Old Harris Drove Road Show path on map

Start location: A859, north of Caisteal Ard ( NB 186 096 )

End location: A859, access track to mast ( NB 194 069 )

Geographical area: Western Isles

Path type: Drove Road

Path distance: 3.3km

Accessibility info: Suitable for pedestrians

Route Description

This route follows the Hebridean Way, and it travels generally south, keeping west of Caisteal Ard and rejoins the A859 past the mast. From here, you can journey onwards on the Hebridean Way by taking the old road to Tarbert down Gleann Lacasdail.

OS Landranger 13 (West Lewis & North Harris) or 14 (Tarbert & Loch Seaforth)

Heritage Information

This old drove road, also the former post road, takes a very different line to the modern A859. It can be clearly seen on old maps. It is said that the crossing of Abhainn Scaladail was historically much closer to Loch Seaforth.

In 2001, this old route became the initial part of the Harris Walkway, and now forms part of the longer Hebridean Way.

Gallery

NB185081: west of Cleit Ard. The Harris Walkway passes this lochan, which is about 3km east of Clisham. The very conspicuous mountain in the distance is Todun, 528m. © David Purchase, Geograph

NB186096: Caisteal Ard. Rocky hillside south of Scaladale where the Harris Walkway (EU-funded) leaves the A859 for the south and a traverse through the pass between Gormul Maraig and Cleit Ard. © Colin Smith, Geograph

NB192071: Weathered plaque announcing 'Harris Walkway' - just readable but decaying fast (2010). © Phillip Williams, Geograph

NB190079: looking SSE. The A859, its former alignment and the even earlier post road to Stornoway can all be seen clearly from left to right. Loch Seaforth and Todun are in the background. © Geograph, Mike Dunn