7 Amazing Eriskay Beaches (2026)
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Looking for the best Eriksay beaches?
Then you have come to the right place because that is exactly what this post is about.
When entering “Eriskay” and “beaches” into Google only one beach is shown on Google Maps. That is not because there is only one beach on Eriskay, its just that the others are not shown.
Most of the beaches don’t even have a name. The only way to find them is to explore the island. To save you time and help you decide where to go I have visited every sandy bay and beach on Eriskay.
Every beach listed below has a photo and a description with how to get down to the beach and where to park. All the beaches are dog friendly and there is no opening or closing time for beaches anywhere in Scotland.
Eriskay Beach Map
All of the beaches are on the western side of the island. The eastern side is rocky but you can often see seals here and it is where boat trips to Mingulay depart from.
Another factor to think about when visiting Western Isles beaches is tide level. They are all more impressive at low tide when they are much wider.
In general Eriskay doesn’t have any beaches where you must make sure you are there at low tide, unlike some of the other islands such as in Uig on Isle of Lewis.
The Best Eriskay Beaches
1. Prince’s Beach – Coilleag a’Phrionnsa
The name points to its interesting history. This was the first place Bonnie Prince Charlie set foot in Scotland. He then travelled on to Glenfinnan where he organised the 1745 Jacobite uprising to try to take the crown.
Whilst walking along the beach look out for the light pink flower called Sea bindweed. The story says that seeds fell from the prince’s handkerchief when he first stepped on to the island.
That is why the flower is called “the prince’s flower”. It is said they can only be found here but in reality they grow all over the UK.
Tide level: Best at low tide
Parking: Is available either in the village, at the Eriskay Community Shop or at the ferry terminal.
Wondering how to get to Barra? It is a 40-minute ferry ride from Eriskay. On a day trip to Barra you can explore the beaches such as Traigh Eais, Vatersay bay beach and pretty Bagh a Deas.
How to access the beach: There are two ways to access the beach
- From the ferry terminal where you can get the ferry to Barra, walk back up the road. After a couple of hundred metres a path leads down to the beach
- The beach can also be approached from the other otherwise where you will find the Politican pub. This is the start of a circular walk described in the Cicerone guide to Walking on Uist and Barra. It is 7km long and takes 3 to 4 hours. As well passing the best beaches on the island the walk also crosses to the eastern side. Before returning to your starting point it climbs to the highest point on Eriskay, Beinn Sciathan at 185 metres.
2. An Taigh Mor Beach
Despite being small this is my favourite beach on the island. What it lacks in size it makes up for by the amazing turquoise waters when the sun is shining.
Between the burial ground and the beach is a bench looking out to sea. Since there are no cafes on the island bring a takeaway cake and coffee from the local community shop. It is the perfect place to sit and admire the sea views.
And can you believe that the house at the end of the beach is a B&B. It is the best place to stay on Eriskay.
Tide level: Not important
Parking: Park on the grass next to the burial ground. The what3words location is thuds.tinned.scrub
How to access the beach: You can’t miss it since it is next to where you park. Right in front of the parking area is the slightly larger beach which is described below (number 4).
Walk a bit to the left to get to An Taigh Mor beach.
3. SS Politican Beach
Located in front of the SS Politician pub this is the second longest beach on the island.
Both the beach and the pub are named after a famous event which happened here in 1941.
Heading for North America the cargo ship SS Politician got lost in bad weather and ran aground.
It was carrying 28,000 cases of malt whisky and the locals were very excited when they heard about the grounding. Whisky was in short supply during the war years.
Being a seafaring community the islanders started plotting how to rescue the cargo.
There is no dispute that the shipwreck was looted and whisky bottles were hidden all over Eriskay and South Uist. There is less certainty whether the next part of the story is true. It says the men were wearing their wives’ dresses to make sure they didn’t get any oil stains on their trousers from the boat.
The story was the basis for Compton Mackenzie’s book called Whisky Galore which was made into a film in 1947. It might sound like the perfect pre-holiday film to watch, but you might be disappointed because it was mainly filmed on Barra.
Tide level: Not important
Parking: The parking at the pub is for customers only. Park along the road or at the Community Shop
How to access the beach: From the burial ground it is a steep scramble. It is better to access it from one of the paths by the cemetery or the SS Politican pub
4. Beach by Burial Ground
This small beach is similar to beach number 2. There is not much to choose from between these two beaches. Whether you prefer this one or the one listed above will be down to personal preference.
Tide level: Not important
Parking: Park next to the burial ground. To help you find the location the what3words for the destination is thuds.tinned.scrub
How to access the beach: It is right in front of where you park with easy access to the sand
5. Bun a’ Mhuillinn Beach
Looking for somewhere which will have no other tourists and is a bit more challenging to get to? Then this might be your answer.
Parking is some distance away. For that reason it is more suited to people looking to explore the island and who don’t mind a walk or a bit of a bike ride to get here.
Tide level: Not important
Parking: A single lane road leads all the way out past the beach but there is nowhere to park. It is better to see this beach by bike or on foot rather than by car. Park in the village at the Community Shop.
How to access beach: There is no clear path down to the beach but it is a short walk from the road
6. First Beach by the Causeway to South Uist
Dotted all over the sand are small, green plants. It means it looks different to the other beaches on the island. It is not quite the white sandy beach you see in the photos from the Hebrides.
Tide level: Even though it is best at low tide it is not large or interesting enough to mean you should time your visit with the tide. Simply visit when you drive past
Parking: Is available for a couple of cars on both sides of the road just before the causeway. There is more space on the left-hand side driving towards South Uist.
The causeway makes it easy to get to the beaches on South Uist. South Uist is a 25-mile long island and the western side is basically one long beach. In addition, there are many other attractions to see such as the An Carra standing stone and the Kildonan museum.
How to access beach: It is just a few metres from the road and visible from where you park
7. Second Beach by the Causeway to South Uist
Tide level: This is probably the only beach that is better at high tide when you can’t see all the seaweed. It is not big enough to time when you visit for the right tide level
Parking: Same as above
How to access beach: Walk across the first beach described above. At low tide you can walk mostly on the sand and small rocks
How to Get To Eriskay’s Beaches by Public Transport
I highly recommend booking a rental car for your trip
Bus: Two bus routes run to Eriskay. The first is the W16 route called “Berneray to Eriskay”. It makes several stops as it passes through the islands from Berneray in the north heading south. On Eriskay it only makes one stop, at the ferry terminal.
The second option is the W17 called “South Uist Balivanich to Eriskay”. The route starts at Benbecula airport.
On its way south this route stops more frequently than the one mentioned above. At Eriskay it makes two stops, one is by the Community Shop in the village, the other at the ferry port.
The shop is the most useful stop for the beaches numbered 2 to 4. The ferry terminal is the stop to use for Prince’s beach (number 1).
A short walk takes you between the top 4 beaches so either bus route can be used to visit the best beaches on the island.
During the summer months there are a few departures each day except for Sunday when there are no buses. Timetables are more limited during the winter. Check the latest schedule before travelling.
Bike: There are no bike rentals on Eriskay. The closest is in Lochboisdale which is 18km away.
Eriskay has a few hills and there are is a climb to and from the ferry port. Since there is limited public transport a bike is a useful way to get around this small island.
FAQs
What is the best time of year to visit the beaches?
The weather rather than the time of year is most important. Try to be here on a sunny day to see the turquoise shades of water. You are most likely to get good weather from April to the end of September.
Can I swim on the beaches in Eriskay?
It is possible to swim at the beaches on Eriskay but consider the conditions on the day when you are there. Sometimes there can be large waves. Another thing to remember is that the water temperature is rarely above low teens.
Are dogs allowed on the beaches in Eriskay?
Yes, dogs are allowed on all the beaches in Eriskay. Dogs do not need to be kept on a lead but please keep in mind that there can be sheep grazing in the area or children playing on the beach.
Are the Eriskay beaches suitable for families with children?
The beaches are perfect for families and children wanting to play on the beach. One thing to be aware of is that the beaches are popular with dog walkers. Dogs are often not on leads and might run up to you or your children.
Where did Bonnie Prince Charlie land on Eriskay?
Bonnie Prince Charlie is said to have landed at Prince’s beach on Eriskay when he first came to Scotland. He then moved on to Glenfinnan to attempt to take the crown. The beach is next to the port where ferries leave for Barra.
How big is Eriskay?
Eriskay is a small island. It is only 3 miles long and 1.5 miles wide.
Is there a causeway between Barra and Eriskay?
No there is no causeway between Barra and Eriskay. The only way to get between the two island is by ferry. The journey takes circa 40 minutes. Several ferries make the journey every day.
Is Eriskay linked to South Uist?
Yes a causeway links Eriskay and South Uist making it easy to get between the two islands.
Which beach is best for sunset?
All the beaches except for beach number 5 are west facing meaning they have sunset views. The top picks are Prince’s beach and the SS Politican beach.
Can I have a picnic on the beach?
The only reason not to have a picnic on the beach is because it is a popular place to bring dogs. They will be attracted to your food. Unless you are comfortable which dogs approaching you it is better not to eat on the beach.
Are there any local restaurants or cafes nearby?
The only place to eat on Eriskay is the SS Politician pub. Serving a standard pub menu it gets good reviews for its food and ambiance. In the village the Community Shop sells coffee from a self-service machine and has a limited range of cakes, biscuits and other groceries.
Final Thoughts: Is Eriskay’s Beaches Worth Visiting?
Eriskay is worth visiting for its history and the top 4 beaches listed above. Being a small island it can be explored in half a day, unless you do the circular walk.
An added bonus is that it is easy to get to with all the islands up to Berneray connected by causeways.
One thing the island doesn’t have are the long stretches of white sand disappearing into the distance. Luckily you can see this on some of the islands further north such as South Uist, North Uist and Berneray. Or jump on the ferry to Barra and Vatersay.
In between these islands is Isle of Benbecula but it’s beaches can’t quite measure up to the ones of the neighbouring islands.
LOOKING FOR MORE ON THE OUTER HEBRIDES?
Top 10 Best South Uist Beaches
Top 10 Best Eriskay, Benbecula and South Uist Accommodation Options
