Cycling The Hebridean Way Island by Island
Vatersay (Bhatarsaigh)
Our cycling tour of the Hebridean Way begins on Vatersay, the southernmost inhabited island of the Outer Hebrides. The island is linked to Barra via a 150-metre causeway built in 1991. To get to the starting point of the Hebridean Way we cycle 5 miles (8km) from our accommodation in the village of Castlebay on Barra to the beach of Traigh a Bhaigh. This narrow isthmus links the northern and southern landmasses of Vatersay and provides a beautiful start to our Hebridean two-wheeled adventure. The beaches on either side of this narrow stretch of land are called Traigh a Bhaigh and Traigh Shiar, which translate to east and west beaches.
We recommend you put your swimming kit in your day bag and drop it in our support van as a dip into the aquamarine-coloured waters at Traigh a Bhaigh may be too much to ignore.
The Route
The Hebridean Way cycle route is marked by a distinctive marker post. Standing on the machair and dunes, just opposite the Vatersay Hall cafe it is a great spot to get a group photo before we begin our journey northwards. After 2.5 miles (4km) of following the eastern coast of Vatersay we cross the causeway onto Barra and start climbing up towards the Barra War Memorial. It may only be 500metres in length, but it’s a steep start with the maximum gradient hitting 12%. From the summit, we roll back down to Castlebay.
Points of interest on Vatersay
Annie Jane Disaster
Overlooking Traigh Shiar, and visible from the Hebridean Way start point is a monument commemorating the tragedy of the sailing ship “Annie Jane”. The emigrant ship left Liverpool on the 9th of September 1853 on a voyage to Quebec with over 450 passengers from all over the British Isles and Ireland, as well as Switzerland, Holland, and North America. Three days into the journey the ship lost its mast in a storm, but against the wishes of the passengers the crew attempted to carry on. As it progressed the ship faced several more storms and was eventually wrecked off the coast of Vatersay. There were over 350 people who lost their lives and who were interred in two mass graves somewhere in the sand dunes of the island. The location of these graves is sadly unknown and the monument is the only indication that the tragedy ever happened.
The Catalina Flying Boat
As you cycle from the start of the Hebridean Way, 0.5 miles (1km) along the coastal edge of the island, you will notice a monument on your right-hand side. Beside that monument are remnants of a wing section and other wreckage of the Catalina JX273 flying boat.
The Catalina was a flying boat, out on a training exercise from Oban on the 12th May 1944. The crew of nine found themselves off-course and as they tried to get back on course and gain altitude they crashed into the 172m high slopes of Theiseabhal Beag on Vatersay.
Sadly three of the nine crew died in the crash.
Part of the wreckage was dragged down to what is now the memorial site by the recovery team.