The Isle of Great Bernera is a beautiful little island in the Outer Hebrides, located off the coast of the Isle of Lewis. It’s home to one the most beautiful beaches on the Outer Hebrides, Bosta Beach. An island where you find Highland Cattle roaming freely. And if you need some fuel, you will visit one of the most remote petrol stations ever!
There are many different ways to see and enjoy what the island has to offer. However, personally, I feel the best way to see the true beauty of Great Bernera is on foot!
Walking the full island on foot can be foot can be quite a distance, despite the island only being small. So on here, I’ve put together a slightly shorter route. A route that leads you over the tops of the rolling hills, and gives you real feel of what the island has to offer.
The route is a 5-mile-long circular. The path that leads you over the hills can be hard to navigate at times, and can be very boggy and muddy after a lot of rainfall. Please make sure you are wearing the correct footwear and know how to read and navigate with a map.
Location
The walk starts and finishes at Bosta Beach, the north end of the Isle of Great Bernera.
Parking
There is a car park at Bosta Beach, where the walk starts from. The car park does have toilets, and if you are in a Camper Van, you are allowed to stay the night, as long as you respect the area.
The Route
Follow this map as you walk the route, and you shouldn’t get lost! Make sure your location is turned on and you should be able to see exactly where you are on this map. Or if you prefer, download the GPX file and use it on your choice of route tracker.
Walk the route anti-clockwise and look out for post markers along the way, marking the route!
1.
Starting from the Bosta Beach car park, take the path at the bottom end of the car park, signposted to Bosta Beach. The path will lead you past Bosta Cemetery, and down to the beautiful beach.
2.
After you’ve enjoyed a short wander along Bosta Beach, take a path leading off to your right-hand side, signposted to the Iron Age House. The path will lead you around the opposite side of Bosta Cemetery. Follow the path until you reach the Iron Age House.
If the Iron Age House is open on your visit, you can pay a small fee to go inside!
3.
From the Iron Age House, continue along the path, as it leads you through a gate, and up over the hilltops. Eventually, you reach a little summit cairn. Here, on a clear day, you can see incredible views over the Isle of Lewis!
Please keep an eye out for wooden market posts along the way, so you don’t get lost!
4.
From the summit cairn, follow the path as it leads you off the tops, until you reach a road.
The path along this section was not very clear. Please keep a close eye on your map so you don’t get lost!
5.
At the road, turn towards your left-hand side, and follow the road for a very short distance, until you reach a road junction.
6.
At the road junction, take the road going off to your right-hand side. Very shortly, you should see a footpath going off to your left-hand side.
7.
Take the footpath and follow it as it leads you around the Loch and to a farmhouse.
8.
From the farmhouse, follow the lane until you reach the road.
9.
At the road, turn towards your right-hand side, and follow the road for a little while. Eventually, you will reach a road junction.
10.
At the road junction, turn to your left-hand side, and follow the road back to Bosta Beach Car Park, where you started the walk.
Further Reading
Enjoyed this walk? Why not check out some of my other walks in the Outer Hebrides: Outer Hebrides
If you would like to be notified when any new travel guides goes live, straight to your inbox, please subscribe here:
(don’t forget to check your junkbox for the confirmation e-mail!)
