Isle of Sanday and the Puffins

Summary

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.

Please read the WARNING below before setting out on this route.

Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

Rating

Terrain

Track, open moorland, boggy in places, dogs to be kept under tight control.

Public Transport

Canna is served by the Calmac ferry service from Mallaig.

Start

Canna pier. Open in Google Maps.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 12.25km / 7.5 miles
Time: 3.5 - 4 hours
Ascent: 65m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NG277051

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Accommodation

Walk Description

User reports (2)

WARNING

There are now orange puffin waymarkers on a very slightly different route.

The information shown above is the latest we have. If you have an update then please email us.

Stage 1

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.

Stage 2

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.

Stage 3

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.

Stage 4

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. Continue through the farm gate in the stone wall ahead and then go part way across the next field before turning left through a gateway in the stone wall following a grassy track. The route heads generally south east over rough grazing ground, there is a vague path in places but keep heading in the same direction.

Stage 5

A narrower part of the island is barred by a stone wall - pass through the gate in the centre of this. Once beyond the rushes of a marshy circular depression just to the east of Suileabhaig, keep to the slightly higher ground on the left side of the bog before heading south east to eventually 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.

Stage 6

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.

Stage 7

Continue along the coast and follow a narrow path east to head directly to the far end of Sanday where the route curves left to reach the small lighthouse which is a great viewpoint of the cliffs and looking across to the Isle of Rum.

Stage 8

Return back to the two sea stacks and from here retrace the outward route across the open ground to the gate in the stone wall before returning past the church and then houses of Sanday to the bridge.

Stage 9

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.

Route Profile

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