Benbecula Beach Guide: 5 Best Beaches (2026)

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Looking for the most comprehensive Benbecula beach guide?

Then this post is for you. It covers everything you need to know in order to plan a visit to the five best beaches on the island.

As with so many of the islands in the Outer Hebrides only two of the five beaches on this list are marked on Google Maps – Culla bay and Liniclate beach. However, as you will see from the photos below, there are so many other beaches which deserve a visit.

Benbecula is also the only place in the Outer Hebrides where you can arrange to go horse riding on the beach. Read on to find out where.

Are the Beaches on Benbecula Worth Visiting?

Honestly, the beaches on Benbecula are not quite as spectacular as those on some of the islands close by.

The best beaches on North Uist and West beach on Berneray are more spectacular. Luckily they are only a short drive away. These are some of the best beaches in the Outer Hebrides.

Going south, the beaches in South Uist and Eriskay are also a short drive away. These beaches are more impressive than on Benbecula but not quite as nice as the ones further north.

There are more activities on South Uist and North Uist than on Benbecula.

Despite not having the best beaches Benbecula can be a good geographical location to base yourself.

Staying in accommodation on Benbecula or South Uist you benefit from the island being in the middle of the Uists. This means that you drive to Eriskay in the south or Berneray in the north without it being too long for a day trip.

An alternative is to book a few days in a North Uist bed and breakfast.

Benbecula Beach Map

Benbecula Beaches

1. North Ford Causeway

North Ford between Benbecula and North Uist at low tide when it is only sand. The shoreline has black rocks and the sky is blue with lots of white clouds

On many beaches in the Outer Hebrides there is an enormous difference between high and low tide – this is an example.

This ford stretches across three islands – North Uist, Grimsay and Benbecula – and the variation between high and low tide means that the area is all sand at low tide and just water at high tide.

The sand is often wet so it is not as suitable to walk on as Cladach sands in North Uist but it is a great place to look for otters.

When driving along the causeway you will see plenty of “watch out for otters” signs but the animal is very difficult to see in the flesh.

Come at dawn or two hours before high tide for the best chances of spotting one.

Tide Level: The scenery is most spectacular at low tide. It is less interesting at high tide.

Parking and access to the beach: The only place to park on Benbecula is close to the bus stop in Gramisdale. To get to the beach from here you must cross the road and walk down to the cattle gate.

The second option for parking is close to Baile Glas on Grimsay where the causeway starts. Or even better, park at one of the two viewpoints along the causeway going to North Uist.

From the viewpoint on the right (when driving north towards North Uist) it is possible to get down to the beach. From the one on the left there are large boulders so it is not recommended to try to get down to the beach from here.

2. Ballivanich beach – Baile a’Mhanaich

Ballivanich beach by Benbecula airport stretches into the distance. On the beach seaweed is dotted around. A few waves are coming in. The sky is partly blue but with lots of white clouds along the horizon

Ballivanich beach runs all the way from the airport up to the North Ford at low tide.

It is a surprisingly large and pretty beach and it is relatively unknown given it is not marked on Google Maps.

It feels very quiet and calm despite being close to the main centre of Benbecula which has several shops and cafes. It is also right in front of the airport but there are not many flights so you are unlikely to be disturbed by a plane.

For something a bit different try horse riding on the beach with Uist Community Riding School. They offer both lessons and rides along the beach.

Tide Level: not important.

Parking and access to the beach: Opposite Bank of Scotland in Balivanich drive along Airport Road. Shortly after you join this road take a left and then keep right when the road splits.

There is enough space for a few cars but it is unusual to see anyone else here.

To find the parking the what3words for the parking is adventure.donor.rekindle.

3. Culla Bay

Culla Bay Benbecula is a horseshoe shaped bay. It is sunny but the sky is full of grey clouds. The beach has lots of dark brown seaweed at one end

The best-known beach on the island is Culla bay. Benbecula only has two beaches which are marked on the map – Culla bay and Liniclate beach (detailed below).

Culla bay is a pretty horseshoe shape. It is popular with families but is also a good place to see birds such as oystercatchers, snipe and corncrake.

A short circular walk described in the Cicerone guide to Walking on Uist and Barra takes in both the beach and the historic sites in the area.

Tide Level: not important.

Parking and access to the beach: The beach can be accessed from either end, so either from Nunton or Aird, but it is much easier to park in Aird.

In Aird drive past Culla Cottage. The parking is at the end of the road. The what3words for the parking is boots.table.severe

A short walk over the dunes takes you onto the beach. It can be a short but steep climb up and down to dunes so to avoid this follow the path around to the left.

Wondering how these beaches compare to the ones in North Uist? See photos of the top 17 North Uist beaches in this beach guide.

4. Griminish Beach

The only of Benbecula beaches that are stony. The beach looks striped with grey stones, reddish seaweed, yellow sand and the water. The sky is cloudy

Driving south there are a couple of small beaches out on the headland before you get to the small cottage called Bayview Benbecula. Continue driving south and go past the part of Griminish beach that is right by the road, the viewpoint described below is better.

The beach itself is average but the views from where you park is together with that at Ballivanich beach the best from any of the car parks on the island.

Here you can sit in your car and look out to sea so it is a great stop if you just want to take in the scenery and have a picnic in the comfort of your car. Sometimes the weather in the Outer Hebrides makes this a very compelling thing to do!

Tide Level: not important.

Parking and access to the beach: There is plenty of space to park close to the road and easy access to the beach. To help you find the parking the What3words is undivided.reunion.commands.

5. Liniclate Beach

Liniclate beach Benbecula at low tide when it is very wide. Some of the sand is white and the one that is wet is more yellow. The sky is blue with white clouds

This long sandy beach is part of the tidal strait between South Uist and Benbecula. It has the most varied scenery of all the beaches on Benbecula and it is the nicest beach on the island.

Looking south at low tide the sand stretches all the way to South Uist and the mountains around Beinn Mhor provide an interesting backdrop. In the other direction there is a long sandy bay as shown in the photo above.

Tide Level: best at low tide.

Parking and access to the beach: Leave the B892and drive past the Dark Island Hotel. After passing the hotel the road changes from tarmac to rough/sandy.

Drive carefully and it is fine to drive all the way out to the windmill close to the beach. From here it is a short walk to the beach.

To help you find the right location the What3words for the location of the carpark is kind.guarding.fatigued.

How to Get to the Beaches on Benbecula by Public Transport

Public transport in the Outer Hebrides is limited so I highly recommend booking a rental car for your trip.

By Bus: The bus route named W17 South Uist Balivanich to Eriskay stops close to Liniclate beach, Culla bay and Ballivanich beach. The W16 bus route is called Spine Route Summary and also stops close to Liniclate beach and Ballivanich beach.

The other beaches are difficult to get to by bus.

Buses run Monday to Saturday. There is no service on Sundays. Always check the latest schedule before travelling.

By Bike: There are no bike rentals on Benbecula but HEB E-Bike Hire in Grimsay rent out e-bikes. They deliver and pick up bikes from your accommodation or the airport on the island.

Benbecula is a small island and fairly flat making it perfect for renting an e-bike to explore all its beaches.

By ferry: There is no ferry port on Benbecula. The closest is on North Uist where you can get the Uig to Lochmaddy ferry.