Sanday – Over the Bridge to the White Sand of Traigh Bhàn

The walk

The walk from the pier to Sanday's white beach and St Edward's Chapel is about 3 km (2 miles) each way by our measure on the foot router, so about 6 km there and back. Allow about two hours with time at the beach. It starts and ends at the pier, by the Rhu Church. The ground is the harbour road, the bridge, a rough shore to the beach and a quiet road to the chapel.

Sanday is the low island that closes Canna's harbour on its south side, and a timber-decked bridge over a tidal inlet joins the two. Built in 2006, after storms broke the old footbridge, it carries the island road. The road round the harbour leads to it. On the far side, by a fisherman's shrine, the shore leads round to Traigh Bhàn, a beach of white sand in a sheltered bay. The way along the shore is rough, so watch your footing. Early in the morning there may be otter prints in the sand.

Sanday's road carries on to St Edward's Chapel. It was built in 1890 with money from the Marchioness of Bute, in memory of her father, and served as a landmark for the fishing boats that used Canna. It was made into a study centre in 2000 and isn't in use now.

From late April to July a longer walk goes on along Sanday's south coast to the sea stacks of Dùn Mòr and Dùn Beag, where puffins nest. It is best attempted in calm weather, and in the breeding season great skuas nesting on the way dive at walkers. Seals pup in winter at Garrisdale, at the island's west end; keep well back from any seals on the shore and keep dogs under close control. Canna and Sanday belong to the National Trust for Scotland.

Café Canna is shut until April and the campsite is shut for the winter. The Canna Community Shop is open day and night, every day of the year, on an honesty system. Book a bed on the island before you book the boat, and bring food. Winter weather cancels sailings and can keep you on the island a night or two longer than you planned, so look at CalMac's service status page before you travel.