Balnahard and Tràigh Ban

Summary

Whilst Kiloran Bay is Colonsay's best known beach, a longer walk from the road leads to Balnahard and Tràigh Ban - for many people, an even more beautiful spot. The white sands here face eastwards and the beach is usually more sheltered than its counterpart.

Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

4.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Good track until the final grassy approach to the beach.

Public Transport

None to start. A bicycle is perhaps the best means of transport on Colonsay. The start can also be reached by walking along the Old Road from Scalasaig.

Start

Where track leaves B8086 road at NR399973; if using a car, it is usually possible to park inside the gateway on the left. Open in Google Maps.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 11.5km / 7.25 miles
Time: 2.5 - 3.5 hours
Ascent: 202m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NR399973

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Walk Description

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Stage 1

The walk begins from the bend on the B8086 road at NR399973 and heads through the gateway on the left; if using a car, it is usually possible to park just inside the gateway on the left. The track undulates across the machair, well back from Kiloran Bay. After 1km or so the surface becomes concrete as the track climbs across the west side of Carnan Eoin.

Stage 2

Eventually the track passes through a cutting in the rocks and descends northwards to reach the pebble bay at Port Sgribins. Immediately past the bay is a massive sculpture of a whale on the machair - made up of stones from the raised beach. The outline is complete and visitors over the years are slowly filling up the inside of the whale with stones - it is best seen from the summit of Carnan Eoin to the south.

Stage 3

It is worth detouring left from the track here, passing the side of the whale to head up to the prominent standing stone (not ancient) on the coast at Meall na Suiridhe. This is a great viewpoint - and the cliff scenery is impressive.

Stage 4

Return to the track and continue along it, soon passing around a right-angled corner. Just before Balnahard the track forks; take the left branch to stay below the old farmhouse here. The two options rejoin just past the house.

Stage 5

The track ends at a large agricultural shed. The fenced enclosure off to the left contains the scant remains of Cille Chatriona - the site of a nunnery. From the end of the track continue ENE across the machair towards the bay.

Stage 6

The bay at Tràigh Ban is more sheltered than Kiloran, and many feel that the glorious sweep of white sands here make an even finer beach. The outlook too is superb - with the Garvellachs, Seil, Scarba, the northern end of Jura and part of Mull all visible.

Stage 7

If time allows, it is worth exploring northwards from the bay, crossing the adjoining smaller beach and perhaps even going as far as the northern tip of the island (pathless). Otherwise, the return is back the same way. If time allows, it is well worth detouring to visit Kiloran Bay and Carnan Eoin on the way back.

Route Profile

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