Hidden away in the Outer Hebrides between North and South Uist lies the small but perfectly formed island of Benbecula. Named Beinn na Faoghla in Gaelic, which means Mountain of the Ford, this small island is blessed with pure white sand beaches, rolling dunes and peaceful lochs. It is a must-visit island for seekers of unknown places, where the natural world thrives and the islanders go about their business peacefully.
Whether you adore exploring the great outdoors, immersing yourself in history, soaking up the culture, or simply relaxing as you step into a slower pace of life, a visit to the hidden gem that is Benbecula is sure to please. Here’s our complete guide to this beautiful island so you can make the most of your time there.
About Benbecula
A small island between the beautiful Uist isles and west of Skye, Benbecula is a peaceful haven home to a small number of locals and an abundance of natural beauty. It’s perfectly placed for island-hopping, with an airport on the island, regular ferry crossings, and causeways between the neighbouring islands.
Landscape
While many of the Scottish Isles boast rugged landscapes hewn from towering mountains and salt-worn cliffs, Benbecula promises a smoother destination, with the low-lying seascapes offering just one hill for a bit of variety. The true beauty of Benbecula lies in the collage of lochs and lochans that scatter the island, crafting a truly unique view as you traipse across the island.
The beaches on Benbecula are something of a hidden gem in the Outer Hebrides’ wild crown, with sprawling stretches of white sand backed by tufted tundra and dunes lining the pocket-sized haven. And with over 90 lochs peppering the isle, there’s no better place to be for waterside moments.
Wildlife
Dotted with lochs and lochans (small lochs), and with sweeping untouched moorland, Benbecula is a real haven for wildlife and a wonderful spot to immerse yourself in nature. Head to the west of the island and you’ll discover rich grasslands (known as ‘machair’) that are particularly colourful in spring and early summer and home to incredible birdlife like corncrake, snipe, redshank and Arctic and little terns.
Meanwhile, the plentiful, peaceful lochs offer a perfect home for wildfowl, while the moors offer a smorgasbord of feeding opportunities for hen harriers, short-eared owls, and merlin. Out at sea, you’ll find basking sharks, common seals and even playful otters along the shoreline. Western Isles Wildlife runs various wildlife tours of Benbecula and North and South Uist if you’d like to be guided by an expert.
Due to Benbecula’s location and size, land mammals aren’t as common as on the mainland and larger islands. However, red deer, roe deer, and the iconic highland cow can be spotted by eagle-eyed visitors.
Beaches on Benbecula
Benbecula has a fantastic swathe of gorgeous beaches to explore, whether that’s wrapped up for a blustery walk or a blessedly sunny day lounging on the golden sands.
Culla Bay Beach
Accessible from Nunton or Aird, this beach is probably the best known on the island and is simply stunning with a long strip of white sand, shallow, clear waters, and beautiful scenery. Horseshoe-shaped, it’s a popular spot for families, and you’ll see some great bird life here, such as oystercatchers, corncrake, and snipe.
Balivanich Beach
Situated on the west coast of the island, Balivanich Beach stretches from the airport to the North Ford at low tide. It has a pretty sandy shoreline that forms part of the village of Balivanich, which dates back to the 6th century. For a unique experience, try horse riding on the beach - there’s no feeling quite like it!
Liniclate Beach
Blessed with a lovely stretch of golden sandy beach on the southern edge of the island, it’s part of the tidal strait between South Uist and Benbecula. Considered to be the prettiest beach on the island, it’s fantastic for those seeking a moment of peace and quiet, as well as being a great spot for wildlife watching and wild swimming.
Rossinish Beach
This impressive beach is said to be the place where Bonnie Prince Charlie left for Skye in 1746, and is a great spot for birdwatching – keep an eye out for eagles and peregrines as you laze on the sands.
North Ford Causeway
This is a great beach that has impressive changes in tide levels, due to the ford that stretches across to two other islands – North Uist and Grimsay. It’s also a well-known spot for playful otters (your best chance at spotting them is at dawn or two hours before high tide), as well as having stunning views over the surrounding islands.
Things to do on Benbecula
Whether your interests lie in nature, sports, or good old-fashioned adventure, Benbecula boasts a host of excellent things to see and do during your stay.
Cycling
Benbecula is a fantastic island for exploring by bike as it’s mainly flat with lots of pretty beaches, coves, and untouched moorland to explore. You can hire e-bikes from Hebridean-ebikes in Balivanich if you fancy exploring the island on two wheels, and as the surrounding islands are all linked by causeways, you can explore further afield too, such as along the Hebridean Way, which explores ten islands and stretches over 200 miles.
Beach horse riding
Whether you’re a seasoned rider or have never popped your foot into a stirrup, and the idea of cantering on a deliciously white sandy beach is the perfect dream, pay a visit to Uist Community Riding School, where you’ll discover 21 horses and ponies waiting to take you on an equine adventure along the glorious coastline of Benbecula. Whatever your experience, the friendly and experienced staff are on hand to saddle you up with the perfect steed as you trot to the nearest sandy beach for a truly unforgettable experience. Lessons are available for beginners, while little ones can arrange to have a pony all to themselves to groom, learn all about them, and learn to ride.
Freediving and adventure snorkelling
For the ultimate underwater experience and to make the most of the crystal clear waters, why not book yourself onto a snorkelling or freediving session? Tom, owner of Freedive UK, lives and works on the island in Balivanich and is on hand to take you to the best spots for sea or loch snorkelling or sea diving, whether that’s exploring the great kelp forests or spotting the island’s underwater residents. With wetsuits and all equipment provided, there’s even a dive bus where you can get changed in the warm and enjoy a hot drink at the end of your underwater adventure.
Fishing
If you’re keen on fishing, South Uist and Benbecula are considered some of the top spots for catch-and-release fishing in Europe. With over 800 lochs and lochans on both islands, it’s as if the islands are more water than land, so it’s not surprising that it’s a wonderful spot to try your hand at fishing for brown trout, salmon, and sea trout. On Benbecula, you can fish in the sea, lochs, and rivers, while East and West Loch Olabhat are particularly good for fly fishing if that’s more your thing – you can get day and weekly passes from the South Uist Angling Club.
Benbecula Golf Club
Benbecula has its own 9-hole/18 tee, par-68 links golf course - a must for any golf enthusiast. Established in 1984 and stretching over 5,214 yards, it takes in dunes and flat grasslands, making it a wonderfully testing game for visitors and comes complete with natural hazards such as rabbit scrapes! The golf course is situated next to Benbecula Air Strip and is just a few minutes from Balivanich, with stunning views over the Monach Isles and the Atlantic Ocean.
Benbecula Distillery
For those who love a warming dram, no visit to Benbecula would be complete without a visit to the island’s namesake distillery. Previously a salmon processing plant, it’s been lovingly transformed into a smart premises complete with its own lighthouse to house the handmade copper pot still. The distillery has its own visitor centre, which houses exhibitions of local artists, a café for when you're feeling peckish, and, of course, you can book yourself onto a tour (Monday to Friday at 1.30pm). It’s best to book ahead online to avoid disappointment. On the hour-long tour, you’ll be led through the production hall where gin and whiskey are produced, learn about the craftspeople behind the scenes, check out the cask room, and take a trip to the tasting room to try a tipple or two - well, it would be rude not to!
Borve Castle
Also known as Caisteal Bhuirgh, Borve Castle is a 14th-century ruined tower house nestled in the southwest of Benbecula. Originally built between 1344 and 1363, it was once considered to be the most important medieval castle in the Outer Hebrides and was inhabited by the Macdonald Clan. Today, it’s just a ruin atop an exposed jut of land, but it’s an idyllic, atmospheric spot to visit.
St Columba’s Chapel
St Ternan (or Torranan) was a monk, reputedly the first missionary to travel to the Outer Hebrides in the 6th century to spread Christianity. On his travels, he had built a temple dedicated to St Columba situated to the east of Balivanich. Today, the temple lies in ruins and is surrounded by marshland, creating a rather atmospheric spot to explore.
Walks on Benbecula
For epic views, a climb up Rueval Hill, Benbecula’s highest point, will provide an expansive 360-degree vista over land and sea. Standing at 407 feet, the path to the summit goes past the cave that Bonnie Prince Charlie is supposed to have hidden while waiting for Flora MacDonald to help him escape the island. Legend has it you can count 90 lochs from the summit, and if you’re there long enough, you’ll witness a beautiful sunset.
History buffs will love The Bonnie Prince Charlie Trail that follows in the steps of Scotland’s eponymous hero back when he escaped to the Outer Hebrides after his defeat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. There’s a selection of walks to choose from, whether you stay on Benbecula or pop over to any of the other surrounding islands, such as the Rarnish Walk (about 2 miles), taking in the spot where he hid in a hut.
Places to eat on Benbecula
Benbecula prides itself on its local produce, such as seafood (think langoustines and hand-dived scallops) as well as tender, island-reared lamb, so if you’re a keen cook, it’s a great spot to pick up some delicacies for back at your holiday home.
Salar Deli, Uachdar
Salar Deli in Balivanich is a fab deli/farm shop and the place to visit to pick up goodies for your stay. Head here for a spot of coffee and cake or a light lunch - the daily hot pots are simply divine - or pick up some of their famous flaky hot smoked salmon for dinner.
Benbecula Distillery, Gramsdale
Alongside the fascinating whiskey tours, this beloved distillery also boasts a great café and restaurant that prides itself on locally-sourced dishes. Fresh seafood, homemade sweet treats, and delicious coffee ensure every visit here is dram good!
Isle of Benbecula House Hotel, Creagorry
If you’re planning a special night out, look no further than this fabulous hotel restaurant, with its beautiful location and gorgeous sea views. While the menu usually promises the likes of butternut squash risotto, fillet of sea bass, and Uist salmon, the restaurant also hosts themed nights, inviting you to tuck into a variety of cuisines from tapas to Tex-Mex!
Charlie’s Bistro, Balivanich
Charlie’s is much-loved by visitors and locals alike, offering up a relaxed spot to dine. The menu sports a range of island favourites, all crafted with local ingredients, from top-notch fish and chips to marinated curries that really hit the spot after a lochside stroll.
It’s important to note that, as a fairly remote, quiet island, opening times may vary, so it’s a good idea to find out in advance of your visit if they’re open or not, and to book during peak periods.
Feeling inspired? Take a look at our stunning holiday cottages on Benbecula and start planning your island getaway today.
