Climbing in the Outer Hebrides

Uig Sea Cliffs

The Outer Hebrides has a growing reputation as a climbing destination, with many routes added over recent years.  Given we are a group of islands, we are particularly famous for cliff-climbing especially on the West Coast of Lewis around Mangersta, with the waves of the Atlantic adding to the atmosphere beneath you, as you get to grips with the Lewissian Gneiss, one of the oldest rocks on the planet.

Sròn Uladail and the North Harris Hills

Away from the coast the hills of North Harris provide some spectacular routes, in particular Sròn Uladail, one of the most famous overhangs in the UK.  The ascent by Tim Emmett and Dave MacLeod of this iconic crag in 2010 was live-streamed on the BBC and remains one of their most famous outside broadcasts, with all the action taking place an hour's walk from the nearest road.  Contact the Scaladale Centre to learn more about climbing in the North Harris Hills. 

The Bishop Islands

The Bishop Islands, south of Barra, particularly Pabbay and Mingulay are popular for climbing expeditions and St Kilda, 40 miles out into the Atlantic has the UK's highest sea-cliffs. Climbing in either location requires formal permission.

The growing popularity of climbing led the Scottish Mountaineering Club to publish a guidebook to all the Climbing Opportunities in 2018.  Click on the image to buy a copy

Climbing Wall

To perfect your technique, or for those rare days when the weather prevents you from getting out in the hills, there is a 10-metre climbing wall in the Ionad Spòrs Leòdhais (Lewis Sports Centre) in Stornoway