In brief = Other Walking & Cycle Routes 7 1 Great Bernera Category: Moderate walk Great Bernera 8 Map Reference: OS Landranger 13 1 2 and Pathfinder NB 13 / 23 and NB 14 / 24 9

Walking Distance: 12km / 7.5 miles 10 Time: Allow 4.5 hours 3 4 11 Route Walking

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Our walking and cycling

14 routes are part of a series of self-guided trails through the Outer . 6 For more information scan here. 15 16

www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk/apps

Our islands offer great opportunities Outdoor Safety “A stunning circular walk to explore the outdoors, with walks Staying safe whilst walking is mostly a matter of around part of Great Bernera, providing you with the chance to get common sense: including a visit to the Iron • Check the weather forecast before you set out close to nature, history and heritage of • Wear appropriate clothing and footwear Age dwelling at Bosta beach.” our islands or just to get out, enjoy the • Always tell your accommodation owners what time Bosta beach fresh air and get fit. you expect to arrive • Always bring a map and compass with you – and know how to use them Choose coastal walks around the • Take bus timetables and phone numbers for local or opt for wildlife walks, such as hiking through taxis in case you have problems on the walk or return the nature reserves or walks to spot eagles, www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk/visitor-info deer and other exciting island inhabitants. • Ticks are often found in the heather. Dress appropriately to avoid them hitching a lift! Cover your arms and make sure History lovers can choose the Bonnie Prince your trousers are tucked into your socks and check yourself Charlie trail walks in , while a selection after walking. Further advice can be found at: of hiking trails take in historic sites and www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Lyme-disease • Similarly, midges are prevalent at certain times of year. monuments providing ample points of interest Wear repellent and they will be less likely to bother you! along the way.

Whether you are looking for leisurely strolls Scottish Outdoor Access Code along island beaches, or challenging hikes has some of the best access laws in the world - you through rugged mountain terrain, walking on have the right to walk on most land, provided you behave responsibly and respect the rights of others. Full information our islands gives you a chance to really connect on access rights and responsibilities can be found at: with the outdoors and keep fit at the same time. www.outdooraccess-scotland.com

If you keep to the following guidelines you won’t go far wrong: • Do not disturb livestock or wildlife • Keep dogs under control, especially at lambing time For more information and to • Leave gates as you found them download other walking and cycling routes, • Take all your litter home visit: www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk • Park your car without blocking access for  other vehicles. Explore... beach. beach. house reconstructionatBostadh/Bosta Age villageremainsandIron Bernera, includingavisittotheIron A stunningcircularwalkinGreat The Route recovered. recovered. World War andnever collapsed duringtheFirst Baltic. The Lingfishing for export,largelytothe of Lingweredriedandsalted curing houseswherecatches the shoreareremainsof fishermen. Furtheronabove owned, somebyindividual Some werecommunally prices wereattheirbest. stored untilconditionsand where liveLobsterswere which wereenclosures boat slipsandlobsterponds, stone ruins.Ontheshoreare Tobson shoreyouwillnotice 2 Tobson of saltandfreshwater. only foundinthisunusualmix rare mixtureofseaweeds as ashelteredlagoonwith of specialscientificinterest, designated asaprioritysite Tob Bhalasaighhasbeen gates. turn rightthroughthree approach thesecondhouse the firstcottage. Asyou Bhalasaigh, andthen,past crossing Tobfootbridge the village.Headover right andcontinuetoendof Bhalasigh, whereyouturn Hacklete untilyoucometo along theroadtowards centre turnrightandwalk 1 Valasay Bhalasaigh / start atBreacleit. Bostadh, theroutecontinuesalongroadbackto to thereconstructedIron Age houseatBostadh.From continues tobewaymarkedupBeinnanToib andthendown you arriveatthevillageofTobson. FromTobson theroute over thefootbridgerouteiswaymarkeduntileventually follows alongtotheroadendinBhalasigh/Valasay. Once cafe) atBreacleit/,whereyoucanpark,and The routestartsatthecommunitycentre(withmuseumand As youwalkalongthe Fromthecommunity Design: we-are-bright.com Redshank village of Tobson.village will leadyoutowardsthe from land)toanoldtrackwhich caves whichareinaccessible (taking caretoavoidthesea- the westcoastofisland Follow thewaymarkersalong sands inUig. are fantasticviewsofRiof seashore. To thewest,there in the Tob andalongthe otters arefrequentlyseen,both The shoreisaplacewhere still beseen. their deserteddwellingscan of thebridge,butruins new housesonthenearside Some familieshavesincebuilt especially inbadweather. necessities overthebridge, is stilldifficulttocarryalllife’s on theothersideof Tob. It 1898 toserveisolatedfamilies The footbridgewasbuiltin islands tothewest. over LochRoagandthe enjoying spectacularviews way markersupBeinnan Toib, through thegateandfollow A littlefurtheronturnright road at Tobson, thenleft again. Turn leftwhenyoureachthe century resettled duringthenineteenth villages wereeitherclearedor township inBernera. The other continuously inhabited Tobson, whichistheoldest shore intothevillageof Follow theoldtrackfrom the shore were scoured by ice the shorewerescouredbyice The hugeflatbouldersalong plentiful inspringandautumn. Razorbills andGuillemotsare can beseenfishing,and where FulmarsandGannets for ShagsandCormorants, Bostadh meetisanestingplace The cliffs where Tobson and which areopenallyearround. There arepublictoiletshere reconstructed Iron Age House. also beseenhere,anda of alateIron Age villagecan loveliest beaches. The remains Bostadh, tooneofLewis’s valley anddesertedvillageof down throughthebeautiful a gateinthestonewall,and 3 Bostadh /Bosta The routecontinuesthrough Iron AgeHouse to Canada. to Canada. Kirkibost, butsomeemigrated families wenttonearby fuel, wasexhausted.Most the lastofpeat,usedfor finally abandonedin1878when Ages onwards. The villagewas various timesfromtheMiddle through theglenwerebuiltat The ruinedblackhouses Redshank andGoldenPlovers. common toseeSandpipers, shore ofLochSgealitis throughout Bernera. Around the south-west tonorth-east the U-shapedvalleysthatrun during thelastIce Age, aswere (Mill Loch). This lochisa draining fromLochnaMuilne The roadcrossesastream the 1920s. to makeacroftingtownshipin farm. Crothairwasresettled 1880 tomakewayforasheep Crothair whichwasclearedin was partofthevillage in Bernera,built1883. This is theoldestinhabitedhouse Lewis. At thebottomofhill and acrosstothewestsideof the FlannanIslesouttosea, the topofriseyoucansee cemetery atBostadh.From the tarmacroadfrom 5 Crothair /Croir made their living by a little made theirlivingbyalittle The resourcefulinhabitants rooms openingoff it. centre, withoneormoreother with anopenhearthinthe led toalargecircularroom long lowentrancepassage chimneys. Ineachhousea which hadnowindowsor interlocking drystonehouses revealed aseriesof Archaeological excavations concealed belowthemachair. village whichhadlain exposed alateIron Age times. In1993aseverestorm inhabited sinceprehistoric 4 Iron Agevillage Continue eastwards along Continueeastwardsalong Bostadh has been Bostadhhasbeen public toilets. there isamuseum,caféand community centrewhere to returningthestartat on theroadbacktoBreaclete the eastofcairn.Continue Buzzards nestintherocksto the landownerin1874. famous legalbattleagainst Bernera Rioterswhowona junction commemoratesthe The cairnatthe Tobson Herons tofish. favourite placeforGrey been builtnearby. subterranean houseshas of theseremarkablesemi- life-size reconstructionofone seen ontheoriginalsite. A three ofthehousescanbe earlier village.Remainsof was builtovertheruinsof end ofitslife,aViking house of thePictishperiod. At the 1,500 yearsago,atthestart first occupiedmorethan The villagemayhavebeen observances werealsofound. fireside andtheirreligious they practicedaroundthe of theirdailylife,thecrafts evidence seabirds. Abundant hunting thewilddeerand mixed farming,fishing,and N