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The Hebridean Way
Long-distance walking route through Scotland's Outer Hebrides
The Hebridean Way
Long-distance walking route through Scotland's Outer Hebrides
Guidebook to walking the Hebridean Way, a 155 mile (247km) walking route along the length of the Outer Hebrides. From the island of Vatersay to Stornoway on Lewis, the waymarked route can be walked in 8 to 13 days and crosses a variety of terrain including shell beaches, rugged hills and wild moor. Also includes an extension to the Butt of Lewis.Discover an island adventure on the Hebridean Way, Scotland's only island-hopping long-distance trail. This waymarked route runs the length of the Outer Hebrides, covering 247km (155 miles) from Vatersay in the south to Stornoway in the north. Linking ten islands by a series of causeways and ferry crossings, the trail travels through some of the most distinctive landscapes in the UK, from white-sand beaches and flower-rich machair to remote moorland, rocky headlands and Atlantic-facing coastlines.
This guidebook provides everything needed to plan a two-week walk along the Hebridean Way with confidence, whether you are undertaking the full route as a multi-day journey or exploring selected sections. Clear route descriptions are combined with practical planning advice and contextual information, helping you navigate the logistical challenges of island travel while making the most of time spent on the trail. With generally moderate terrain and no technical mountain walking, the Hebridean Way is accessible to most walkers with a reasonable level of fitness.
- The route is presented in 10 stages of 16–35km (10–22 miles) between Vatersay and Stornoway, with an optional 48km (30-mile) extension to the northern-most point on the island, the Butt of Lewis, for a true end-to-end crossing of the archipelago
- Each stage includes detailed route descriptions, supported by 1:50,000 Ordnance Survey mapping, allowing you to follow waymarked paths, minor roads and coastal tracks with ease
- Practical guidance covers when to go, transport logistics, ferry connections, whilst a trek planner details all accommodation and facilities at key towns and villages, helping you plan a multi-island walking holiday
- Background notes on history, archaeology, geology, wildlife and Gaelic place names bring the landscapes of the Outer Hebrides to life, adding depth and context to the walking experience
- Downloadable GPX files are included for use on smartphones or GPS devices, offering a digital navigation option
Passing through Barra, Eriskay, South Uist, Benbecula, North Uist, Harris and Lewis, this trail offers a rare combination of island hopping, coastal walking and cultural immersion. The Hebridean Way showcases the Outer Hebrides at their most atmospheric, from expansive beaches and big skies to quiet settlements and ancient sites, making it one of the most distinctive long-distance walks in Scotland.
Author Highlight
“The route crosses 10 islands linked by six causeways and two ferries – and if these numbers do not appear to add up, it is because the so-called ‘Isles’ of Harris (Na Hearadh) and Lewis (Leòdhas) share the same landmass. The route traverses a variety of different terrains, passing over rugged hills, along dazzling white shell beaches and across seemingly empty moorland. The stunning landscape, varied geology, exceptional wildlife and numerous antiquities of the Outer Hebrides are truly awe-inspiring. The Outer Hebrides also retain a distinctive culture, with Gaelic often spoken as a first language in many communities.”
- Richard Barrett, author of The Hebridean Way
Printed book
A guidebook with detailed route descriptions, stage breakdowns, accommodation listings, profiles and maps - everything you need on the trail.
ISBN
9781852847272
Availability
Published
Published
10 May 2017
Reprinted
3 Dec 2024
Edition
First
Pages
192
Size
17.20 x 11.60 x 1.10cm
Weight
220g
eBook
The complete digital edition of the guidebook, with full route descriptions, accommodation listings, profiles and maps, ready to use on any device.
Map key
Route summary table
Overview maps
Trek planner
Introduction
How the Hebridean Way came into being
Planning your trip
Selecting a schedule
When to walk
Getting there
First and last nights
Accommodation
Facilities
Money matters
Baggage transfer
What to take
Planning day by day
Using this guide
Maps
Waymarking
Weather forecasts
Phones and Wi-Fi
Emergencies
All about the Outer Hebrides
Geology
Plants and flowers
Wildlife
The history of the Outer Hebrides
Economy
The Hebridean Way
Stage 1 Vatersay to Ardmhor
Stage 2 Eriskay to Howmore
Stage 3 Howmore to Baile nan Cailleach
Stage 4 Baile nan Cailleach to Lochmaddy
Stage 5 Lochmaddy to Berneray
Stage 6 Leverburgh to Horgabost Township
Stage 7 Horgabost Township to Tarbert
Stage 8 Tarbert to Aline
Stage 9 Aline to Laxay
Stage 10 Laxay to Stornoway
Additional stages to the Butt of Lewis
Stage 11 Stornoway to New Tolsta
Stage 12 New Tolsta to the Butt of Lewis
Appendix A Useful contacts
Appendix B Accommodation
Appendix C Common Gaelic and Norse name elements
Appendix D Further reading
Seasons
Best walked between April and October, when the days are longer; the weather is at its best and the ground underfoot is likely to be drier.
Centres
Starting at Vatersay, the routes crosses Barra, Eriskay, South Uist, Benbecula, Grimsay, North Uist, Berneray, Harris and Lewis to its current end in Stornoway.
Difficulty
The Hebridean Way is mostly a low-level, waymarked route that never ventures far from a road. However it requires careful planning as it crosses stretches of wild moor where there is no clear path and there are limited facilities near the route. As yet there is no baggage transfer provider.
Must See
247km (155 mile) waymarked trail over rugged hills and along dazzling white shell beaches the length of the Outer Hebrides, from Vatersay in the south to Stornoway in the north, passing through 10 islands linked by causeways and ferries.
June 2019
Updates
Page 143; Line 4 -
"Go through the gate and up the muddy track, eventually leaving the fence to you left and crossing a footbridge to meet the days first stretch of raised turf path."
Page 148
Description "From Laxay, regain the route by turning immediately after the public toilets and walking up the track with Loch Ulapuil, Laxay Community Woodland and Loch na Criadha (the clay loch) on your left," I've redrawn the map which in available through the downloads.
May 2019
The Heb Hostel in Stornoway allows walkers and cyclists to arrive any time during the day, drop off luggage and /or bikes and help themselves to tea and coffee. The hostel also has laundry facilities, a drying room and a bike shed.
Jan 2018
Re Leverburgh to Seilebost –
Map p108 - Between about NG 999922 and 008930 the route has been signed towards the dunes behind Scarasta Bheag as an alternative to walking along the road.
The two small sections of boardwalk behind Scarasta (p110) are pretty deadly when wet and urgently require some wire netting on them. Until such time as this is done, they are better avoided, even if it does mean wet feet.
P111 - Approaching Gleann Horgabost the signed route is higher up the hillside than is shown as it rounds the spur of Bulabhall – more like at 100m asl. It doesn’t go near the pass.
Re Seilebost to at least Urgha –
The marker posts have a blue ring – none of the yellow topped ones seem to exist anymore - P120
Typo on p110 / line 5 – ‘solder’ should be soldier
Nov 2017
Vatersay –
There is no obvious sign to show where to leave the road to go up round Beinn Tangabhal at NL642 977. It might worth mentioning that it is just before a stream that is ~250m along past the quarry.
Barra –
Signs peter out at around NF 701 046 with no obvious way to deal with the barbed wire fence by the roadside. Again there is no roadside sign to assist those going the other way.
South Uist –
The turn off at West Kilbride is not clearly signed, and people would be best advised follow the coast round to the left shortly after the café at the camp site.
At Loch Carnan community wind farm NF 820 421, the description is fine for going north. But for folk going south they need to know that the path across the moor is near the most easterly turbine.
Descending down the windfarm track to the road to turn left; the quarry is ~100m along not 250m. On turning right past the quarry, there are no signs between there and the next road; the track mentioned swings right to a lochan but walkers need to go straight ahead at that bend. This section is particularly soggy / boggy. Towards the end, on approaching an obvious house, it is important that people swing left to find a gate about 50m along, otherwise they will end up going through someone’s garden.
Benbecula –
At Lionacleit the sign to the left is immediately after the Dark Island Hotel.
From the top of Rueval there are no waymarkers at the moment. In misty conditions people should follow a compass bearing of 350° which will take them towards the east end of Loch Olabhat, to pick up a rough track leading to a gate and onto the road. This is where the road-side sign is (NF 821 555) and not at the traditional thatched cottage.
North Uist –
On approaching Carinish, there is a road-side sign at ~NF 832 601, pointing right into a small wooded area. A signed path goes from there to intercept the other towards the NW end of the woodland shown on the map (but not yet all there in reality). So those folk who don’t need to go to Carinish can reduce the road walking by taking this option. At Carinish, there is no road-side sign pointing to the route described and once the route is found (by following the description) the signage is disintegrating.
At Balthaisbhal water treatment plant there are currently some works going on in the immediate surrounds of the plant. The high security fence prevents people easily accessing the signed route from there. If this is a temporary blockage, perhaps on your web updates, people could be advised to follow the high fence round to the left, carefully cross over the new fence that abuts it, and continue following the high fence until the waymarkers can be spotted. Signage from here across the moorland isn’t great and would be difficult to rely on in misty conditions. If it is very misty people could follow the road.
Thank for the updates from Margaret Porter at C-N-Do Scotland - www.cndoscotland.com
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