TOP 10 OUTER HEBRIDES BEACHES
The Outer Hebrides island chain runs from Lewis in the north to Barra in the south , each island peppered with stunning white-sand beaches . Here are ten of our favourite finds :
Huisinish , Harris Our top pick , partly because of its isolation but also its perfect south-facing arc of glorious sand . It ’ s probably the easiest and best swimming beach but , as with all the beaches here , check the weather and the tides carefully .
Bosta , Great Bernera A stunner and remarkably tranquil despite its westerly aspect . Watch out for white-tailed eagles on the lookout for a fish supper .
Port Stoth , Lewis Small , quiet bay protected by cliffs and perfect for a Hebridean training swim , so you can test your wetsuit and your tolerance for cold water in relative safety and isolation .
Luskentyre , Harris A great arc of sand sweeping around a dune headland and , at low tide , reaching across a tidal estuary to join neighbouring white-sand beach Seilebost .
Eoropie , Lewis Wild , windswept and safer to walk and admire than to swim . Best experienced on a windy day when you can get a sense of the force of the North Atlantic .
Tràigh Griais , Lewis A vast expanse of sand backed with dunes about a 20-minute drive north of Stornoway . Also known as Gress Beach . Expect birds in the dunes , horse-riders on the sand and wild swimmers braving the sea .
Tràigh Iar , North Uist Just north of the community of Sollas , Tràigh Iar is a swimmer ’ s delight on a calm day but when the swell is pumping in from the North Atlantic it ’ s a surfer ’ s paradise .
West Beach , Berneray This five-kilometre beach , backed by grassy dunes with rare wild orchids , was in Lonely Planet ’ s Top 20 best beaches in Europe in 2021 . A ferry runs from Leverburgh on Harris but if you don ’ t want to be restricted by sailing times , access Berneray via the causeway from North Uist island to the south .
Eriskay , Eriskay This beach is protected by a small reef , which makes it good for swimming on calmer days . To refuel after a dip , drop into the AM Politician pub for fish and chips . The pub is named after the ship that ran aground near here in 1941 laden with barrels of whisky , which the islanders promptly salvaged , creating one of Scotland ’ s most-told stories and the basis for the film Whisky Galore !
Tràigh Mhòr , Barra A pretty curve of sand that doubles as the low-tide runway for the Loganair flights to and from the mainland and other islands . H
PHOTO : NILS LEONHARDT ; UNSPLASH
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