Oronsay

Key Facts

• Location: Inner Hebrides
• Size: 543 hectares
• Terrain: Sands; island tracks; free range on open ground
• Access: Tidal crossing
• Height gain: 208 metres
• Map: OS Explorer 354
• Starting point: The track head on Oronsay. Lat/Long 56.028160, -6.227976. GR NR 36683 89762
• Accommodation/food:

  See visiting and facts page here

• Island Summary:

  Oronsay is a tidal island that sits just off the south coast of Colonsay in the Inner Hebrides. It is a wild and rugged place with incredible views, magnificent beaches, extraordinary wildlife and holds many secrets to prehistoric living. The walk begins with a fabulous tidal crossing of The Strand, and then uses the main island track to the Priory and Oronsay Farm before the easy free-range route follows the coast. There are magnificent views of the peaks of Islay and Jura for most of the trip, a wonderful bothy and stunning, deserted white sand beaches on the south and east coasts that make idyllic swimming spots.

• Look out for:
  • Secluded swims off any one of the glorious white sand beaches
  • Exciting tidal crossing across the draining sands
  • Stunning views of the Paps of Jura and mountains of Islay
  • Spying the elusive corncrake
• Route description:

  Begin your walk at the south end of B8085 and follow the tyre marks to cross The Strand. After 2.3km, take the shingle track between two posts and a standing stone onto the island. Follow the track through the rocky foreshore, over moorland at the base of Beinn Oronsay, and through farmland to the priory. Take the track through the gate left of the main house towards Oronsay Farm. Just before reaching the RSPB office turn left, opposite the house, go through the gate and along the grasstrack through the managed corncrake habitat. After 200m turn left through a gate and continue towards the shore, walking alongside the stream. Go through the metal gate and onto the beach. Turn right to access the tidal islet of Dubh Eilean or continue south to the white bothy at the end of the long beach. Go through the gate in the stone wall, turn right parallel to the stone wall and continue over the open ground and machair, keeping to the coast.

  At the southern tip continue around the low rock terraces of Port na Blàthach then rejoin the grass island track between the head of the inlet and a raised pebble ‘beach’ to the left. After about 1.9km, pass through the remains of a stone boundary wall. Continue, past the shell mounds to Tràigh Uamha Seilbhe. FromSeal Cottage take the left fork and continue north west through a metal gate towards the main island track. Turn right at the metal gate in the stone wall and continue along the main island track, retracing your steps back to the causeway.

• Getting there:

  Calmac ferries offer a regular service to Colonsay from Oban https. From Scalasaig head past the Hotel on the B8086 for 1.3 km, then turn left onto the B8085 to reach the head of the causeway at the end of the road, cross the tidal sands of the causeway.

  Find more details on the route and 49 other island routes in our book: Islandeering: adventures around the edge of Britain’s hidden islands