Officially opened in 2017, the Hebridean Way walking and cycling route invites enthusiasts of all ages to experience the beauty, history, culture and wildlife of Scotland’s Outer Hebrides first-hand.
A waymarked route that stretches for nearly 200 miles across 10 Hebridean islands, the Hebridean Way promises the adventure of a lifetime. Starting in Vatersay and working north through Barra, Eriskay, South Uist, Benbecula, Grimsay, North Uist and Berneray, before finally finishing in Harris and Lewis, it’s the best way for keen walkers and cyclists to experience the Outer Hebrides. Suitable for most fit and healthy folk, it can be completed in a few days or drawn-out over a fortnight.
If you’re interested in walking or cycling the whole Hebridean Way or picking up shorter sections during a holiday, then you can choose from two separate routes designated for each. Comprised of multi-surfaced trails through rugged hills, along Atlantic coastline, across deep peat and isolated moorland and more, every stretch boasts its own unique beauty that you can enjoy with booted feet or on two wheels. However far you choose to roam, you’ll be able to experience the stunning scenery, mesmeric wildlife and rich history that’s synonymous with this part of the world.
Walking the Hebridean Way
Walking the Hebridean Way offers hikers and amblers the chance to cover the length of the Hebrides archipelago. Spanning 156 miles, it crosses ten islands and six causeways and includes two ferry crossings too. Right from the start, it rewards walkers with an incredible array of landscapes, starting in Vatersay, the Outer Hebrides' most southerly inhabited islands, and working northwards all the way to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. And, in recognition (perhaps defiance) of these ever-changing terrains, you’ll find the path beneath your feet changes as often as the scenery, sometimes leading you across white sands, sometimes across gravel tracks and sometimes across raised turfed paths.
Cycling the Hebridean Way
The islands of the Outer Hebrides have understandably been a tempting destination for cyclists for many years, lured by the quiet roads, unhurried pace of life, amazing views and challenging peaks. If you’re really keen, then you can set yourself a challenge of covering the route as quickly as possible, like cyclist Mark Beaumont who completed the whole thing in just 24 hours in 2016. That said, we think it’s better to take your time, cycling part, or all, of the 185-mile trail over a number of days. Cruising along, you’ll be able to make the most of the incredible sights – from pristine beaches with turquoise seas to wildflower-peppered machair to brooding mountains. And, if you’re worried about going off-piste, you needn’t be as like the Hebridean Way walking trail, the cycle route is well signposted along the way. That said, you should always carry a map with you so you can plot your progress and plan stops and detours to make the most of the scenery.
Feeling inspired? Take a look at our luxury cottages on the Isle of Skye and the Isle of Mull.
