Ceann a' Mhara and Balephuil Bay

Summary

Tiree is mostly flat and fertile apart from a few small rugged hills in the west - one of them being the Ceann a'Mhara headland, which has rugged and dramatic coastal scenery. With a contrasting approach across the sands of Balephuil Bay (Tràigh Bhi), this walk deserves to be regarded as a Tiree classic.

Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

Rating

Terrain

Sandy beach, then rough, rocky and pathless walking on the headland, before returning across the grassy machair and beach.

Public Transport

Tiree has a Ring-n-Ride bus service operating on request; it can be booked between 1 week and 1 hour in advance of your journey, when available.

Start

Parking area for Balephuil Bay (Traigh Bhi) - access via Meningie. Open in Google Maps.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 5km / 3 miles
Time: 2 - 2.5 hours
Ascent: 123m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NL951407

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Accommodation

Walk Description

User reports (1)

Stage 1

There is a dedicated parking area for the beach at Balephuil Bay (Tràigh Bhi). As you drive along the track, note the bird hide on the right just before the track swings left - worth a visit especially for over-wintering geese on the loch. Continue along the track to reach the signed parking area. Now begin the walk by heading through the gate and along the sandy track to reach the beach.

Stage 2

Balephuil Bay - Tràigh Bhi in Gaelic - is a typically magnificent Tiree beach. Turn right along the sands for just under a kilometre to reach the far end of the beach, then continue across the grasses and then rougher ground above the shore.

Stage 3

Continue for around 600m to reach the scant ruins of Patrick's chapel - with only a low gable wall standing - set back and a little above the coastline. This isolated chapel dates from as far back as the 7th century; inside what remains of the walls are two old stones carved with crosses. From the chapel continue traversing round, gaining height to keep above the rocky inlets of the increasingly rugged coast.

Stage 4

On a clear day the magnificent Skerryvore lighthouse - regarded as perhaps the most elegant in the world, and certainly the tallest in Scotland - can be seen on the horizon. Eventually a fence is reached; bear right to uphill alongside this, keeping the fence (which runs close to a cliff edge) on your left. In the early summer it is possible to get great views of the teeming seabird life on the cliffs.

Stage 5

A couple of small cairns stand on the western summit of Ceann a' Mhara, where a grand view opens out northwards over Tràigh nan Gilean and Ben Hough.

Stage 6

Descend into a gap before a steady climb up to the higher eastern summit of Beinn Ceann a'Mhara - Mullach Mòr, with a great view over Balephuil Bay to Carnan Mor. Follow the fence southeast to a corner, then descend eastwards initially over rough ground before reaching the rich grass of the machair.

Stage 7

Continue back down to the beach and then retrace your steps back along it to return to the start - with stunning views ahead the whole time.

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