Walking on Uist and Barra: 40 coast, moorland and mountain walks on all the isles of Uist and Barra

This guide offers 40 walking routes on the Uists and Barra - a unique 100km cluster of islands in Scotland's Outer Hebrides. The walks are varied and graded, from short, flat beach walks beside crystal clear waters to long excursions across wild mountainous terrain, the routes visit all the major islands from Berneray to Vatersay but also those smaller and offshore such as Eriskay and Mingulay. Routes are described in four sections, by area, and illustrated with vivid colour photographs and OS mapping. Walking across these landscapes, especially the hill country, gives a sense of remoteness and peaceful solitude that cannot be found in the mainland's National Parks or on the Munros busy with peak baggers. Despite a relatively narrow area, Uist and Barra's diverse islands offer a contrasting walking terrain and many ancient historic sites such as chambered cairns and standing stones as well as lots of local wildlife. Upland areas are home to red deer and golden and white-tailed eagles, while along the coast grey seals are common and thousands of birds set up their breeding grounds in the machair. Daily flights between Glasgow and Benbecula as well as the ferry network mean that all of the islands are readily accessible.

Table of Contents:
Regional overview map Map showing areas covered by each chapter Introduction Geology and geomorphology History Plants and wildlife Transport Accommodation and facilities Safety Access Using the guide 1 North Uist Walk 1.1 Berneray (Beàrnaraigh) Walk 1.2 Udal Walk 1.3 Crògearraidh Mòr Walk 1.4 Lochportain Walk 1.5 Lì a Tuath and Lì a Deas Walk 1.6 Langais Walk 1.7 Burabhal Eabhal Walk 1.8 Eabhal from Loch Euphort Walk 1.9 Eabhal from Cladach Chairinis Walk 1.10 Grimsay (Griomasaigh) Walk 1.11 Scolpaig Walk 1.12 Hogha Gearraidh and Hosta Walk 1.13 Balranald Nature Reserve Walk 1.14 Baleshare (Baile Sear) 2 Benbecula Walk 2.1 Borgh Walk 2.2 Culla Bay Walk 2.3 Ròisinis Walk 2.4 Ruabhal 3 South Uist Walk 3.1 Loch Sgioport Walk 3.2 Uisinis lighthouse and Nicolson's Leap Walk 3.3 The Northern Corries of Thacla Walk 3.4 The Three Peaks Beinn Mhòr Walk 3.5 Beinn Mhòr from Sniseabhal Walk 3.6 Beinn Mhòr from Taobh a Tuath Loch Aineort Walk 3.7 Taobh a Tuath Loch Aineort Walk 3.8 Stulaigh Walk 3.9 Gleann Dail bho Dheas Walk 3.10 Eriskay (Eirisgeigh) Machair Way Walk 3.11 Tobha Mòr Walk 3.12 Aisgernis/Cladh Hàlainn 4 Barra Walk 4.1 Barra's northern peninsular Walk 4.2 Cliaid Walk 4.3 Allathasdal Barra's central hills Walk 4.4 The Barra Watershed Walk 4.5 Barra's highest hills Walk 4.6 Central Barra Walk 4.7 Dùn Bàn Walk 4.8 Dùn Bàn and Beinn Tangabhal Walk 4.9 Vatersay (Bhatarsaigh) Walk 4.10 Mingulay (Miùghlaigh) Appendix A Glossary of Gaelic and Norse terms Appendix B Route summary table Appendix C Further reading Appendix D Useful information

About the Author :
Mike Townsend's love of hills and wild places began when, as a teenager, he spent walking holidays in the Lake District and Snowdonia. He moved to the Outer Hebrides in 1980 to work as a Geography teacher on Barra, and relocated to Uist in 1988. He has spent prolonged periods exploring the hills and coastlines of the islands, particularly the more remote and unfrequented areas.