Explore Canna's smaller neighbour, Sanday, passing the imposing St Edward's Church before reaching the cliffs overlooking stacks where puffins breed before continuing to the small lighthouse at the eastern tip of the island.
Bog Factor
Track, open moorland, boggy in places, dogs to be kept under tight control.
Canna pier.
Canna is served by the Calmac ferry service from Mallaig.
NG277051
Puffins arrive at their breeding colonies on Dun Mòr and Dun Beag in April and stay until mid to late August so this is the best time to do this walk if you want to catch sight of these colourful birds. To reach Sanday from the Canna pier (where the Visitor Hub has information and toilets) follow the track passing the beautiful Church of Scotland building on the left which houses an exhibition about the archaeology of the island. Continue on the main track, to pass the cafe and the entrance to Canna House, home to previous owner John Lorne Campbell and his wife, Margaret Fay Shaw Campbell who gave the island to the National Trust for Scotland in 1981 - the gardens are always open, the house at restricted times.
The walk is heading initially for the large church seen across the water - but this takes some time to reach! After passing the farm (there is an exhibition in the former dairy) stay on the left next to the sea when the track forks and soon the bridge to Sanday is reached. Originally a footbridge, this was replaced in 2005 and then a new road was completed in 2018 to replace the one by the coast which is still underwater at high tide. A small catholic shrine greets you as you reach the island. Ignore the new road and keep left to follow the old one along the coast - a path next to it means the route is always passable for those on foot even at high tide.
Follow the track round to the left soon reaching some houses and keep left (next to the sea) when the track forks - at high tide parts of the track are submerged but you can usually still walk on the grass alongside. Pass the primary school. The track curves round the far side of the small bay and after the last houses bears right inland through a gate (you can continue ahead to a small headland which is a good place to spot seals) and the new road joins from the right.
Pass a derelict house and continue to St Edward's Church which is now deconsecrated and locked. Although converted to a hostel and Gaelic study centre it has not been used for this purpose, and may have a new life as a performance space in the future. Take the path to the left of the church. The next section is marked with puffin symbols. is marked with puffin markers; follow grassy track. The route heads generally south east over rough grazing ground.
A narrower part of the island is barred by a stone wall - pass through the gate in the centre of this. After 100m the path forks - take the right branch, keeping left of a marshy depression. The route keeps right of the site of a fort, eventually heading south east to approach the southern coastline and follow it atop the high coastal cliffs. Soon the impressive sea stacks of flat-topped Dun Mòr and slender Dun Beag come into view.
A large puffin colony breeds on these - particularly Dun Mòr - between April and August and at this time sizeable flocks can be seen flying, guarding burrows or on the sea. Great skuas are also frequently seen here.
Continue along the coast. At the back of an inlet a short cut path leads back across the peninsula; to continue around Sanday, follow a narrow path east along the coast. Eventually the coast curves left to reach the small lighthouse which is a great viewpoint of the cliffs and looking across to the Isle of Rum.
From here you can retrace steps to the path junction behind the inlet, or complete a loop by continuing WNW and then NW. Finally the route bends left, running below rocky outcrops to reach the land behind Camas Stianabhaig. Continue ahead, eventually rejoining the outward route before the gate in the stone wall before returning past the church and then houses of Sanday to the bridge.
Before crossing the bridge it is worth making a short detour on a grassy path further along the coastline, passing through a gate to reach a secluded beach of perfect shell sand. When ready, return to the bridge, cross it and continue back to A' Chill and the pier.
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