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The Hebrides

50 Walking and Backpacking Routes

ISBN

9781852847050

Availability

Published

17 Apr 2015

Reprinted

29 May 2020

Edition

First

Pages

256

Size

24.00 x 17.00 x 1.80cm

Weight

720g

Delivery & Returns

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Inspirational guidebook to 50 varied walking and backpacking routes in the Hebrides, featuring classics such as the Skye Cuillin and the Paps of Jura, but also many lesser-known routes on Jura, Scarba, Islay, Colonsay, Rum, Eigg, Canna, Muck, Coll, Tiree, Mull, Skye, Raasay, Harris, Lewis, Berneray, North Uist, South Uist, Barra and St Kilda.

Seasons

The Hebrides are a wonderful place to walk year-round, though in spring and autumn you'll avoid summer's midges and tourists and winter's storms and short days.

Centres

Bowmore, Craighouse, Scalasaig, Salen, Craignure, Baile Mòr, Arinagour, Scarinish, Kinloch, Galmisdale, A' Chill, Port Mòr, Broadford, Sligachan, Portree, Castlebay, Lochboisdale, Howmore, Lochmaddy, Borve, Tarbert, Stornoway, Timsgearraidh

Difficulty

The walks in this guidebook are suitable for experienced walkers with good fitness and navigational competence. Many of the routes have no waymarkers or signposts and the terrain is often rough, rugged and pathless. Routes are not graded, though the introduction to each walk makes clear the scope and strenuousness and any difficulties involved.

Must See

Some of the British Isles best coastal walks are found in the Hebrides. There are many miles of wild, beautiful coastline garlanded with white sand beaches, vertiginous cliffs, rugged headlands and magnificent geological features. Awesome volcanic peaks and rocky whale-backed ridges provide some serious hill-walking challenges with stunning island vistas.

ISBN

9781852847050

Availability

Published

17 Apr 2015

Reprinted

29 May 2020

Edition

First

Pages

256

Size

24.00 x 17.00 x 1.80cm

Weight

720g

Delivery & Returns

Overview

This inspirational guidebook describes 50 varied walking and backpacking routes on the Scottish Hebrides islands, set out in a larger format, and illustrated with a range of stunning photographs. The 50 walks are spread across both well-known and remote islands; from Skye, Mull, Rum, the Uists and Barra, Ulva, Iona, Eigg and Muck and more besides. Most of the walks provide a full day for experienced walkers, with a few multi-day backpacking adventures as well as some shorter routes.

The walks also include Hebrides classics, like the Trotternish Ridge, Ben More, Skye and Rum Cuillins, the Paps of Jura and full circuits of smaller islands. Each walk combines clear route description with mapping and spectacular photography, while also advising on the route's facilities, public transport access, length and terrain. The result is a collection of the very best walks with which to uncover the wild and rugged beauty of the Hebrides.

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Map key

Overview map

Preface

Introduction

Geology

History

People, language and culture

Wildlife

Plants and flowers

Getting to the islands

Getting around

When to go

Access, camping and bothies

Safety and emergencies

What to take

Maps and route-finding

Mountain weather

River crossing

Biting beasties

Using this guide

The routes

Islay

Walk 1 Rhuvaal and northwest coast

Walk 2 An Cladach and Beinn Bheigier

Walk 3 Ardnave Point

Jura

Walk 4 The west coast of Jura

Walk 5 The Paps of Jura

Walk 6 Ardlussa to Corpach Bay and Am Miadar

Walk 7 Evans’ Walk to Glenbatrick Bay (and return)

Scarba

Walk 8 Cruach Scarba

Colonsay

Walk 9 South Colonsay Coast and Oronsay

Walk 10 Lower Kilchattan to Kiloran Bay

The Garvellachs

Walk 11 Garbh Eileach

Mull

Walk 12 Ben More

Walk 13 Beinn Talaidh via Glen Forsa

Walk 14 Carsaig Arches

Walk 15 Dùn da Ghaoithe

Ulva

Walk 16 Ormaig and the south side

Iona

Walk 17 Around Iona

Coll

Walk 18 Coll’s western tip

Tiree

Walk 19 Around the coast of east Tiree

Walk 20 Tiree’s west coast and three highest points

Rum

Walk 21 A Round of the Rum Cuillin

Walk 22 Kinloch to Harris Bay around the coast

Walk 23 The Guirdil Horseshoe

Eigg

Walk 24 An Sgùrr and Grulin

Canna

Walk 25 Around the coast of Canna

Muck

Walk 26 Gallanach Bay and Beinn Arien

Skye

Walk 27 The Beinn Deargs

Walk 28 Marsco

Walk 29 Blà Bheinn

Walk 30 Elgol to Camasunary

Walk 31 Loch Coruisk

Walk 32 Bruach na Frithe

Walk 33 Glen Ollisdal, Idrigill Point and Macleod’s Maidens

Walk 34 The Trotternish Ridge traverse

Raasay

Walk 35 Dùn Caan, Hallaig and the southern coast

Barra

Walk 36 The Barra watershed

South Uist

Walk 37 Hecla, Beinn Mhòr and South Uist’s wild east coast

North Uist

Walk 38 Eaval

Walk 39 Around the Udal peninsula

Berneray

Walk 40 Around Berneray

Harris and Lewis

Walk 41 Roineabhal and Rodel

Walk 42 The Clisham Horseshoe

Walk 43 North Harris mountains and moorland wilderness backpack

Walk 44 Huiseabhal Mòr, Oireabhal and Huiseabhal Beag

Walk 45 Circuit of Tòdun from Urgha

Walk 46 The Uig Hills

Walk 47 Uig Hills and coast backpack

Walk 48 West side coastal path

Walk 49 Tolstadh to Port Nis heritage walk

St Kilda

Walk 50 The hills and sea cliffs of Hirta

Appendix A Route summary table

Appendix B Glossary

Appendix C Useful contacts

Appendix D Further reading

Updates

April 2025

Walk 6

Walk 6, p68, first para:

The bridge over the outflow of the Fishing Loch has been removed for safety reasons and the bridge over the Allt Grundale has been swept away. Please use the following directions at the start of the walk instead:

If driving, cross the bridge over the Lussa River, turn sharply left and park on the grassy area a short way along the track; let the estate know if you’re leaving a car there overnight. Return to the road and turn right to recross the bridge. After 200 metres turn left down a track, soon passing a large shed. The metalled track runs out shortly before reaching a stand of trees, bear left to follow the ATV tracks across the often boggy moorland. Climb steadily along the southwestern side of Glen Grundale, following the more distinct ATV tracks winding through the rough moorland landscape.

November 2019

Route updates included in 2020 reprint

705 Reprint 2020 (3.056 MB)

July 2015

Correction

We have belatedly spotted that the map for Walk 7 in this book shows the start/finish point at Glenbatrick Bay, whereas it should be at the other end of the route line, on the A846. Apologies for any confusion caused.

By Peter Edwards

Since moving to Scotland from the south of England in 2006, Peter has developed a passion for the Hebrides. He lives at Rhenigidale on the Isle of Harris with his wife, Fiona, and their Labradors, Dougal and Mara.

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