Benbecula
Beinn na Faoghla
The flat central island. Airport, hospital and most day-to-day services sit at Balivanich, with causeways north via Grimsay and south to South Uist.
Benbecula accommodation is the practical centre of Uist. Balivanich has the airport, hospital and most day-to-day services; the Co-op supermarket is at Creagorry. If you are flying in, staying here saves a dark drive on the first night.
Names people look for: Dark Island Hotel · Isle of Benbecula House Hotel · North Uist Distillery · Benbecula Distillery · Charlie's Bistro · Stepping Stone Restaurant · Co-op, Creagorry
- Getting here
- No ferry terminal of its own. Fly into Benbecula Airport at Balivanich, or drive from Lochmaddy or Lochboisdale over the causeways. Ferry timetables →
- Townships
- Balivanich, Liniclate, Creagorry, Nunton and Torlum.
Beaches & walks
Published places on Benbecula.
Liniclate Beach
A long white strand on Benbecula's south-west corner, reached from Liniclate village. The machair behind it fills with nesting oystercatcher, lapwing, dunlin, ringed plover, redshank and snipe each spring, and corncrake call from the fields at dusk. Face west for the sunset.
Culla Bay
A sheltered crescent of sand on Benbecula's west side, close to Balivanich.
Rarnish
A short out-and-back of about two miles on Benbecula's east side, following Bonnie Prince Charlie's footsteps after his failed escape by way of Stornoway in 1746. Along the way are Leabaidh a' Phrionnsa (the Prince's bed), Loch an Oir where gold coins were said to be thrown, Loch nan Arm where weapons were dumped, a stone marker on a mound, and Uamh a' Phrionnsa, the shore cave he hid in, which is only reachable at low tide.
Rueval to Rossinish
The long version of the Rueval walk. From the Market Stance car park follow the track east past the recycling centre, take in Rueval (124 m) from its south side, then keep to the northern branch of the path as it narrows along a low cliff above the water to an unnamed estuary. Cross the short isthmus and you are on Rossinish: flat, grassy, with a white sand beach on its east shore, ruined houses and views to North Uist. Bonnie Prince Charlie sheltered here twice in 1746, and it is where he and Flora MacDonald set off for Skye. Allow a full half day and go in dry weather.
Rueval
Benbecula's only hill (124m) — an easy track walk with views over the whole island chain on a clear day.
Benbecula accommodation
45 places to stay
Dark island Hotel
A comfortable hotel on Benbecula offering rooms, food and a warm welcome as your base for island exploring.
Atlantic Sunset Pod
A compact glamping pod in AIrd with views towards the Atlantic, offering a base for exploring Benbecula's west coast.
Heb Holiday, Self Catering Accommodation, Isle of Benbecula
Comfortable Accommodation: Heb Holiday in Gramisdale offers a three-bedroom holiday home with a garden and free WiFi.
Fairview
Spacious self-catering Fairview in Uachdar offers calm, comfortable island living with room to breathe, linger over Atlantic light and swap mainland rush for sea, sky and quiet.
Heb.Holiday, Self Catering, Outer Hebrides
This comfortable 3-bed family home on the Isle of Benbecula is newly refurbished to a high standard and includes fibre broadband and a 4K Smart TV with Freesat and complementary Netflix.
Bothan by the Bay
Luxury cabin retreat on Benbecula with refined container conversions and stunning bay views.
Benbecula property
5 listings from local agents
Offers over £80,000
4 Winfield Close, Balivanich, Isle of Benbecula, Western Isles, HS7 5LQ
For sale · House
Offers around £85,000
34 Tindill Road, Balivanich, Isle of Benbecula, Western Isles, HS7 5LF
For sale · House
Offers around £165,000
28 Griminish, Isle of Benbecula, Western Isles,HS7 5QA
For sale · House
Offers over £110,000
20 Baile Na Cille, Balivanich, Isle of Benbecula, HS7 5ND
For sale · House
On Benbecula
63 businesses in the directory
Am Pàipear
Uist's community newspaper since 1976, published from Balivanich in print and online as a social enterprise
Benbecula Distillery
Discover the Spirit of the Hebrides at Benbecula Distillery, where handmade stills flow with the island's first spirit, set amidst stunning views of the pale blue sea and the causeway crossing into North Uist.
Benbecula Freedive and Fitness
Guided snorkelling, freediving, fitness training and massage run by Tom from a studio on Airport Road, Balivanich, Benbecula
Benbecula Nails
Benbecula Nails on Benbecula.
Benbecula Park and Machair Run
Benbecula Park and Machair Run on Benbecula.
Benbecula Technology Centre
Benbecula Technology Centre is a hub for digital innovation and enterprise in the heart of the Outer Hebrides. Located on the Isle of Benbecula in the Western Isles of Scotland, the centre provides modern workspace, connectivity infrastructure, and business support to organisations operating at the edge of the Atlantic and the cutting edge of technology.
Stories from Benbecula
All lore →Wild history: Hercules the bear
In August 1980 a 30 stone grizzly called Hercules slipped away while filming a Kleenex advert on Benbecula. For 24 days one of the most famous bears in the world was loose in the Outer Hebrides.
LegendThe mermaid of Benbecula
Around 1830, seaweed-cutters at Griminish told of a small woman-shaped creature in the sea — a tale that ends with a burial near Culla Bay.
FactA century ago every parish in Uist was over three-quarters Gaelic-speaking
In the 1901 and 1921 censuses every parish in Uist was recorded as more than 75 per cent Gaelic-speaking. In 2001 Benbecula was still 56 per cent, and Uist remains one of the last strongholds of the language.
FactA grizzly bear was loose on Benbecula for 24 days
In August 1980 a grizzly bear called Hercules escaped while filming a Kleenex advert on Benbecula and was loose on the island for 24 days. He would not eat the sheep. A crofter spotted him swimming and he was flown home by helicopter, having lost half his weight.
Benbecula — common questions
What is Benbecula known for? ▾
Benbecula is the flat island between North and South Uist, with the airport, hospital and main shops at Balivanich, the ruined Clanranald castle at Borve, Culla Bay and the hill of Rueval, which Bonnie Prince Charlie crossed before sailing to Skye.
How do you get to Benbecula? ▾
Loganair flies from Glasgow to Benbecula Airport at Balivanich in about an hour. By sea, take the CalMac ferry to Lochmaddy or Lochboisdale and drive the causeways; either is about half an hour from Balivanich.
Is Benbecula a good base for Uist? ▾
It is the most central base. Lochmaddy and Lochboisdale ferries are each about thirty minutes away, both Uists are within easy reach, and Balivanich has the supermarket, fuel, a bank and the airport.
What does Benbecula mean? ▾
Beinn na Faoghla in Gaelic, usually translated as mountain of the fords, from the days when the island was reached across tidal sands rather than by causeway.
Is Benbecula a good place to stay for a Uist holiday? ▾
Yes if you are flying, hiring a car, or want shops on the doorstep. For wilder beaches and a quieter feel, pair it with nights on North Uist, Grimsay, South Uist or Berneray — the causeways make that easy.
How far is Benbecula Airport from South Uist and North Uist? ▾
Roughly 30 minutes to Lochmaddy, 40 minutes to Lochboisdale, and about 15 minutes to the North Uist / South Uist causeways. There is no public ferry from the airport.
Why buy Benbecula property instead of South or North Uist? ▾
Services and the airport. If you need to come and go by air, or you work locally, Balivanich is the least isolated option on the chain. For a croft-and-beach lifestyle, look at the other islands.