L2L Day 83 Castlebay to Tangasdal - 8.5 miles

The wonderful view from the shower this morning.


Another glorious morning - a gentle breeze and warm sunshine.


The first challenge of the day was to catch the bus to the southernmost island of Vatersay - there seemed to be a question as to whether it'd be running at all as a local mum had told Sally that because of Scotland's victory in the opening match of the World Cup, the Scottish Govt had granted a second bank Holiday to allow for everyone's two-day hang-over. The shop was closed, the Post Office was closed.....


Fortunately, the bus did arrive and dropped us off at the official start of the Hebridean Way.


As we walked towards the sandunes we had our first sight of the machair - a grassy area awash with flowers - one of the sights for which Barra is renowned. 



Apparently the crushed shells in the sand produce a lime rich soil which the plants love.

The beaches on both sides of the isthmus were a delight. 








Unfortunately we disturbed a Lapwing on the way but fortunately not for long.


After a visit to the community run cafe we set off on the day's walk - back along the road to the causeway linking Vatersay and Barra.


The causeway was only built in 1990 after one of Vatersay's prize bulls - Bernie, drowned while being swum across to market on Barra.


I've never seen a corrugated iron privy with a slate roof before.

or a bus stop at the end of the world....




A Vatersay local...Black Hebridean sheep...


and some of the other local ladies in a state of deshabile!!!!


Safely across the causeway, the trail left the road and climbed steeply to 1000ft with great views to the East and South. 


There were so many flowers, it was hard to know where to place your foot to avoid standing on an orchid, bog cotton, a tormentill, a lousewort or any of the other lovely flowers high up on the hillside.






In addition to trying to avoid the flowers, we were trying to avoid disturbing the Golden Plovers who were plaintively defending their nests. 



An afternoon of quite some responsibility!!!

We found a sheltered space for a sandwich just over the top and facing out to the horizon.


Then a steep drop down to Aird na Graegaig


and a walk across a white sand beach to our hotel at Tangasdal.


With such a beautiful sandy beach, we couldn't resist a dip in the North Atlantic .....and at 11 degrees it was cold but not too painful.



Nothing that a hot shower didn't remedy before supper and a wee dram of The Singleton. Very good too! 

Comments

  1. Robin16 June 2026 at 09:54

    So you are already in the islands?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jill and Neil20 June 2026 at 23:10

    The Outer Hebrides look wonderful! A different world from the mainland. It looks like you’ve gone to a different country.

    ReplyDelete

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