A WALK ON VATERSAY
Vatersay is basically an island of two halves joined by an Isthmus with two sandy beaches one facing west the other east. This walk is based on the way marked Vatersay Trail which circles the southern half and is listed as 7km, with a couple of extensions this becomes nearer 10km and like most coastal walks in Scotland more climbing than you think.
Traigh Siar and Beinn Ruilibreac
THE DUNES AT BAGH SIAR
The walk starts from a small car park near the monument to the Annie Jane and the 350 people who died here when the ship transporting them to Canada was wrecked in 1853. The trail crosses the beach and climbs the hillside, notice the two tiny people on the skyline. The Vatersay trail climbs to an ancient Dun on the small peak on the left from where its is possible to extend the walk along the low hills on the right
Traigh Scar and Theisabhal
BAGH SIAR AND THEISEABHAL
Looking back across the beach and the carpets of Primroses which clad Barra at this time of year.
CLIMBING TO THE DUN
Looking back along Hulish Mor to the end of the promontory at Rubha Thulis
Ruins of Vatersay House
Old Boundary wall
ANCIENT BOUNDARY WALL
Back along the Vatersay Trail and descending to the coast again at Bagh a' Deas
Standing stones on Vatersay
STANDING STONE
Or possible an ancient gateway. The hill on the right is Heaval over ion Barra
Bagh a' Deas on Vatersay's south coast
BAGH A' DEAS
Bagh a' Deas is the most southerly beach on Vatersay and on both visits twenty odd years apart we saw no-one. The local dairy herd graze on the pasture backing on to the bay.
Sandray from Vatersay
SANDRAY
The uninhabited island of Sandray seen from Bagh a' Deas.. Sandray's poulation peaked at 41 in the 1911 census but the island has been uninhabited since 1931 and is used for grazing by the crofters of Barra and Vatersay.
Ruins of Eorasdail
RUINS OF EORASDAIL
Eorasdail was established in the 1900's by fishermen from the neighbouring island of Mingulay who became known as The Vatersay Raiders. The absentee landlord took them to court and they were sentenced to jail, however public outrage led the authorities to purchase the island and divide it into crofts. Descendants of the raiders still live locally. The village was finally abandoned in the 1970's
Am Meall from near Eorasdail
Vatersay Bay from slopes of Am Mealll
VATERSAY BAY
Looking along the shores of Vatersay bay back to the east beach from the slopes of Am Meall
OLD BOAT IN VATERSAY BAY
At the end of the walk with just a short stroll along the east beach back to the car park near the community centre
