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Hebridean Way Cycling Route Section B: Daliburgh to Clachan

Add Hebridean Way Cycling Route Section B: Daliburgh to Clachan to your Itinerary

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About

From Daliburgh the route remains on the main road and then at Bornish the route once again turns west towards the machair through the vilage of Stoneybridge and rejoins the main road at Peninerine. The route then follows the main road across the causeway to Benbecula and follows the stunning and very flat west coast of Benbecula, through the main administrative centre of Balivanich and then over the causeway to Grimsay. The route from the causeway at Grimsay follows the main road to Clachan, North Uist.

SOUTH UIST 

Just north of Daliburgh, look out for the birthplace of Flora MacDonald – the woman who famously helped Bonnie Prince Charlie evade capture  and the nearby museum of the South Uist Historical Society, which has a collection of local archaeological and historical artefacts - and perhaps more importantly, a cafe. Soon the route again loops out onto the machair, passing the ruins of Ormiclate Castle.  

Back on the main road, the route heads north through the watery landscape of South Uist including a wonderful stretch of causeway across the vast expanse of Loch Bee, which is home to one of the largest congregations of mute swans in Scotland. Just before you get the causeway to Benbecula, there is the Salar Smokehouse about a mile or so down the road to the right and just up on the left, about a mile through the village of Iochdar is the Hebridean Jewellery Cafe overlooking the beach. 

BENBECULA 

In Gaelic, Benbecula means the ‘mountain of the ford’ and it's solitary hill, Rueval, is not exactly high. Once, crossing to the Uists meant fording the dangerous stretches of sands at low tide, but today the islands are connected by a series of causeways.

Balivanich is the main administrative centre of this busy island, whose population is boosted by people who service the nearby missile testing range. Lovats Supermarket and Stepping Stones cafe, as well as a bank, takeaway and MacGillivrary's Pit Stop gift and information shop can all be found here and nearby Charlies Bistro. But away from the main centre, there is plenty to see. Immediately after the causeway across South Ford there is a supermarket and the Isle of Benbecula House hotel – and soon after the turn for Balivanich, a museum and the Dark Island Hotel, before you reach the machair and some fine beaches that are close to the road. The deeply incut beach at Culla provides good shelter from any wind and feels isolated despite being close to the main centre of population.

GRIMSAY

If you want to visit the rugged east coast with its many sea lochs, turn right after the first section of the causeway across the North Ford and ride the 5 mile (9km) circuit around Grimsay. It is not strictly on The Hebridean Way Cycling Route, but it is well worth making a detour to visit the busy little harbour at Kallin, at the eastern end of the island, which is an important fishing base for shellfish. Uist Wool is a great stop off and the Boatshed, a marine repair facility, promotes traditional boat-building skills and has a small museum. There are also a couple of cafes.

NORTH UIST

Carnish at the southern tip of North Uist has you will find the Temple View Hotel, with a view of ruins of Teampall na Trianaid, an important pre-Reformation church and site of learning that predates any of the more famous Scottish universities.  As you cycle northwards towards Clachan, look out across the flat tidal island of Baleshare to see the Monach Islands, which was home to a sizable population in the 18th century but have been uninhabited since 1942.

Map & Directions

Route Waypoints
  1. At the junction at the Borrodale hotel, turn left.
  2. The birthplace of the famous Flora MacDonald is to the left
  3. Kildonan Museum, cafe and craft shop to the right.
  4. Turn left here to follow the route along the coast
  5. Turn left here
  6. Turn left here to rejoin the main road.
  7. Our Lady of the Isles statue to the right
  8. The route follows the road straight. Salar Smokehouse and Orasay Inn are down the road to the right
  9. Hebridean Jewellery Cafe Pit Stop is down the road to the left. The route is straight on
  10. South Ford causeway. You have just completed island 4, another 6 to go!
  11. Benbecula, Island 5. Supermarket to the left
  12. Isle of Benbecula House Hotel Pit Stop on the right
  13. Turn left here to follow the rout along the west coast of Benbecula
  14. Dark Island Hotel Pit Stop, Museum nan Eilean, Liniclate Swiming Pool and Showers and Liniclate beach to left
  15. Culla bay beach to the left
  16. Lovats Supermarket and Uist and Barra Hospital nearby
  17. Stepping Stones restaurant, Airport and MacGillivrays Shop Pit Stop nearby
  18. Turn right for Charlies Bistro
  19. MacLeans Bakery to the left
  20. Turn left here to join the main road
  21. North Ford causeway to Grimsay, island 6. You have just completed island 5, 5 to go!
  22. The main route is straight on, but the road to the right will take you on a loop round Grimsay. Uist Wool is based in Grimsay - a spinning mill and wool centre - which is well worth a stop off. Also a cafe and canteen.
  23. Causeway to North Uist, island 7. You have just completed island 6, 4 to go!
  24. Moorcroft Campsite to the left
  25. Temple View Hotel nearby on the right
  26. End of Section B at Clachan, North Uist. Shoreline Stoneware Pit Stop, nearby. Worth heading to Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum and Art Centre in Lochmaddy.

Along This Route

  1. Learn about the South Uists local history at Kildonan Museum through stories, artefacts…

  2. The famous Flora MacDonald’s Birthplace is in the village of Milton, on the west side of…

  3. Tobha Mòr has been an important ecclesiastical centre since early medieval times.

  1. On the west side, in the village of Ormiclate is Ormiclate Castle which stands in ruins…

  2. Our Lady of the Isles is a statue of the Madonna and Child by sculptor Hew Lorimer.…

  3. Loch Druidibeag is a National Nature Reserve where colourful grassland on the coast…

  4. Along the west coast of South Uist is an approx. 20 mile strip of stunning white beach…

  5. Along the west coast of South Uist is an approx. 20 mile strip of stunning white beach…

  6. Along the west coast of South Uist is an approx. 20 mile strip of stunning white beach…

  7. Along the west coast of South Uist is an approx. 20 mile strip of stunning white beach…

  8. Caisteal Bheagram is a ruin of a 15th/16th Century tower,

  9. Along the west coast of South Uist is an approx. 20 mile strip of stunning white beach…

  10. Along the west coast of South Uist is an approx. 20 mile strip of stunning white beach…

  11. Along the west coast of South Uist is an approx. 20 mile strip of stunning white beach…

  12. Along the west coast of South Uist is an approx. 20 mile strip of stunning white beach…

  13. Culla bay beach is a stunning white sandy beach and can be accessed from Nunton or Aird.

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Along This Route

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Route Guides

Route Time -

5h - 6h

Distance -

37 miles

Grade -

Easy

Terrain -

Other

  • Route Information - Terrain - Single and Double Track Road

Route Type -

Cycle

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