Benbecula Beach

Benbecula or Beinn Na Faoghla is an island in the Outer Hebrides. In the main it's low-lying and sits between the larger islands of North and South Uist, to which it is joined by causeways. However it possesses more resources than its neighbours in the shape of shops, schools, colleges, and an airport as a result of having been, until recently, a military base and missile firing range. As a result, most visitors, perhaps unfairly, pass through Benbecula relatively quickly.

Settlements

Balivanich is the main village.

Nunton is a Hamlet located just outside Balivanich

Creagorry is a small village at the south end of Benbecula

Uachdar is a village at the north end of Benbecula

Understand

Benbecula is the 'cushion' between the northern Protestant islands, and the Catholic communities of South Uist and Barra. It was dragged into the modern world more quickly than the other neighbouring islands by virtue of its military base and the need for supply routes and other facilities necessary for maintaining a military presence. These have now largely, if not totally, disappeared, but the island has been left with a legacy of unlikely institutional housing developments and, depending on ones viewpoint, the more welcome facility of an airport.

Get in

Causeway from North Uist

By road

Benbecula is linked by causeway to North Uist via Grimsay and to South Uist. Ferries from Skye serve Lochmaddy in North Uist. Ferries from Oban serve Lochboisdale in South Uist.

By air

Flights to Benbecula Airport operate from Glasgow, Barra and Stornoway.

Get around

Car hire is available from three locations, MacLennan's Garage, Balivanich, tel: +44 1870 602191, Ask Car Hire, Creagorry, tel: +44 1870 602818 and Laing motors, Lochboisdale tel: +44 1878 700267 website: http://www.laingmotors.co.uk

See

Borve Castle

• Beach down the west coast of the island.
• 1 Borve Castle (OS map ref NF 773505). A small ruin just off the main road. No facilities and no charge. 

• 2 Linaclete School (Sgoil Lionacleit). Has a small museum, library and a swimming pool. 

Do

• 1 Uist Community Riding School, East Camp, Balivanich, HS7 5LA., ☏ +44 1870 602808. Horse and pony riding, including rides on the beach. 

Buy

• See Balivanich for shops there.
• 1 Macleans Bakery, Uachdar, HS7 5LY. Mon - Fri 8AM-3PM, Sat 8AM-2PM. Small baker baking bread and oatcakes with a shop onsite. 

Eat

• Stepping Stone Restaurant, Balivanich, HS7 5LA, ☏ +44 1870 603377. 

• 1 The Airport Cafe. Open to non-fliers and there is free parking next the terminal. 

• 2 Sgoil Lionacliet. Have a school lunch at Sgoil Lionacliet during the summer holidays. 

Sleep

Hostels

• Taigh na Cille Bunkhouse, Balivanich, HS7 5LA. +44 1870 602522 [1]

Bed and Breakfasts

Ceann Na Pairc Guest House is located in Nunton. [2]

Hotels

• 1 Dark Island Hotel, Liniclate, HS7 5PJ (next Liniclate School), ☏ +44 1870 603030. 

• 2 The Isle of Benbecula House Hotel, Creagorry, HS7 5PG., ☏ +44 1870 602024.