Hebridean Way Stage 6: Carinish to Lochmaddy

Summary

This stage crosses the heart of North Uist, beginning with scenic paths across the moors visiting ancient chambered cairns and a stone circle, whilst the great hills of the island rise impressively to the east. The second half of the stage mostly follows old sections of road past the endless lochans of this watery landscape, ending just outside the island capital, Lochmaddy.

Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

Waymarked moorland path, boggy in places, then long stretch along tarmac - mostly following old road.

Getting there

Start

At NF835600 where the route leaves the main road near Carinish.

Public Transport

The start and finish are both on the main road bus route.

Start Grid Ref

NF835600

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Services

Langass Lodge hotel on route. Lochmaddy (1km from end of route) has shop, hotel, B&B, cafe with 24hr toilets at Taigh Chearsabhagh Arts Centre, showers/toilets at the ferry terminal.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 18km / 11.25 miles
Time: 5 - 6 hours
Ascent: 213m (Profile)

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Walk Description

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Stage 1

Leave the A865 on the north side of the road 1.5km south of the main settlement of Cairnish and take the path signed for Loch Euphoirt over the stile into the community woodland. There is a good view of Eabhal over to the right from the grassy track. Soon a marker post indicates where to turn left onto a much smaller path through the heather, however you might want to detour straight ahead for 25m to see a large chambered cairn. Otherwise continue on the minor path which heads between 2 lochans, is boggy, and can be slightly hard to follow at times, keep a sharp eye out for the marker posts and small boardwalk bridges.

Stage 2

Near the end of a larger lochan the Way turns left at a marker rather than continuing ahead on the small path. Keep ahead in this new direction over a low shoulder soon going over a sile in a deer fence. The path now turns right and is easier to follow, heading gently uphill and soon reaching a larger path at a t-junction, turn right onto this and follow it across very boggy ground to the left of the fence.

Stage 3

The path becomes drier and stony and passes between lochs. Eventually the remains of another chambered cairn just the other side of a fence on the left is passed. Go through a gate and follow the track down to the minor road and turn left soon reaching a house and pier.

Stage 4

Around 500m after the pier - and just beyond a stoneware gallery - turn right at the signpost to follow the path across the moorland. It passes between the sea and Loch nan Smalag, soon passing through a gate, and then crossing a footbridge. There are lovely views towards Eabhal.

Stage 5

The path soon loses its aggregate surface but continues, soon reaching a long, twisting footbridge and then aims just left of a planation to meet a minor road. Turn right along the road, reaching the Langal Lodge hotel; take the track ahead to the right of the hotel. This soon passes through a gate; when a path forks left take it, sloping uphill to reach a stone circle known as Pobull Fhinn - Finn's People; it is the only stone circle on North Uist.

Stage 6

From here the path becomes very boggy in one or two places, climbing up over the shoulder of Beinn Langass. Ignore a path off left (which heads to the summit and Barpa Langass), instead following the waymarked trail ahead. This begins to descend as the vast moors of the central part of North Uist are revealed ahead. Further down, the path bends left through a gate.

Stage 7

The path - now surfaced once more - runs along the right edge of the plantation. You can make a signed detour ('to the Bear') to the left if you wish to visit the sculpture of Hercules the Bear. Hercules was a grizzly who was being used in the filming of an advert and escaped in 1980, roaming the Outer Hebrides for 24 days before being recaptured. Back on the main trail, continue until it reaches a parking area and the main road beyond.

Stage 8

Cross the modern road and head onto the old road just beyond, turning right along it. This runs parallel to the main road and spares you the traffic for much of the rest of this stage. There are good views over Loch a' Bharpa and Loch na Moracha. After a little over 1km the main road is rejoined fairly briefly.

Stage 9

After 400m go left again into a works entrance. The route heads to the right of a quarry, descends steps and then climbs again beyond to reach another section of older main road. This diverges further from the modern route and provides attractive walking before coming alongside it. The main road is rejoined again after just under 4km. Follow it once more until just after Loch na Geireann. Here a marker indicates where to climb the left bank to join another stretch of old road. This rejoins the main route shortly before the road junction with the A865 is reached, on the edge of Lochmaddy. The Hebridean Way turns left here for the next stage (Lochmaddy to Berneray), whilst the shops and accommodation of Lochmaddy are reached by detouring to the right for around 1km.

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