Flodaigh - Benbecula

About trip

• There and back walk: 4.42 miles
• what3words address for parking: we parked at ///yarn.warrior.witty just as you turn off  the A865 at Gramsdal. There is some parking on the verge here. There is also a small space at ///pasting.palace.promising. This is at the end of the track and so much closer to the coast, but it’s also  the turning space for the school bus and so only available as a parking space for limited times. There’s a notice explaining when it cannot be used and, when we passed, it was between 8.00 and 8:45am, and between 3.30 and 4.30pm. Also, don’t block access to the rest of the track.

This was a walk we specifically chose because the islets and rocks just off the coast of Flodaigh are known to be a place where common seals are usually found.

We chose to park just off the A865 and walk the rest of the way. This is a little over a mile on a minor road, but it’s very quiet and the views are lovely. The only vehicle that passed us on the way out was the postman; we stopped and chatted.

When the track turns left towards a house bear right through a gap in the fence where a gate may once have been. There’s a small, triangular stone that acts as a marker here! Where there is a fork in the track bear left keeping a fence on your right. The track was a little indistinct here because of the bracken. This eventually leads down to the shore via a narrow inlet. We kept to the right here, following a track through the bracken and this takes you around the coast where there are great views over the lochs and islets. We saw plenty of seals here and it was a great spot to have lunch and just be. Take your binoculars.

We retraced our steps to the inlet, crossed over, and walked a little way around the next headland. The track through the bracken takes you to an open area at the top of the headland with terrific, almost 360 degree, views. The track then continues and emerges by some buildings and the house you will have seen on your left when you turned by the triangular stone on your way out. Keep to the left of the buildings and rejoin the gravel track that will lead you back to your car.

A short, easy walk but very rewarding.