About
**Note the Diversion on this part of the route**
Height Climbed: 111m / 366ft
Height Descended: 113m / 372ft
Terrain: 6.5 miles on good paths or tracks; 2.5 miles on rough, pathless moorland, 5 miles on tarmac roads, mostly quiet single track; 2 miles on pavement from Creagorry to Liniclate.
After two days of magical walking along the beaches of South Uist, now it is time to sample the island’s wilder east coast.
The Ordnance Survey map of this area looks alarming – a water-logged world of impassable lochs and bogs. Fear not, however, for considerable stretches of good new path and some spectacular bridges lead you through a breathtakingly beautiful landscape. Ruined duns (ancient castles) sit on tiny islands in freshwater lochs, the South Uist hills reflecting on the blue waters. Where the paths disappear plentiful wooden marker posts guide you on a dry(ish) route over the wet ground. This is wild and lonely country where there is more wildlife than humans. Look out for golden eagles soaring overhead and listen for the plaintive three note call of the greenshank.
The day ends by crossing the causeway onto the island of Benbecula, where several shops, plentiful accommodation and even two hotels bring you back to civilisation.
Map & Directions
- From Howmore head north on an obvious track that makes its way between the croft fields.
- The church on your right belongs to the Church of Scotland, one of the few protestant churches on this predominately Catholic island.
- At Drimsdale turn right through a gate and onto a tarmac road.
- On your right you will see the remains of Caisteal Bheagram, a 15th Century fortified tower sitting on a small island in the loch. It probably occupies the site of former Iron Age broch.
- Cross the main road, go through a kissing gate and onto a pleasant grassy track.
- A good surfaced path takes you around the edge of the loch.
- After crossing a fine new bridge the surfaced path disappears. Wooden marker posts show the way across the heather moorland.
- Eventually the path reaches a tarmac road. Turn left here, saying hello to the Shetland ponies that are often to be found at this spot.
- Turn right at the junction with main road.
- Above the road is a statue of Our Lady of the Isles. created by the Scottish sculptor Hew Lorimer in 1957.
- A little further on the route turns right up a small road that leads to the Hebrides Range radar station. This obvious golf ball structure monitors missiles launched from the nearby range. The range is an important local employer is a major training base for NATO personnel gaining experience in the use of anti-aircraft missiles.
- 50m up this road an obvious new path leads off to the right towards a kissing gate in the fence. Go through this and follow the path onto the moor.
- The well made path heads east into a little visited part of South Uist.
- Cross the outflow of Loch Bee on a new bridge. Look out for some of the many Mute Swans which live on this brackish freshwater loch.
- After the bridge the path disappears. Use the frequent wooden marker posts to guide you through this wet and boggy terrain.
- An impressive new bridge takes you across another wide and deep outflow from Loch Bee.
- This is rough, wet ground - ecologists refer to this type of terrain as blanket bog - so the walking can be quite strenuous. The waymarker posts continue to show the way.
- Eventually a good surfaced path is reached which will lead you to the three huge wind turbines that have been visible throughout this section. South Uist is one of the windiest places in Europe and these community owned turbines provide invaluable revenue to support the fragile local economy.
- Follow the wind farm access track down to the road.
- On reaching the road turn left.
- After 200m turn right onto an obvious rough track.
- Before a house is reached follow the marker posts as they thread a route through the very wet ground to the small road beyond.
- Turn left at the small road.
- On reaching the main road cross over and follow a small single track lane that runs parallel to the main road. The lane passes a small supermarket.
- Turn left at the junction and follow the road a short distance to Lionacleit. Here there are several B&Bs, a Hotel, a campsite and the high school for the whole of the Uists.
Along This Route
Our Lady of the Isles is a statue of the Madonna and Child by sculptor Hew Lorimer.…
Along This Route
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