This excellent walk heads out to the westernmost point of South Uist, a grassy peninsula with a loch at its heart and vast beaches stretching off both north and south. The walk visits some interesting archaeological remains and is alive with sea and coastal birds.
Bog Factor
Mostly grassy track and peninsula; some shingle.
St Mary's RC Church, Bornais.
None to start.
NF732297
Take the Bornais minor road off the A865 next to the Re-Store shop and keep straight on when the main branch of the road bends to the right. There is plenty of parking at St Mary's RC Church on the left at the end of the tarmac. Begin the walk by turning left out of the car park to follow the track across the machair.
Soon the track crosses a cattle grid. On the left just beyond is a gate leading to a panel giving information on the Viking settlements which have been excavated on the machair in this area and were amongst the largest in Scotland. These included a major hall which would have been the home of an important Viking lord and his family. At a track junction keep straight ahead. The track crosses to the other side of a fence at another cattle grid.
The track soon reaches the headland. Cross the concrete breakwater that keeps Loch Aird a'Mhuile, on the right from the sea, on the left. Soon you will pass Dun Mhulan, an early Iron Age broch. This was once a tower-like house; the slabs in the entrance are actually the roof of what would have been the original entrance at a lower level. It was abandoned by the time of the Viking settlements.
Continue to the trig point that stands at the most westerly part of South Uist. The walk shown on our map returns around the pathless north side of the freshwater loch, crossing stones for a time; however during the nesting season (April - July) you should return the same way via the track to avoid disturbing the birds - including arctic terns. Please obey any signs. If outside the nesting season, a fence is eventually reached. Don't go through the gate but cross the end of the fence at the shore and continue ahead to the left of the fence. The grassy hillocks on the right are where the main archaeological remains were unearthed.
Continue on a faint path with good views to the long stretch of beach sweeping away to the north. This would provide a fine extension to the walk, perhaps returning inland via Caisteal Ormacleite. To continue the shorter route stay on the coast until a dip with a farm gate in it and turn right to go through the gate and cross the field to return to the track used on the outward route. Turn left to return to the church at the start.
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