Berneray Explorer

Summary

The island of Berneray is just off the northern coast of North Uist and is linked to it by a new road causeway. It is explored by this excellent and very varied walk, taking in the views from its highest hill, a standing stone, the picturesque thatched hostel, and one of the most magnficent beaches in the UK.

Grade

Bog Factor

4.1/5

Rating

Terrain

Mix of minor roads, boggy hill ground, machair and sandy beach. The walk has marker posts but not frequent enough to be followed without a map.

Getting there

Start

Berneray community hall.

Public Transport

Bus to Berneray via causeway from North Uist; also ferry link to Leverburgh in Harris.

Start Grid Ref

NF909813

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 12.25km / 7.5 miles
Time: 3.5 - 4.5 hours
Ascent: 156m (Profile)

Mapping and GPS

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Explorer 454 - North Uist

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Walk Description

User reports (3)

Stage 1

Park at the Berneray Community Hall, which is on the Borve (Borgh) road at the heart of the island. Begin by walking back out of the car park and turning right to head through the gate on the road, but then immediately left across the pathless field with the fence on your left side. The whole walk is marked by wooden marker posts but these are infrequent. Cross the burn at a convenient point and continue following the posts which lead past the far corner of the enclosed ground by a house and then on up the low hill. At the summit is Cladh Maolrithe - a large standing stone with eight feet showing above ground and another eight below - and stunning views towards the beaches.

Stage 2

Now head east, initially across boggy ground, following the markers to reach a wooden stile overlooking Berneray's east coast. Cross this and descend to reach the tarmac road and head left along it. Keep straight on at the junction with the Borve road (which leads back to the community hall) to continue following the road around the island's coastline. It passes above the harbour where island's catch of shellfish and lobster are landed and then Nurse's Cottage which has information on the island.

Stage 3

Further on is the post office, and then a viewing point where seals can often be seen basking on the rocks in the bay. Ignore the road off to Trealigarry and continue until the road bends left with a sign for the hostel which is straight ahead through a gate. The walk continues along the road, but before doing so it is well worth diverting to see the hostel. Run by the Gatliff Trust, it consists of two picturesque thatched and whitewashed cottages set right at the edge of the east beach. Return to the road and continue along it.

Stage 4

The road runs just inland from the east beach until ending at a gate before Sandhill Farm. Go through the gate and then turn left as signed for the Berneray circular walk. Climb up through the field, passing to the right of the ruins, to reach a gate at the top end. Go through this to reach the old cemetery. From here the next marker post is out of sight; bear right uphill for around 250 metres and then bear left, keeping just to the right of a broken down fence, towards Beinn Shleibhe. This section can be a little wet but the views from the top - as might be expected of the highest point on the island - are superb. The island of Pabbay is seen ahead whilst over to the right is mountainous Harris.

Stage 5

Descend northwest down the grassy slopes, aiming for the northern end of the West Beach. Head down onto the sands and turn left to begin your walk along this, one of the finest beaches in all the Hebrides. The West Beach is around 3 miles long with perfect shell sand backed by high dunes, and looks out to Pabbay and the open Atlantic. It is so beautiful that the Thai tourist board used a picture of the beach to promote holidays in Thailand (though Berneray may not be so warm!). Round the slight corner at Rubh a' Chorrain and continue down the beach, now with Boreray visible ahead.

Stage 6

The only problem with this part of the walk is working out at what point to leave the beach! With a GPS you can cut up when you reach a latitude of 82 degrees; otherwise you'll have to try to spot an easy place to negotiate the dunes. There is a yellow marker post on top at the appropriate point but it can't be seen from the sand below (though if you do go too far it doesn't really matter - you can join the South Berneray route). Once atop the dunes continue across the initially rough ground to the east to reach the fertile machair - formed by sand blown onto peat. The community hall is visible in the distance. Aim just to its left, and pass to the left of the fences. The area of scattered rocks on the left include some prehistoric remains; note the Chair stone which is near a marker post. From the chair stone bear right to head over a stile giving access to the community hall car park.

Route Profile

Where to stay

Outer Hebrides Hotels

Outer Hebrides B&B

North Uist cottages

Outer Hebrides hostels

Glamping and Camping

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