Hebridean Way Stage 3: Daliburgh to Howmore

Summary

This stage visits the bronze age roundhouses at Cladh Hallan before heading through the dunes behind the celebrated Askernish Golf Course. It then continues along the Machair Way until reaching Howmore.

Grade

Bog Factor

3.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Mostly good going on grassy terrain and tracks; rougher in the dunes. Short sections on tarmac.

Getting there

Start

At NF784101 on minor road from Daliburgh (Dalabrog).

Public Transport

Nearest bus stop Daliburgh road junction 1.6km east. Nearest bus to Howmore at turning (less than 1km off route).

Start Grid Ref

NF738211

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Services

Daliburgh has a hotel, B&B accommodation and a good shop; it is a 1.6km detour from the start of the stage. There are no facilities en route. The stage ends at Howmore which has a simple hostel and there is also a hostel at Glendale.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 18.5km / 11.5 miles
Time: 4 - 5 hours
Ascent: 20m (Profile)

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Walk Description

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Stage 1

Having emerged on the Daliburgh road turn left towards the mast and Cladh Hallan cemetery. Opposite the mast and before you reach the cemetery turn left onto a sandy track heading into the dunes signed for Taighean Cruinn Cladh Hàlainn Round House. Stay on the main track as it bends round behind the cemetery and don't be tempted by the numerous paths heading directly through the dunes. Soon the remains of three bronze age Round Houses (Taighean Cruinn) are reached an an information panel.

Stage 2

Each house has a sunken floor and a few rows of stone wall that have been preserved; they would originally have been roofed using driftwood timbers. The middle house was the most important of the three, and was lived in from 1100BC to 200BC, making it one of the longest continuously inhabited prehistoric houses in the world. As well as several burials, a mummified man and woman were found here. Continue on the track to reach the sandy shore, there are picnic tables a short detour to the left up on the dunes. Turn right at the beach and follow a path (vague in places but there are occasional waymarkers) near the base of the dunes. The path climbs up and down and in places it is easier to walk along the top of the dunes rather than the actual route.

Stage 3

Pass the historic Akernish golf course - keep well off the course itself and do not disturb play if walking on the edge rather than on the waymarked path nearer the sea. Designed by "Old" Tom Morris in 1891 the course has been recently restored to its original 18 holes. Cattle and sheep graze on it in the winter months and the club's motif is the corncrake which nests in the rougher ground in the summer. Continue on the dune path until a fence is reached, bear left here, then left through a farm gate and straight ahead with a fence on your left. Continue on the track until a gate with Loch Àird an Sgairbh visible ahead to the right. Turn right here (opposite a stile), head inland for a short distance then turn left onto a sandy track that returns to the coast. Follow the coast and after crossing the Roe Glas stay on the main track which bears left inland. Before you reach the houses turn left at some livestock pens, go through the gate and continue on the track which passes to the left of Loch Bhornais with a good view of St Mary's church with the hills of Bhein Mhor and Hecla in the distance. At the gate turn right.

Stage 4

Fork left off the main track onto a much fainter grassy track heading towards a large metal barn. Don't pass through the gate, but keep left of the barn and a fence along a rough track. Pass through a gate and keep straight ahead. Eventually the track curves right and reaches a fence - ignore the gate here and keep left on the main track, with the fence on your right. Eventually there are views to Caisteal Ormacleit - a ruined eighteenth century mansion house - off right, adjacent to a large farmhouse and backed by the South Uist mountains. Caisteal Ormacleit was built by Allan Macdonald, the chief of Clanranald.

Stage 5

The track swings right towards the farmhouse - turn left behind a small barn to continue northwards. The track now passes to the left of the expansive Loch Olaidh an Iar. After a little over 2km from Caisteal Ormacleit the route meets a minor road marked as a track on OS maps - go straight across on the track, which soon becomes briefly very boggy. Not long afterwarrds another road is reached - turn left along it. It comes close to the coast but stays on the inland side of a seawall at first. A marker post indicates where to leave the road after 1.7km, turning left to follow a grassy track which runs along the back of a vast sandy beach.

Stage 6

Keep to the grassy tracks nearest the sea and dunes - staying on the seaward side of any fences. Eventually the estuary of the Howmore River is reached, and the route leads inland beside the river. Pass a picnic table and then cross the river by the attractive bridge just beyond.

Stage 7

On the far side of the river the Hebridean Way continues along the track straight ahead for the next stage - Howmore to Liniclate. If heading for the simple thatched hostel at Howmore, bear right on faint grassy tracks to reach the road end. The hostel is signed off to the left side of the road.

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