A walk to Laig Bay and the Singing Sands on Eigg

A walk · Isle of Eigg

Laig Bay – White Sand, Singing Sand and Rum Across the Water

Laig Bay is the big white beach on the north-west side of Eigg, and it looks straight across the water to the mountains of Rum.

A little way along the coast are the Singing Sands, where the dry sand squeaks under your boots. In winter this isn't a day trip, because the ferry gives little more than two hours ashore, so it needs a night or more on the island. From April, with longer days and the summer boats from Mallaig and Arisaig, it can be done in a day with a hired bike.

Time: From Cleadale, about an hour and a half: 3.7 km, a little over 2 miles, with about 100 metres of climb, on Walkhighlands' figures. From the pier, add the road across the island: about four and a half miles, and an hour and a half to two hours, each way.
The path: Tarmac road as far as Cleadale, then field paths and the shore, wet in places.
Where to start: Start on foot at the pier at Galmisdale, or at Cleadale if you're staying there. Visitors can't bring a car to Eigg. In Mallaig, the West Bay car park is charged and five minutes from the ferry, and the East Bay car park is free and 10 to 15 minutes' walk.
Set off: From November to January, set off from the pier by 9.30am if you're walking there and back.
When to go: All year for anyone staying on Eigg. In winter, from 19 October 2026 to 25 March 2027, the ferry sails on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and gives little more than two hours ashore, so it needs a night or more on the island. From April it works as a day trip with a hired bike.
Dogs: On a lead: cows and sheep graze freely.
Children: An easy beach walk from Cleadale. From the pier it's about nine miles of road there and back, and the beaches on top.
Toilets: Toilets and showers at Taigh Nighe by the pier, open day and night all year.
Before you set out: In winter the ferry gives little more than two hours ashore, so stay a night or more. The shore between the two beaches can be walked only at low tide.

The walk

Visitors reach Eigg as foot passengers on CalMac's ferry from Mallaig, and can't bring a car. On the winter timetable, from 19 October 2026 to 25 March 2027, the boat leaves Mallaig at 10.15am on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and reaches Eigg at 11.35am, or at 2.15pm on a Saturday. Boats back leave Eigg at 11.55am on a Monday, 1.55pm on a Wednesday and a Friday and 2.35pm on a Saturday. That's little more than two hours ashore, so in winter plan on a night or more on the island. Book the boat with the Mallaig port office on 01687 310240, option 2, by 4pm on the working day before you sail. Gales cancel sailings in winter, so keep a day in hand. Laig Bay is on the far side of the island from the pier, below the crofts of Cleadale. Eigg's one main road runs there, about four and a half miles, and the Trust that owns the island says it takes between an hour and a half and two hours to walk across. Eigg Adventures hires bikes at the pier, though ask ahead in winter, and if you stay at Cleadale the beach is on the doorstep.

Laig is a wide white beach open to the Atlantic, with the Cuillin of Rum standing across the Sound, and the Trust calls it one of the most memorable views on the west coast. The Singing Sands are a smaller beach along the coast. The sand there is pure quartz, and it squeaks when you scuff it in dry weather. Walkhighlands gives the round to the Singing Sands from the war memorial at the Cleadale crossroads as 3.7 km, a little over two miles, with about 100 metres of climb, and allows an hour and a half. At low tide you can walk round the shore from one beach to the other. The rock between them is cut by dark bands of basalt, and behind Laig old storm beaches stand five metres above today's sea. The road is tarmac, and beyond Cleadale it's field paths and the shore, wet in places. Cows and sheep graze freely, so keep dogs on a lead and shut gates behind you. From November to January the sun is down before 5pm, and before 4pm in December, so if you're walking from the pier and back, set off by 9.30am.

The Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust's website lists the places to stay, from the hostel and camping pods near the pier to bothies and B&Bs at Cleadale. Only the Eigg Organics bothy is listed as open all year, so ring before you book the boat. The Galmisdale Bay Cafe and Bar is beside the island's shop at the head of the pier. From autumn it asks you to book by noon on the day you want to eat, on 01687 482487. The toilets and showers next door are open day and night. From April a day trip works. Arisaig Marine's boat sails to Eigg from Arisaig between April and September, and on CalMac's 2026 summer timetable the Monday boat gave about five and a half hours ashore. The 2027 summer timetables are still to come. Laig is a long way from the pier, so on a day trip hire a bike for the road.

If it rains

The beach has no shelter and the Singing Sands only sing when the sand is dry. In rain, walk the road to Cleadale for the view of Rum and keep the shore for a dry spell. Wind is what stops the ferry: check CalMac's service status before you travel.

Before you go

Book the ferry to Eigg
Book the CalMac ferry from Mallaig to Eigg with the Mallaig port office on 01687 310240, option 2, by 4pm on the working day before you sail, out and back, and be at the pier 20 minutes before the boat.
Book Galmisdale Bay Cafe and Bar
From autumn, book by noon on the day you want to eat at the Galmisdale Bay Cafe and Bar by the pier, on 01687 482487.

Find out more

For further reading, before you go.