade B As 9th April

Thursday 14th May︱10am – 3pm MOLINGINISH MEET: Lacasdail Lochs car park, 2 miles East of Tarbert, start of footpath (NB 184 004) DISTANCE: 6 miles LEVEL: Grade B An opportunity to visit the remote village of Molinginish on the shore of Loch Trolamaraig. This is a sheltered sea loch with plenty of wildlife and a wealth of cultural heritage. Bring lunch. JUNE Tuesday 2nd June︱11am – 3.30pm HUSHINISH TO LOCH NA CLEAVAIG MEET: Hushinish car park, by the public toilets (NA 992 121) DISTANCE: 4 miles LEVEL: Grade B As 9th April

Thursday 4th June︱10am – 12.30pm CLEIT ARD MEET: Large lay-by on the A859 by the Rhenigidale turn-off (NB 194 066) DISTANCE: 2.5 miles LEVEL: Grade B A short and fairly easy hill walk, with spectacular views up and down Loch Seaforth.

Tuesday 9th June︱1pm – 4.30pm ISLE OF SCALPAY – EILEAN GLAS LIGHTHOUSE MEET: Outend Turning Circle, Scalpay (NG 232 948) DISTANCE: 3 miles LEVEL: Grade B As 16th April

Thursday 18th June︱1 – 4pm CLIASMOL BEEHIVE DWELLINGS MEET: Cliasmol School on the Hushinish road (NB 086 062) DISTANCE: 2 miles LEVEL: GRADE B As 23rd April

Tuesday 23rd June︱10am – 4pm SRON ULLADALE MEET: Start of track just to the east of (NB 052 077) DISTANCE: 8.5 MILES LEVEL: Grade C As 30th April Thursday 25th June︱1pm – 4.30pm RHENIGIDALE TO LOCH TROLAMARAIG MEET: Rhenigidale – start of footpath, just before the village (NB 225 017) DISTANCE: 3 miles LEVEL: Grade B As 2nd April

Tuesday 30th June︱10am – 3pm MOLINGINISH MEET: Lacasdail Lochs car park, 2 miles East of Tarbert, start of footpath (NB 184 004) DISTANCE: 6 miles LEVEL: Grade B As 14th May

JULY Thursday 2nd July︱1 – 4pm EXPLORING THE ARDVOURLIE WOODLAND MEET: Car Park next to the Scaladale Centre (NB 187 105) DISTANCE: 2 miles LEVEL: Grade A A short guided walk around the developing native woodland at Ardvourlie. Learn all about woodland on the Western Isles past, present and future! This walk follows a good path but includes some steep sections. TUESDAY MORNINGS (14th, 21st, 28th July)︱10am – 12pm EAGLE WATCH AT THE NORTH HARRIS EAGLE OBSERVATORY PARKING: Glen Miavaig Car Park (NB 101 063) The North Harris Ranger will be at the Eagle Observatory every Tuesday morning between 10am and 12pm through July and August (starting 14th July) to help you spot eagles, and to answer any questions you may have about wildlife watching and walking on Harris. The Observatory is an easy 1.5 mile walk out along the Glen Miavaig track. Glen Meavaig is part of the RSPB’s Outer Hebrides Bird of Prey Trail. TUESDAY AFTERNOONS (14th, 21st, 28th July) 1 – 4pm HUSHINISH MACHAIR FLOWERS MEET: Hushinish car park, by the public toilets (NA 992 121) DISTANCE: 1.5 miles LEVEL: Grade A An easy walk across the Hushinish machair to investigate its unique flora and learn some of the traditional uses for its plants. Views from Hushinish are spectacular and there will be an opportunity to hear about the history of the adjacent island of Scarp.

Thursday 16th July︱1 – 4pm CLIASMOL BEEHIVE DWELLINGS MEET: Cliasmol School on the Hushinish road (NB 086 062) DISTANCE: 2 miles LEVEL: Grade B As 23rd April

Thursday 23rd July︱1pm – 4.30pm ISLE OF SCALPAY – EILEAN GLAS LIGHTHOUSE MEET: Outend Turning Circle, Scalpay (NG 232 948) DISTANCE: 3 miles LEVEL: Grade B As 16th April

Thursday 30th July︱10am – 3pm BAG A BEINN – AN MEET: at the car park 6 miles north of Tarbert on the A859 (NB 173 057) DISTANCE: 5 miles LEVEL: Grade C Reach the summit of An Cliseam (799m), the highest peak in the Western Isles and our only Corbett. This is a steep but rewarding climb. Bring lunch. AUGUST TUESDAY MORNINGS (4th, 11th, 18th, 25th August) 10am – 12pm EAGLE WATCH AT THE NORTH HARRIS EAGLE OBSERVATORY PARKING: Glen Miavaig Car Park (NB 101 063) As per July

TUESDAY AFTERNOONS (4th, 11th, 18th, 25th August) 1 – 4pm HUSHINISH MACHAIR FLOWERS MEET: Hushinish car park, by the public toilets (NA 992 121) DISTANCE: 1.5 miles LEVEL: Grade A As per July

Thursday 6th August︱1 – 4pm EXPLORING THE ARDVOURLIE WOODLAND MEET: Car Park next to the Scaladale Centre (NB 187 105) DISTANCE: 2 miles LEVEL: Grade A As 2nd July

Thursday 13th August︱10am – 3pm MOLINGINISH MEET: Lacasdail Lochs car park, 2 miles East of Tarbert, start of footpath (NB 184 004) DISTANCE: 6 miles LEVEL: Grade B As 14th May

Thursday 20th August︱1pm – 4.30pm RHENIGIDALE TO LOCH TROLAMARAIG MEET: Rhenigidale – start of footpath, just before the village (NB 225 017) DISTANCE: 3 miles LEVEL: Grade B As 2nd April Thursday 27th August︱9.30am – 5pm BAG A BEINN – TIORGA MOR MEET: Start of track just to the east of Amhuinnsuidhe Castle (NB 052 077) DISTANCE: 8 miles LEVEL: Grade C Tiorga Mòr (679m) gives spectacular views across some of Scotland’s most remote and rugged terrain. This is our ranger’s favourite North Harris hill! Much of the walk is across rough hill ground. Bring lunch.

The Isle of Harris Mountain Festival is a week-long celebration of the mountains of Harris, and will feature an exciting program of guided walks, talks, outdoor sports taster sessions, photography workshops, film nights, live music, a raft race, and much more! Throughout the week there will be numerous guided walks lead by the North Harris Ranger Service. For up-to-date information about the programme for this year’s festival, be sure to check out www. harrismountainfestival.com, email [email protected], or contact the North Harris Trust on 01859 502222. OCTOBER Thursday 15th October︱10am – 3pm ROARING AND RUTTING AT LANGADALE MEET: Bogha Glas car park (NB 186 115) DISTANCE: 6 miles LEVEL: Grade B A walk to Glen Langadale to experience the roars of red deer echoing around the Glen. Learn about the life of our largest land mammal and the management of the North Harris deer herd.

Saturday 17th October︱10am – 4pm ROARING AND RUTTING AT ULLADALE MEET: Start of track just to the east of Amhuinnsuidhe Castle (NB 052 077) DISTANCE: 8.5 miles LEVEL: Grade C A chance to experience the incredible spectacle of the red deer rut, each stag fighting to defend its harem of hinds. The walk will take you into Glen Ulladale where the silhouette of Sron Ulladale, Britain’s largest overhanging cliff, dominates the skyline.

Thursday 22nd October︱10am – 3pm ROARING AND RUTTING AT CRAVADALE MEET: Start of track just to the east of Amhuinnsuidhe Castle (NB 052 077) DISTANCE: 6 miles LEVEL: Grade B This rutting walk heads into Glen Cravadale, a stunning glen that has been shaped by the scouring action of glaciers.

Thursday 29th October︱10am – 4pm ROARING AND RUTTING AT ULLADALE MEET: Start of track just to the east of Amhuinnsuidhe Castle (NB 052 077) DISTANCE: 8.5 miles LEVEL: Grade C As 17th October RSPB Guided Walks on Lewis

LOCH NA MUILNE - RSPB RED-NECKED PHALAROPE WATCH Fridays (5th June – 10th July) 10 am – 12pm MEETING: Loch na Muilne reserve viewing cairn (NB 314 495) DISTANCE: Short walk from car park COST: FREE LEVEL: Grade A Join RSPB staff and you may be treated with a sight of the rare Red-necked phalarope. This wader is unusual as the females are the more colourful of the two sexes and also perform most of the courtship. The females then leave the males to incubate eggs and rear the chicks, an interesting role reversal! In addition the reserve hosts an abundance of other flora and fauna with other breeding waders such as lapwing and dunlin and a stunning display of orchids and other flowering plants. Join us at the viewing cairn which is a short walk from the end of the road and overlooks the loch.

NESS CORNCRAKE WALK - RSPB AND GALSON TRUST Tuesday 26th May, Tuesday 23rd June and Tuesday 7th July, 10pm to midnight MEETING: Loch Stiapabhat Local Nature Reserve, Ness (NB 523 642) DISTANCE: 2-3 miles COST: Donations welcome LEVEL: Grade B Join RSPB staff for a late night ramble around Loch Stiapabhat and Eoropie exploring the life and home of the rare and secretive corncrake. We will hopefully be entertained by the males who start calling as night falls. You never know, we may even see one! We will finish the walk in the Loch Stiapabhat bird observatory. In the corncrake season 2014 there were four different males calling within earshot of the hide so be prepared for a busy evening. MACHAIR WALK - RSPB Tuesday 16th June and Tuesday 14th July 10am – 1pm MEETING: Barvas Cemetery (NB 355 517) DISTANCE: 4 miles COST: £5 (RSPB MEMBERS £2) LEVEL: Grade B Join RSPB staff for a circular walk around the Barvas Machair and enjoy the colourful spectacle of this botanical paradise. Northern marsh, common spotted and early marsh orchids are common but we may be lucky and spot a frog orchid. On the walk we will also explore corncrake habitat, the Barvas crofts, dunes and shoreline. For further Information on these walks please contact: Vicky Anderson [email protected] 01851 643284 or 07919058641

RSPB Guided Walks on Uist

BALRANALD RSPB NATURE RESERVE 10am every Tuesday (May – September) MEETING: Balranald visitor centre

OTTER WALK AT LOCH LANGASS 10am every Wednesday (May – September) MEETING: at Langass Lodge Hotel carpark

BIRD OF PREY AND CORNCRAKE WALKS Regular Bird of Prey Walks will also take place at Loch at Loch Druidibeg and evening corncrake walks will take place at various locations during May, June and July. Please contact Stuart Taylor 07825 357 191 or Jamie Boyle 07768 042 547 for further information. The cost of RSPB guided walks on Uist is £2 for RSPB Members and £5 for Non-Members. There is no charge for children. This programme has been compiled by The North Harris Trust and RSPB Scotland.

The North Harris Trust - Managing, developing and conserving the assets of North Harris in a sustainable manner for the benefit of the community and the enjoyment of the wider public.

RSPB Scotland is part of the RSPB which speaks out for birds and wildlife, tackling the problems that threaten our environment. Nature is amazing – help us keep it that way.

Just spending the week on the islands? Before you leave, help us reduce our printing costs by returning this brochure to the Tourist Information offices in Tarbert or , or to the North Harris Trust office in Tarbert, for someone else to use again. Thanks very much!

The North Harris Trust – Scottish Charity No. SC033413. A charitable company limited by guarantee, No 235889 The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654 Photographs © Laurie Campbell & North Harris Trust

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