Exploring Berneray : Sùil air Beàrnaraigh

Things to do on Berneray

Despite being a relatively small island, there is a lot to do. Consequently, many visitors extend their stay to explore the island more, or to participate in some of the local events.

A detailed guide to visiting and exploring Berneray is available for downloading in PDF format.

Things to do on Berneray include:

Walking. This is the best way to get around Berneray; just about everywhere you go on the island has views of the machair, beaches, islands and/or wildlife. There is a walk defined with blue waymarker posts, which takes in a circular route covering the northern half of the island. Alternately, you can combine some pleasant single-track road walking with nearly all of the west beach to make a walk suitable for most weather and ground conditions.

Boats and boat trips. The fishing harbour is the main hub of sailing activity on the island, where you can watch boats come in and out and land catches. The fishermen are often glad to answer questions and explain how things work. From the harbour, you can also be a passenger on boat trips around the Sound of Harris and to other islands, or yacht excursions to island groups further away. Alternately, Berneray Boat Club run short trips, teaching people to sail, in a traditional Hebridean boat.

Investigating history. The Nurse's Cottage is open most days during the summer. The cottage contains historical pictures and other materials and is manned by residents who have a detailed knowledge of the island. You might also want to explore some of the historical sites and buildings on the island.

Ceilidhs, talks and social events. The social scene in Berneray is a mixture of ceilidhs, talks and presentations, sales of work, dinners and all manner of other indoor and outdoor activities. Some of these, such as Berneray Week, happen in July, but events take place at all times of the year.

Get active. The Sound of Harris, and Berneray in particular, are a magnet for people who enjoy outdoor sports, especially on the sea. The beaches of Berneray provide a number of easy access points to the sea. Surfing, windsurfing, paragliding, canoeing and kayaking are commonly sighted activities through most of the year.

Observing flora and fauna. Though only a few square miles in size, the island of Berneray is abundant in birds, flowers, plants, farm animals and sea life. Part of this abundance is due to the farming practises employed on the machair; part is also due to the lack of aggressive predators (e.g. the mink), or destructive animals such as the rabbit.

Nicolette MacLean has written a guide to the animals and plants you may see around Berneray. There is also a guide to otters [page 1] [page 2] which you can download; guided otter walks are held during the summer months.

Photography. Berneray is a photographer's paradise. Even with the cheapest camera, it is quite easy to take good pictures. Due to the scenery, the abundance of wildlife, and because nowhere on the island is more than a mile from the sea and a beach, little effort is required to find some subject matter to capture.

Looking at arts and crafts. There are several arts and crafts businesses in Berneray, all using local materials and drawing on Berneray scenery for inspiration. In the pottery shop you can see pottery being made and buy the end-product, as well as local knitwear, jewellery, paintings and cards.

Fishing. Loch Bhrusda has been stocked with brown trout. Fishing the loch is available on a catch and release basis from the shoreline. Permits to fish should be purchased in advance from the shop.

Stars, satellites and the Northern Lights. There is no atmospheric pollution, and virtually no light pollution, over Berneray. The climate means clear nights across the seasons, which makes Berneray a good location to observe the night sky. Online services assist in providing alerts for likely displays of the Northern Lights, or times and locations when satellites and more natural bodies are visible at night.

Absolutely nothing. Find a mile or three of beach to yourself, sit on it, relax, watch the wildlife and see the sun go down.

Getting around Berneray

Bus. There is a local bus service which ambles along the east coast road, as far as the Youth Hostel. This operates several times a day, except on Sundays. The bus service goes to, or connects with, the ferry terminal at Lochmaddy and the Co-op store at Sollas.

Canoeing or kayaking. The Sound of Harris and Berneray are popular places to canoe or kayak around; it is advisable to do this in groups containing an expert on local waters. The Uist Outdoor Centre in Lochmaddy (ten miles away on North Uist) offers local instruction, courses and trips in a variety of single and multiple person sea craft.

Cycling. Cycle hire is available on Berneray. There are several miles of quiet roads on the island. In addition, there are long and usually deserted white sand beaches (such as Clachan Sands) two miles over the causeway and south of Berneray.