Singing Sands, Cleadale - Eigg

This short walk to the lovely singing sands of Eigg with great views over to Rum, starts from Cleadale in the north of the island. To reach here from the pier you can either walk along the road (following the directions for Laig Bay) or hire bikes at the pier and cycle.

Terrain

Minor road, path over grazing land can be boggy

Public Transport

The islands 'community bus' sometimes meets the ferry.

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Start

Cleadale. Map and directions.

grade
Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

Walk Statistics

Distance: 3.7km/2.25 miles
Time: 1.5 hours
Ascent: 106m (Profile)
Grid Ref: NM477886

Maps / GPS

View / Print route map
Buy Explorer 397 - Rum, Eigg, Muck
GPS Waypoints - QUO 2
GPS Waypoints - GPX
View in 3D
Download walk to Google Earth (KMZ file)

Accommodation

Walk Description

Stage 1

Start from the war memorial cairn where the road at Cleadale forks. Facing the memorial take the left hand, lower road. This road heads gently downhill with good views of the cliff of Sgorr an Faraidh which forms the sharp edge of Beinn Bhuidhe behind the houses of Cleadale.

Stage 2

At a crossroads with a bungalow on the left, keep straight on along a stony track. There are views to the left over the Bay of Laig to the long ridge of the Sgurr of Eigg. Go through the gate, following the blue marker dots, and bear left to pass to the right of the sheep fank heading towards the coast. Soon bear right to cross the grazing land diagonally aiming for a gap in the broken down stone wall. There is a faint path marked with blue paint. Camas Sgiotaig, the bay of the singing sands comes into view ahead.

Stage 3

When you reach the fence look for a stile and cross and continue along the clifftop to another stile which you cross back into the field and then immediately go through a gate to join the path down to the beach. At the bottom of the path cross a stile to head onto the sands. In dry weather the grains of quartzite make a rasping or singing sound as you walk on them or when the wind scuffs them.

Stage 4

There are lovely views across the water to Rum and also an impressive wave-cut undercut on the cliff. At low tide it is possible to walk around the shore to reach Laig Bay which has a bigger (non-singing) beach. This walk returns up the cliff path to go through the gate at the top. Go through this and then immediately back over the adjacent stile to follow the cliff to the next stile. Once over this aim straight ahead up the field aiming for a fence with wood on top.

Stage 5

At the fence turn right until two gates are reached. Go through this, following the blue marker dots, and follow the rough path heading for the house at Howlin. Go through a gap in a stone wall, the track is often muddy here, and follow it round to the right to pass in front of the white house. The track joins the road, bear right and follow the road back to the start, passing St Columba's Well on the right.

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Route Profile

Walking can be dangerous and is done entirely at your own risk. Information is provided free of charge; it is each walkers' responsibility to check it and navigate using a map and compass.