Cicerone Guides: The Hebrides 50 Walking and Backpacking Routes

About this book

Inspirational guidebook to walking in Scotland's Hebrides islands. 50 adventurous walks on well-known and remote islands; from Syke, Mull, Rum, the Uists and Barra, Ulva, Iona, Eigg and Muck and more besides. Most of the walks provide a full day for experienced walkers, with a few multi-day adventures as well as some shorter routes. The terrain is often rough, rugged and pathless, while waymarking and public transport can, in many places, be hard to find. The challenge of wild walking, and the self-reliance needed to discover the best of the Hebrides, make the islands all the more appealing for adventurous walkers.

The walks also include Hebrides classics, like the Skye and Rum Cuillins, the Paps of Jura and full circuits of smaller islands. Each walk combines clear route description with mapping and spectacular photography, while also advising on the route's facilities, public transport access, length and terrain. The result is a collection of the very best walks with which to uncover the wild and rugged beauty of the Hebrides.

Contents

Introduction
Geology
History
People, language and culture
Wildlife
Plants and flowers
Getting to the islands
Getting around
When to go
Access, camping and bothies
Safety and emergencies
What to take
Maps and route-finding
Mountain weather
River crossing
Biting beasties
Using this guide

The routes
Islay
Walk 1 Rhuvaal and northwest coast
Walk 2 An Cladach and Beinn Bheigier
Walk 3 Ardnave Point
Jura
Walk 4 The west coast of Jura
Walk 5 The Paps of Jura
Walk 6 Ardlussa to Corpach Bay and Tràigh a’ Mhiadair
Walk 7 Evans’ Walk to Glenbatrick Bay (and return)
Scarba
Walk 8 Cruach Scarba
Colonsay
Walk 9 South Colonsay Coast and Oronsay
Walk 10 Lower Kilchattan to Kiloran Bay
The Garvellachs
Walk 11 Garbh Eileach
Mull
Walk 12 Ben More
Walk 13 Beinn Talaidh via Glen Forsa
Walk 14 Carsaig Arches
Walk 15 Dùn da Ghaoithe
Ulva
Walk 16 Ormaig and the south side
Iona
Walk 17 Around Iona
Coll
Walk 18 Coll’s western tip
Tiree
Walk 19 Around the coast of east Tiree
Walk 20 Tiree’s west coast and three highest points
Rum
Walk 21 A Round of the Rum Cuillin
Walk 22 Kinloch to Harris Bay around the coast
Walk 23 The Guirdil Horseshoe
Eigg
Walk 24 An Sgùrr and Grulin
Canna
Walk 25 Around the coast of Canna
Muck
Walk 26 Gallanach Bay and Beinn Arien
Skye
Walk 27 The Beinn Deargs
Walk 28 Marsco
Walk 29 Blà Bheinn
Walk 30 Elgol to Camasunary
Walk 31 Loch Coruisk
Walk 32 Bruach na Frithe
Walk 33 Glen Ollisdal, Idrigill Point and Macleod’s Maidens
Walk 34 The Trotternish Ridge traverse
Raasay
Walk 35 Dùn Caan, Hallaig and the southern coast
Barra
Walk 36 The Barra watershed
South Uist
Walk 37 Hecla, Beinn Mhòr and South Uist’s wild east coast
North Uist
Walk 38 Eaval
Walk 39 Around the Udal peninsula
Berneray
Walk 40 Around Berneray
Harris and Lewis
Walk 41 Roineabhal and Rodel
Walk 42 The Clisham Horseshoe
Walk 43 North Harris mountains and moorland wilderness backpack
Walk 44 Huiseabhal Mòr, Oireabhal and Huiseabhal Beag
Walk 45 Circuit of Tòdun from Urgha
Walk 46 The Uig Hills
Walk 47 Uig Hills and coast backpack
Walk 48 West side coastal path
Walk 49 Tolstadh to Port Nis heritage walk
St Kilda
Walk 50 The hills and sea cliffs of Hirta
 
Appendix A Route summary table
Appendix B Glossary
Appendix C Useful contacts
Appendix D Further reading

Customer Reviews

Biography

Peter Edwards grew up in Sussex and nurtured a love of walking and mountain biking amid the hills of the South Downs. Since moving to Scotland in 2006, he has developed a passion for the Hebrides and takes every opportunity to get out among the islands. He lives in Glasgow with his wife, Fiona, and Dougal the Labrador.