Baleromindubh and Cable Bay

Summary

This walk explores a section of Colonsay's southeastern coastline, linking some fine sandy bays. The section linking the bays is rough underfoot and pathless.

Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

Tracks, minor road but also a fair amount of rough and pathless walking, wet in places.

Getting there

Start

Where Baleromindubh track leaves the B8085.

Public Transport

None to start. A bicycle is perhaps the best means of transport on Colonsay.

Start Grid Ref

NR382929

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 7.75km / 4.75 miles
Time: 2.5 - 3 hours
Ascent: 127m (Profile)

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Explorer 354 - Colonsay

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Walk Description

User reports (1)

Stage 1

Start the walk from where the track to Baleromindubh leaves the B8085 road (signed for Baleromindubh House and Cottage). Begin by walking up this track, soon passing through a gate. Stay on the main track as it descends, curving left past the cottage and then approaching the house.

Stage 2

Just before reaching the house leave the track to the left to head along the left side of a row of trees and a drystone wall. Continue down the field to a ruined cottage, then bear right to the far corner of the field to pass through a gate, turning left to immediately head through a second gate. Head around the right edge of the walled meadow, eventually reaching another gate to the east. Now follow a large drystone wall to the right, eventually passing through it at a pair of gateposts.

Stage 3

The next section to the coastline is pathless and can be boggy, heading east and then southeast, crossing a small burn and picking up a faint ATV track which leads through a gap in another wall to reach the sandy beach at Bal-dubh.

Stage 4

Continue to the far side of the bay and then cut across the outlying Rubha Dubh. The land nearest shoreline is rough and very rocky; soon it becomes necessary to instead head up onto the heather and bracken slightly further inland - sheep paths may help. Eventually head through a gap and keep a post-and-wire fence on your left briefly before a second gap allows you to continue with the fence on your right. This soon leads to the sandy inlet backed by dunes at Port na Beiste.

Stage 5

A burn flows out to sea here, and a path on the near side leads up sandy dunes and grass to reach the end of a track. The walk continues up this track to Balerominmhor, but before following it, it is well worth detouring slightly further over the coastline dunes to reach the adjacent Tràigh an Eacail - locally known as Cable Bay. This stunning stretch of sand has views to the Paps of Jura.

Photo: Tom Richardson

Stage 6

Back on the grassy track, follow it through a gap in a wall and up to Balerominmhor. The track passes to the right of the house and then continues to eventually reach the tarmac road. Turn right to follow this back to the start of the walk.

Route Profile

Where to stay

Islay, Jura & Colonsay Hotels

Islay, Jura & Colonsay B&B

Islay, Jura & Colonsay cottages

Islay, Jura & Colonsay hostels

Glamping and Camping

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