The Ultimate Northton Beach & Village Guide (2026)
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Looking for a complete guide to Northton beach and village? Then this post is for you.
The beach might not be the largest or the prettiest on Harris but Northton is the most interesting village to visit on the island.
What makes Northton special is that there are four beaches to explore and you can climb to the top of Ceapabhal for the amazing views. In addition, highland cattle often graze in the area and it is home to the best cafe on Harris, Temple Cafe.
How Important Are Tide Levels?
For most of the best beaches in the Outer Hebrides the tide makes a big difference to how they look. Northton beach is wider at low tide but this beach is not why you should time your visit for low tide.
The reason to come at this time is to see Traigh an Teampuill (the beach by the temple ruins) and Traigh an Taoibh Thuath (the area in front of Temple Cafe), these two beaches are much better at low tide.
Another thing to think about is that the sun only rises over the hill behind Northton mid-morning (later during the winter months).
Map of Things to Do in Northton
- Northton beach – Traigh na h-Uidhe
- Traigh na Cleabhaig
- Traigh an Teampuill
- Traigh na Taoibh Thuath
- Seallam! Visitor Centre
- MacGillivray Centre
- Croft36
- Temple Cafe
Where to Park and How to Access Northton Beach
Northton beach is easy to get onto. At the end of the road in the village is a car park. Just before the car park a sandy track on the left leads down to the beach. It is less than 100 metres from the parking to the beach.
If the car park is full, park along the road in the village. The parking at Temple Cafe is for guests only.
I highly recommend booking a rental car for your trip
Planning to go to Harris? Read my Isle of Harris Beach Guide
Can You Swim at the Beach?
Yes, it is possible to swim at the beaches in Northton. Harris beaches are not the best for swimming with one exception being Hushinish beach.
In general the beaches on Lewis are more suited for swimming.
What Activities Is the Beach Suitable For?
By Outer Hebrides standards Northton beach is often busy. That only means there may be some other people on the beach.
Since the beach is easily accessible and there are a few rental cottages in the area it is popular with dog walkers and families.
The other beaches described below are much quieter.
Best Viewpoints
1. From Taobh Tuath – The Hill at the Southern End of the Beach
The hill is not very high but livestock fencing makes it more difficult to get to the top than it looks from the beach. As long as you don’t mind climbing over a few fences the views from the top of the hill are worth the walk.
There is even a bench where you can sit and admire the views out to sea and Berneray. Berneray is only a short ferry ride and an interesting day trip from Harris.
To plan a day trip to Berneray read my guide to West Beach on Berneray and how to get the ferry Leverburgh to Berneray
2. Grassy Verge at the Northern End of the Beach
At the end of the beach closest to Ceapabhal climb the grassy verge for views over the beach.
Unfortunately it is difficult to walk any further along the coastline or to the other beaches described below because the land between the beach and Ceapabhal is fenced off for cattle.
3. Climb Ceapabhal
Climbing Ceapabhal can be done as a 2 hour walk to the top and back down again. For a longer walk it takes 5-6 hours to go all the way down to the end of the peninsula returning along the shore.
A detailed description of the walk can be found in the Cicerone guide to walking on Harris and Lewis.
The walk starts at the end of the village.
Go through the gate and continue towards the hill. The path travels through the fields where highland cattle graze.
Before reaching the bottom of the hill head left towards Traigh na Cleabhaig and the beach next to the chapel ruins, Traigh an Teampuill.
From here it is a steep climb up to the top where you can decide whether to follow the path back down or continue to Toe Head.
Buy the Cicerone Guide to Walking on Harris and Lewis
Other Things to Do in the Area
Traigh na Cleabhaig and Traigh an Teampuill
The two beaches are close to each other and only accessible on foot. It is a 1.5 mile walk on flat ground to Traigh an Teampuill which is the furthest away beach.
Traigh an Teampuill is the more picturesque of the two with the ruins breaking up the horizon and adding a point of interest to your photos. The lighting is best before midday for photos of the beach with the ruins in the background.
To get to the beaches walk through the cattle gate at the end of the village. Before you reach the incline up to Ceapabhal walk to the left and along the shore.
Unfortunately cattle fencing means that it is difficult to walk along the shore all the way from the beach in Northton.
Traigh na Taoibh Thuath
Between Northton and Scarista is a tidal lagoon. At low tide it is a vast area of sand and at high tide it completely disappears.
During low tide you can walk all the way between Scarista and Northton. Isle of Harris has another similar bay, the views of Seilebost beach are all sand at low tide.
There are several places where you can get down to the lagoon, one of the easiest is by Temple Cafe.
Scarista Beach
Scarista beach is either a long walk over Traigh na Taoibh Thuath or a short drive away – but it is worth the detour. The beach is longer and more impressive than the ones in Northton.
To plan a visit read my guide to Scarista Beach In Scotland.
MacGillivray Centre
MacGillivray was a renowned bird expert who was born on Harris. It is close to Northon bus stop.
Seallam! Visitor Centre
The visitor centre has exhibits about life in the Hebrides. They also have a large resource library if you want more information.
Seallam is located on the right as you take off from the A859 onto Northton road. Opening hours are 10am to 5pm Monday to Friday. It is closed at the weekend. Entry fee is £3 for adults or £2.50 for concessions.
Read my post on things to do on the Isle of Harris for more suggestions
Restaurant and Cafes Nearby
Temple Cafe
One of the best things to do in Harris is to sit at Temple Cafe in front of the wood burner with a home-made brownie looking out over the tidal lagoon.
All the food is homemade and the coffee is roasted locally at their site in Leverburg.
It can get busy here but it is worth the wait for a table.
Opening times
Winter months (mid Sep-April)
- Mon-Fri Closed
- Sat-Sun 10.30-3.30pm
Summer months (April-mid Sep)
- Mon-Tue Closed
- Wed-Sun 9.30-4.30
Croft36
Croft36 is a craft bakery selling bread, soups, pies, cakes, pastries and more. Everything they sell is freshly produced.
Look out for a small green hut when going through Northton. It has recently had a paint job so it is no longer white and blue like most of the photos you will see online.
It operates an honesty system where you leave the money for the food you take. They accept cash and PayPal payments but the internet connection is a bit unreliable so cash is the easiest.
Opening times
- Monday to Friday from 11am until it is sold out. It is popular so often sells out early
Check their Facebook page for latest opening times, some weeks they change.
Seallam! Visitor Centre
The visitor centre has a coffee and tea bar in the reception area.
Opening times (all year)
Mon – Fri 10 – 5pm
Sat- Sun Closed
Northton Accommodation
The most popular places to stay at the Isle of Harris are self-catering cottages. Most are only available for 7 nights from Saturday to Saturday.
Cottages book out up to a year in advance for the most popular summer months so make sure you plan ahead.
Two of the best cottages close to Northton are:
- Taransay Cottage – Northton – sleeps 4 – a 5-minute walk from the beach and with sea views this is a great base to explore the Isle of Harris. Click here to check prices and availability
- St Clements View – Borrisdale – sleeps 4 – a more luxurious option a little further south. Click here to check prices and availability
How to Get To Northton by Public Transport
Since there are no flights to Harris the the Uig to Harris ferry is the best way to get here for most people.
When you arrive you will find that public transport in the Outer Hebrides is limited so I highly recommend booking a rental car for your trip.
The W10 bus route called “Tarbert to Leverburgh and Rodel via Spine Route” goes from Tarbert to Northton and on to Leverburgh. The final stop is Rodel.
The bus runs Monday to Saturday with one extra journey during the school week.
Some buses only stop at Northton Junction which is by the main road a mile away from the beach. Buses going to Northton village might be happy to let you off at the turning point which is right by the beach.
Always check the latest bus schedule. Some journeys must be requested in advance. It is a good idea to speak to the driver when you get off to confirm the return time.
LOOKING FOR MORE ON THE OUTER HEBRIDES?
Top 10 Best Isle of Harris Beaches
The Ultimate Seilebost Beach Guide
