📌 Isle of Scalpay, Isle of Harris
★★★
Seemingly isolated, Scalpay turns out to be an island with attitude, connected to the rest of Harris by a new bridge and with a population of a few hundred – quite a lot for these parts. The Scalpay Heritage Trail runs around most of the island, with wooden posts marking out a varied route past lochs, hills, a photogenic lighthouse and the main village. Despite waymarkers, a map of the route is nearly essential; the path is faint, and the posts were just far enough apart for us to start wondering if we were going the right way once or twice. We highly recommend the North Harbour Bistro in the village (and on the walk route) for locally caught, posh nosh. Booking strongly advised in high season!
📷 Chronological photo guide
Loch an Dùin 
Moorland & marker post 
Climbing above the loch 
Beautiful views of North Harris from parts of the trail 
Beinn Sgorabhaig 
Lochan near Eilean Glas lighthouse 
Eilean Glas lighthouse 
Heading west along the island’s south coast 
Climbing away from the shore 
Bàgh Ceann na Muice 
Lochan near Ceann na Bhàigh 
Rejoining the road 
Coastal inlet 
Sun setting over Àird Adhanais 
Sunday observance regulations 
Approaching the village 
Scalpay village 
Lunch at North Harbour Bistro 
Scalpay Bridge – not on the route, but you’ll drive across it on the way to the start
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish on minor road in Scalpay village, Scalpay
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NG 215968
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 57.873250,-6.698924
🚌 Bus to Scalpay village
🚗 Street parking
📝 Key info
▶ 10 km / 6 mi | ▲ 200 m | ⌛ 3 hr
Features: 💧 Loch an Dùin; △ Beinn Sgorabhaig (104 m); 🌊 Eilean Glas lighthouse; 🌊 Scalpay coastline & village
⬤ Moderate | Mostly waymarked path (numbered in reverse, i.e. anticlockwise) – but marker posts are widely spaced and path often very faint, with frequent ascents and some bog. Minor road return.
Download file for GPS➡️ Clockwise circuit: start & Scalpay village – join track at 🧭 NG 220968 – north then east side of Loch an Dùin – Beinn Sgorabhaig – Eilean Glas lighthouse – Lag na Làire – join road at 🧭 NG 232950 – start via minor road
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Sheep & lambs, rabbits, chickens.
Weather: Evening sunshine, quite windy.
May 2018
