walks
Great Bernera offers a variety of walking trails that showcase our island’s natural beauty and historical sites. Here is a selection of some of the more notable walks you can enjoy. Details of each walk are underneath the location map.
BERNERA CIRCULAR WALK
A stunning circular walk around part of Great Bernera, including a visit to the Iron Age House at Bosta Beach.
Category: Moderate
Walking Distance: 12km / 7.5 miles
Time: Allow 4.5 hours
Download a pdf of this route courtesy of Visit Outer Hebrides
Tip #1: The final part of the route (marked ‘5’ on the map) involves walking along the main road. If you have access to two vehicles, leave one at Bosta Beach and start the walk from the Community Centre in Breaclete.
Tip #2: Do the walk in the morning to have time to enjoy lunch in the Community Cafè.
THE NORSE MILL
A gentle walk to a restored Norse Mill, giving stunning views over Bernera and across to the west side of Lewis.
Category: Easy
Walking Distance: 3km / 2 miles
Time: Allow one hour
Park at the Community Centre and head to the War Memorial. Go over the cattle grid and follow the road around the loch. Where the road splits, turn right and keep walking until you reach the house at the end (The Ard). In front of the house you’ll see a signpost to the Norse Mill. Cross the stile and take the path along the left side of the house. A waymarked track crosses occasionally boggy moorland, climbing a little and then descending towards the south end of a loch, where the mill is located.
For more information about this walk see here.
DUN BHARABHAT
A pleasant walk across moorland to a dun (also known as a broch) located on a small island in the freshwater Loch Bharabhat.
Category: Easy to Moderate
Walking Distance: 3km / 2 miles
Time: Allow 1.5 hours
Park at the cattle grid located halfway between the bridge and Breaclete. Across the road a signpost points to the way. Go over the stile and follow the waymarkers westwards until you reach Loch Bharabhat. The dun can be observed from the top of the hill before you reach the loch, or from the water’s edge. In summer, when water levels are low, a causeway is uncovered, allowing access to the dun with dry feet.
For more information about this walk see here.
CONOSTOM
A slightly more strenuous walk in Tir Mor which reaches an elevation of 256m and gives spectacular views over Great Bernera and beyond.
Category: Moderate to Challenging
Walking Distance: 4km / 2.5 miles
Time: Allow 3 hours
Park in the layby a little way south of Lundale. Cross the road and head towards the river gorge. Climb over the sheep fence and follow the river upstream. Keep heading westwards, passing some shielings and a couple of lochs, until the peak of Conostom comes into view. The final part of this walk is steep and rocky. Return by the same route or via the northern section of the hill.
For more information about this walk see here.