The Hebrides are among the most wild and beautiful places in the British Isles, a vast archipelago stretching from the Inner Hebrides to the Outer Isles, where white-sand beaches meet volcanic peaks, ancient culture runs deep, and the walking is unlike anywhere else in Britain. From the dramatic ridgelines of the Skye Cuillin to the remote coasts of St Kilda, these islands reward those willing to make the journey.

This inspirational large-format Cicerone guidebook covers 50 walking and backpacking routes across the Hebrides, illustrated throughout with stunning photography and combining clear route descriptions with mapping and practical information for each walk. Written by Peter Edwards, who lives on the Isle of Harris, it is a guide shaped by genuine knowledge of and passion for the islands.

• The 50 routes span well-known and remote islands across the full length of the archipelago, including Skye, Mull, Jura, Islay, Colonsay, Rum, Eigg, Canna, Muck, Coll, Tiree, Raasay, Harris, Lewis, North Uist, South Uist, Barra and St Kilda
• Hebrides classics are covered in full, among them the Skye and Rum Cuillin traverses, the Trotternish Ridge, the Paps of Jura and full island circuits, alongside many lesser-known routes that most visitors never find
• Most routes offer a full day's walking for experienced walkers (between 5 and 32km), with a selection of multi-day backpacking adventures on more remote islands, as well as some shorter options
• Each walk is accompanied by mapping and spectacular photography, with practical information on facilities, public transport, length and terrain, making it straightforward to plan a visit to even the most remote islands
• A comprehensive introduction covers geology, history, culture, wildlife, plants and flowers, alongside practical advice on travel, navigation, safety, river crossings and dealing with midges and the deerstalking season

Comprehensive, authoritative and richly illustrated, this is the essential companion for anyone drawn to the wild landscapes of the Scottish islands.

The Hebrides - Quick Facts

Routes: 50 walking and backpacking routes 
Islands covered: Jura, Scarba, Islay, Colonsay, The Garvellachs, Mull, Ulva, Iona, Coll, Tiree, Rum, Eigg, Canna, Muck, Skye, Raasay, Barra, South Uist, North Uist, Berneray, Harris, Lewis, St Kilda 
Total islands: 23 
Highlighted routes: Skye Cuillin traverse, Rum Cuillin traverse, Trotternish Ridge (The Storr to the Quiraing), Paps of Jura, Ben More (Mull), Clisham Horseshoe, North Harris mountain backpack, St Kilda hills and sea cliffs, Dun Caan and southern coast of Raasay, Beinn Mhor and Hecla (South Uist), West Side coastal path (Lewis) 
Route types: Full-day walks, multi-day backpacking adventures, shorter routes and full island circuits 
Difficulty: Suitable for experienced walkers with good fitness and navigational competence; terrain is often rough, rugged and pathless with few waymarkers or signposts 
Day walk distances: Between 5 and 32km  
Format: Large format (24 x 17cm), 256 pages, illustrated throughout with colour photography 
Best season: Year-round; spring and autumn recommended to avoid summer midges and winter storms 
Key centres: Bowmore (Islay), Craighouse (Jura), Scalasaig (Colonsay), Craignure and Salen (Mull), Arinagour (Coll), Scarinish (Tiree), Kinloch (Rum), Broadford, Sligachan and Portree (Skye), Castlebay (Barra), Lochboisdale (South Uist), Lochmaddy (North Uist), Tarbert (Harris), Stornoway (Lewis)

Author Highlight

"The Hebridean Isles lie scattered like rough gemstones along Scotland’s Atlantic seaboard. Some of the finest walking in the British Isles can be found here amid the sublime, elemental beauty of the Hebridean hills and shores. In the islands’ rugged hinterlands, scree-strewn mountain ridges rise above austere moorlands jewelled with peat-dark lochans, while whisky-hued burns tumble through mighty glens to the sea."

- Peter Edwards, author of The Hebrides

Preface

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

November 2019

Route updates included in 2020 reprint

July 2015

Correction

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