Hebridean Way Stage 4: Howmore to Liniclate

Summary

This stage of the Hebridean Way soon leaves the Machair Way behind and heads through the RSPB reserve of Loch Druidibeg and its surrounding moorlands - with the peaks of South Uist as a fine backdrop. A road section past the Our Lady of the Isles statue leads to a longer moorland stretch - with boggy going before a windfarm track is reached. After one more section of moorland the rest of the stage is along roads, crossing the causeway to leave South Uist behind. There is a pavement beside the roads for the last stretch, on Benbecula.

Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

Very mixed: tarmac roads, pavements, tracks, moorland paths and boardwalks; some very boggy stretches.

Getting there

Start

Road end beyond Howmore hostel.

Public Transport

Bus to Howmore road junction less than 1km from start. Liniclate at stage end also served by bus - stop at school.

Start Grid Ref

NF757363

Open in Google Maps

Services

Hotel and campsite at Liniclate, supermarket on route 1.5km from end of stage. B&Bs in South Uist or Benbecula may offer pick up. When open it is often possible to use the shower at Liniclate School sports centre.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 25.5km / 15.75 miles
Time: 6 - 7 hours
Ascent: 69m (Profile)

Mapping and GPS

ROUTE MAP
View detailed map of walk

OS Paper map
Explorer 453 - Benbecula

Get our App FREE
Full GPS mapping &
descriptions when offline

Export GPX

Export KMZ

Open on Big Map showing all our routes

Want to sponsor this route?

Walk Description

User reports (0)

Stage 1

If starting from Howmore road end by the hostel, continue straight ahead past the church to soon reach the track which is the Hebridean Way (if you didn't divert to Howmore, you'll just be keeping straight ahead). After a little over 1km turn right over a cattle grid to pass Drimsdale House.

Stage 2

The route soon becomes a road, with views over Loch an Eilein with the ruins of Caisteal Bheagram - a fortified 16th century tower house rather than a real castle - visible set on an island. Continue ahead along the narrow strip of tarmac until it meets the main A865 at a t-junction. Go straight across through a pedestrian gate onto the signed grassy track opposite.

Stage 3

The grass track soon leads to a gate - pass through and continue through another. The fertile machair is now being left behind for more rugged terrain - the moorlands around Loch Druidibeg. The grassy track is replaced by a raised path, with aggregate surface at first. It passes through a pedestrian gate and crosses a footbridge over one of the many branches of the loch - an important RSPB reserve. On the far side the path becomes a worn trod through the heather, then crosses a stony causeway and wooden boardwalk.

Stage 4

There are one or two very boggy patches, but the conditions are good for most of the way. Eventually the route emerges at a parking area. Pass through this and turn left along the minor road beyond. There are several ponies which wander freely around this area. Follow the narrow tarmac road until it leads to the main A865 once more.

Stage 5

Turn right along the main road. As it is quite straight, traffic can pass quickly along here so take care. After a little over 1km a great statue - Our Lady of the Isles (Bana Thighearna nan Eilean) - is seen over to the right and can be visited via a detour path. The sculpure was commissioned after the government proposed the South Uist missile testing range, and was a symbol of local resistance to the military on the islands. Continue along the A865 for another 600m until a tarmac lane goes off on the right.

Stage 6

Turn left almost immediately onto a path signed Loch Carnan. The raised turf path soon goes through a gate and heads across the moor. Cross the footbridge with good views over a lochan and Beinn Tairbeirt over to the right. After another footbridge the route becomes increasingly waterlogged. It runs along a line of old metal fence posts and it is usually possible to pick a relatively dry route near these. When almost level with the end of the lochan on the right the route takes a sharp left at a marker post to leave the metal fence posts and head across the moor aiming for a line of 3 wind turbines.

Stage 7

There is a vague path and marker posts which stick to the highest ground and eventually reach a high footbridge. The path is then very boggy before improving to a stone surface as the first wind turbine of Lochcarnan Community Windfarm is neared. Turn left onto the gravel track and follow it past the turbines all the way to the road.

Stage 8

Turn left and after a very short distance turn right at an old quarry. Once past the stones continue ahead on a grassy track used for digging peats and very muddy in places, pallets have been put down to get you over the worst bits. Keep heading for the house ahead but about 150m before the house bear left where the track forks to take the boggier route on the left which weaves through a peat digging area before reaching the road at a sea inlet with a thatched cottage opposite. Turn left along the road signed for Ardmore.

Stage 9

After around 1.5km it reaches the main A865. Turn right along this, ignoring a road off left to continue ahead and cross the causeway to the next island - Benbecula. The route continues along the road on the far side, but there is a pavement. A large Coop supermarket is passed before a junction is reached - fork left off the main road here, following the B892 which is signed for Baile a' Mhanaich (Balavanich). This stage ends 1.75km along this road at the Dark Island hotel (reached just before the school), where the next stage from Liniclate to Carinish begins.

Route Profile

Report error

Let us know if you've found an error in our route, or if it needs updating.

Write walk report

Share your story and photos from this route.
£150 of Highlander Outdoor gear to win every month.

Can you help support walkhighlands?

This website and app are run by 'Walkhighlands for All' - a not-for-profit set up to serve walkers' needs.
We rely on the generosity of our users - can you help?