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Home , Balallan, Balivanich, Barra, Benbecula, Berneray (North Uist), Daliburgh

Walking the Hebridean Way 10 Islands 10 2 www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Lyme-disease www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk/visitor-info Similarly, midges are prevalent at certain times of year. midges are prevalent at certain times of year. Similarly, repellent and they will be less likely to bother you! Wear Do not disturb livestock or wildlife. Keep dogs under control, especially at lambing time. Leave gates as you found them. all your litter home. Take Check the weather forecast before you set out. some rough, appropriate clothing – this walk covers Take suitable shoes are not wet ground, so wear your boots. Walking good quality waterproof jacket and overtrousers A for this walk. are essential! Good quality waterproof jackets and trousers are essential! On very wet or windy days consider walking along the road or using public transport rather than heading out onto the wild moorland parts of the route. Carry water and food with you – shops and cafés can be few and far between in certain areas. Keep to the waymarked route at all times as some stretches are boggy. Always tell your accommodation owners what time you expect to arrive. Always bring a map and compass with you – and know how to use guidebook and GPS are a recommended essential too. A them. for local taxis in case bus timetables and phone numbers Take you have problems on the walk or return. Dress appropriately to are often found in the heather. Ticks avoid them hitching a lift! Cover your arms and make sure your trousers are tucked into your socks and check yourself after Further advice can be found at: each day. 6 Causeways 156 Miles 156 • Scottish Outdoor Access Code has some of the best access laws in the world - you have the right to walk on most land, provided you behave responsibly and respect the rights of others. Full information on access rights and responsibilities can be found at: www.outdooraccess-scotland.com If you keep to the following guidelines you won’t go far wrong: • • • • Useful Numbers Emergency: 999 Non-emergency:101 Caledonian MacBrayne: 0800 066 5000 Outdoor Safety Staying safe whilst walking is mostly a matter of common sense: • • • • • • • •

Ferry Crossing Time 40mins 1hr 6 Distance Miles (km) (18) 11 14 (22.5) (18.5) 11.5 16 (26) 13.5 (22) 13 (21) 10 (16.5) 13 (21) 14.5 (23) 9 (14.5) 13 (21) 17.5 (28) #HebWay on the website below. on the website below. It links some of the best www.hebrideanway.co.uk www.hebrideanway.co.uk The Hebridean Way is a The Hebridean Way 5 and admire the spectacular long-distance walking route through the Outer . through the . places in Scotland to explore natural environment. You can You natural environment. following the National Cycling also cycle the Hebridean Way also cycle the Hebridean Way www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk/apps Route (NCN 780). Find out more 3 4 2 1 to () Vatersay Northbay to (South ) Daliburgh to Howmore () Howmore to Lionacleit () Lionacleit to (South Uist) Grimsay to () Lochmaddy to or (North Uist) Berneray or Leverburgh to Seilebost (North Uist) (Harris) Tarbert Seilebost to to Scaladale (Lewis) Tarbert Scaladale to (Lewis) Balallan to (Lewis) I F L E J A B C D G H K Suggested schedules split the path into 12 enable you to easily plan your walk, we’ve To Each of these sections cover a typical below. - L A sections as listed walk. (Note: Distances are approximate and do not include day’s additional distances to the accommodation). Section

Start Point, Vatersay

Lewis: 30 miles (48km) Category: Moderate / Difficult Harris: 38 miles (61km) Category: Difficult 1 hour Journey Time: North Uist and Berneray: 22 miles (36km) Category: Moderate Benbecula and Grimsay: 16 miles (26km) Category: Moderate 40 mins Journey Time: Ferry Uist: 35 miles (57km) and South Category: Easy / Moderate Vatersay and Barra: 15 miles (24km) Vatersay Category: Moderate

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finest long distance paths. lifetime of memories from one of Scotland’s lifetime of memories from one of Scotland’s The reward for the intrepid however, will be a The reward for the intrepid however, you will experience all four seasons in one day. you will experience all four seasons in one day. Hebrides is famously changeable – very often, Scotland and the weather here in the Outer terrain is as rugged as anywhere else in this is at times a challenging route. Some Starting on Vatersay and ending in Stornoway, and ending in Stornoway, Starting on Vatersay eagles soar overhead. past remote freshwater lochs as golden yourself amongst wild mountains, wandering into the distance. The next, you may find beach, with silver shell sand stretching far you may be walking on an exquisite deserted It is a route of astonishing variety – one day and includes two stunning ferry journeys. 156 miles (252km) the route crosses 10 islands spectacular archipelago. Over the course of unique opportunity to walk the length of this The Hebridean Way offers keen hikers a The Hebridean Way course, the islands’ unique Gaelic culture. mountains, outstanding archaeology and of seascapes, flower rich , imposing seascapes, flower rich machair, stunning beaches, abundant wildlife, turquoise offers such a rich combination of attractions: walking experiences in Europe. Nowhere else The Hebridean Way offers one of the finest The Hebridean Way The Route

Distance by Islands:

Total Distance: 156 miles (252km) Distance: 156 Total In brief In 6 Lewis View over Laxay, Lewis

The final stretch of the Hebridean Way crosses the Lewis Peatlands, a rarely visited and internationally important wildlife habitat that covers much of the island. The walking on Lewis is challenging at times – in places the ground is soft and wet and waterproof boots will pay dividends. However, the wide skies and sweeping landscapes have an austere and unusual beauty. Your only company on these paths is likely to be Scarista, Harris Locheport, North Uist red deer, eagles and a few hardy sheep. Balallan, one of the longest villages in Scotland, provides a useful stopping off point before a final long day’s hike takes you through more spectacular moorland. A little used single track road leads to the outskirts of Stornoway where a pleasant woodland walk will take you to – a fittingly dramatic end to a memorable journey.

Lewis 6 4 North Uist and Berneray

A quick look at a map of North Uist Stornoway shows enough freshwater lochs for a lifetime of trout fishing. The Hebridean Way traverses this watery world, passing through some impressively 5 Harris wild moorland scenery along the way. After a spectacular crossing over the Sound of Harris the Balallan At Langass Community Woods make Hebridean Way heads north from Leverburgh, climbing over sure to call in at the little cabin where a low hill pass. A long stretch of strenuous hiking follows, you can find out about Hercules, contouring along the hillside above the villages of a grizzly bear who spent over three Scarista, Borve and Horgabost. The walking is tough, weeks living wild on the island in Scaladale following waymarkers over wet and pathless terrain, but the 1980 after escaping from his owners. views over sandy beaches and turquoise seas to the island Taigh Chearsabhagh in Lochmaddy of and the distant Harris mountains are world class. is also well worth a visit. An art The route then picks up a succession of delightful grassy centre and at the heart of tracks which wind their way over to the intricate rocky Tarbert cultural life in North Uist, it also has landscape of the Bays of Harris. After passing through a good café and bookshop. Tarbert, the island’s fine little capital, another excellent track Seilebost More spectacular coastal and leads you through the dramatic North Harris mountains to moorland walking takes you to the border with Lewis. 5 Berneray, one of the jewels of the Harris Hebrides, and the ferry to Harris. Leverburgh Berneray

Ruabhal, Benbecula

Waymarker, South Uist 4 Lochmaddy Clachan North Uist

Grimsay 3 Lionacleit Benbecula

Howmore 2 Eriskay and South Uist 2 3 Benbecula and Grimsay The island of Benbecula is connected to North and South After arriving on Eriskay, head straight down onto South Uist Uist by road causeways. Its main village, Balivanich, used Coilleag a’ Phrionnsa, the Prince’s Strand - where Airport Beach, Barra to have a sizeable military presence until the end of the Bonnie Prince Charlie landed in 1745 to launch Daliburgh 1990s and it has some excellent shops and cafés. his ill-fated Jacobite rebellion. Walk through the island’s attractive village, perhaps calling in at the Benbecula offers some fine and varied walking. Am Politician pub, where a bottle of from Starting off along the sandy beaches of the west coast, the famous ship wreck is stored the Hebridean Way then heads inland through fertile behind the counter, before crossing the causeway Eriskay fields before climbing the small hill Ruabhal. over to South Uist. From its summit the views to the east are astonishing 1 – a semi-submerged landscape with more water than The walk through South Uist is spectacular. land. Another causeway leads north to Grimsay, Mile after mile of flower filled machair borders a tiny island with a thriving fishing community. the vast deserted beaches of the west coast. Countless wading birds, including lapwing, Barra dunlin and redshank will keep you company along the way, until a final section breaks Vatersay out into the dramatic -studded wilderness on the east side of the island.

Time your visit well and you may 1 Vatersay and Barra see the plane from land here – the only scheduled air service The Hebridean Way starts at Leaflet produced by anywhere in the world that uses a Vatersay, a tiny island linked to beach as a runway. Barra by a short causeway. On a sunny day it will be hard to drag There are some beautiful seascapes yourself away from its beautiful along this route; on a clear day the beaches. However, it is worth the views north to the Inner Hebridean effort as the route starts with a islands of Skye and Rum are memorable cross-country hike over particularly stunning. The Hebridean Way Walking Route was funded by small hills and wild moorland to Tràigh Mhòr, a vast cockle beach at the north end of Barra.