The Hebrides
50 Walking and Backpacking Routes
The Hebrides
50 Walking and Backpacking Routes
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.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.
Printed book
A guidebook with detailed route descriptions, stage breakdowns, accommodation listings, profiles and maps - everything you need on the trail.
ISBN
9781852847050
Availability
Published
Published
17 Apr 2015
Reprinted
29 May 2020
Edition
First
Pages
256
Size
24.00 x 17.00 x 1.80cm
Weight
720g
eBook
The complete digital edition of the guidebook, with full route descriptions, accommodation listings, profiles and maps, ready to use on any device.
Preface
Introduction
Geology
History
People, language and culture
Wildlife
Plants and flowers
Maps and route finding
Safety and emergencies
Mountain weather
River crossing
Biting beasties
Deerstalking season
What to take
What to take backpacking
Getting to the islands
Getting around
THE ROUTES
Islay
Rhuvaal and north west coast
An Cladach and Bheinn Bhieiger
Ardnave Point
Jura
West Coast Backpack
The Paps of Jura
Ardlussa to Corpach Bay
Evans' Walk to Glenbatrick Bay
Scarba
The pony path and Cruach Scarba
Colonsay
South Colonsay Coast and Oronsay
Kilchattan, the western cliffs and Kiloran Bay
The Garvellachs
Garbh Eilach: A small island expedition
Mull
A' Chioch and Ben More
Beinn Talaidh via Glen Forsa
Carsaig Arches
Dùn da Ghaoithe
Around Iona
Ulva - Ormaig and the south side
Coll
Coll's western tip
Tiree
Tiree's western coast and three highest points
Around the coast of east Tiree
Rum
Rum Cuillin Traverse
Kinloch to Harris Bay around the coast
Guirdil Horseshoe
Eigg
An Sgùrr and Grulin
Canna
Around the coast of Canna
Muck
Gallanach Bay and Beinn Airien
Skye
The Beinn Deargs and Glamaig
Marsco
Bla Bheinn
Elgol to Camasunary
Loch Coruisk
Bruach na Frithe
Glen Ollisdal, Idrigill Point and Macleod's Maidens
The Trotternish Ridge - The Storr to the Quiraing
Raasay
Dun Caan, Hallaig and the southern coast
Barra
The Barra watershed
South Uist
Beinn Mhor, Hecla and South Uist's wild east coast
North Uist
Eaval
Around the Udal peninsula
Berneray
Around Berneray
Harris
Roineabhal and Rodel
The Clisham Horseshoe
North Harris mountains and moorland backpack
Huiseabhal Mòr, Oireabhal and Huiseabhal Beag
Circuit of Tòdun from Urgha
Lewis
Uig Hills
Uig Hills and coast backpack
West Side coastal path
Tolstagh to Porrt Nis Heritage Walk
St Kilda
The hills and sea cliffs of Hirta
Appendices
Appendix A: Route Summary Table
Appendix B: Glossary
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.
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.
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