Walks

Shortly after leaving the pier, the Visitor Hub appears on your right. Opening in summer 2024, this space will provide information and facilities to all visitors; you’ll also find the Ranger Office here.

The next site appearing on your right will be Rhu Church. Stop to admire the beautifully designed gate and rocket-like tower. Continue along the road, taking the first dirt-track on your right. This gentle path leads to Coroghan Barn – one of the last surviving examples of a bank barn in Scotland. A short detour to the right will take you to a black sand beach, or take the farm gate on the left to continue your walk.

Climbing the hill, aim for the top right-hand corner of the field. Looking back, you will be rewarded with views of the bay and beyond to the Isle of Rum. Pass through another farm gate and choose either to walk left along the fence (followed by a steep climb up to the right onto heathland), or skirt the hill to the right for a more gentle approach.

Take a moment to take in the natural environment and look out for the wildflowers – heather, Hebridean orchid and wild primrose can all be found here. Compass Hill is the perfect place to enjoy extensive views across the Isle of Canna and out to Rum (to the south-east) and even to the Isle of Skye (in the north). Keen birdwatchers may see a variety of seabirds and perhaps even a glimpse of the elusive sea eagles and golden eagles that frequent the cliffs.

Behind Columba’s Chapel, you’ll find a small red shed filled with treasures! Here, the community and the National Trust for Scotland have been amassing a collection of items from Canna’s history.

Follow the arrows around the base of the hill and through the farm gate into the woods. Known as Campbell’s Wood, this is the final resting place of John Lorne Campbell – the last Laird of Canna. Follow the trail that meanders through the woods, stopping to read the gravestone of J L Campbell.

This route takes in extensive farmland. If you’re visiting in spring, be sure to look out for lambs and calves! Pass through a smaller gate and into a field. Ahead of you is the site of A’chill, a settlement dated to the 8th or 9th century. Perhaps the most obvious remains are the intricately carved ancient Christian Cross (dated to between the 7th and 9th century, and linked to St Columba) and the Punishment Stone. Legend has it that offenders had their thumbs wedged into the hole in the stone as a punishment. Sadly, in 1851 the land was vacated during the Highland Clearances.

Follow the fence line to the left and pass through the graveyard. Continue to follow the path alongside the old farm wall. Reaching the farm gate, turn right to join the path from which you came.

The imposing building of St Edward’s Church is visible from most places on Canna. Although not currently open to the public, the church is the perfect place for a picnic, cup of tea or just a moment taking in the views. From here, the first puffin sign will be visible on a gate post near the coast. During the summer, this is one of the most clearly marked walking routes on Canna!

The path winds through the marine heathland of Sanday, a unique ecosystem in which a variety of wildflowers thrive. Perhaps the most recognisable is the Hebridean orchid, which can be seen here in a number of colours. On a closer look, a variety of insect life can be found too, including caterpillars, butterflies and moths.

Following the signposted track, pause intermittently and look to the skies to be rewarded with an abundance of birdlife. Please be aware of ground-nesting birds hiding in the undergrowth, including snipes, skylarks and northern lapwings. Keep an eye out for skuas, which nest on the top of hills and are fiercely protective of their nests. In and around the bay, you may notice shags and cormorants, whilst further along the coast guillemots and razorbills can be seen feeding.

Having reached the puffin stacks, please be respectful of the birds and give them space. Patience and stillness are often rewarded!

This route follows much the same track as the Puffin Trail, and so in the summer months most of the path is well-marked. Begin at St Edward’s Church, taking the gate out onto the marine heathland (follow the Puffin Trail markers).

This unique ecosystem supports a number of Scottish wildflowers (including the Hebridean orchid) as well as insect life and bird life. Pick up a bird leaflet from the pier waiting room or community shop before your walk for a comprehensive list of what you may see. A number of ground-nesting birds (snipes, northern lapwings and skylarks) call the Sanday heathland home. The coast is abundant with seabirds including guillemots, cormorants and of course puffins.

As you near the south-east coast (with the Isle of Rum directly ahead of you) between two hills, the Puffin Trail will turn to the right. Here, follow the quad bike tracks to the left, staying closer to the coast. In parts, the area becomes boggy – please keep to the path.

The view begins to open up here, offering sweeping vistas towards the Mainland on your left and Rum directly ahead of you. The area of water between Canna and Rum is a great place to spot whales and dolphins, with sightings of minke whales being particularly common here.

Arriving at the lighthouse, take a moment to read the small silver plaque. Built in 1907, the lighthouse is still in use, warning of dangerous unseen rocks around the coast.

Next to Change House is a little green shed that houses Canna Post Office. From here, a short but steep climb up the track will lead you to the first farm gate. Passing through and looking behind offers views across the farmland and towards the bay. In spring there may be lambs in the fields, and in summer the natural harbour will be full of boats.

Follow the dirt road past the first field until you reach the second gate on your right. Passing through, immerse yourself in these Atlantic hazel woods – the Celtic rainforests of the Scottish west coast. This natural habitat allows a variety of mosses and lichen to thrive; ferns and spring flowers (such as bluebell and primrose) are also abundant here.

The path borders the back of Canna House and Garden, providing views into the site which is currently closed for conservation and restoration (due to reopen spring 2025). A short but steep slope takes you away from Canna House and further into the woodland, continuing along the magical trail over a small wooden bridge. Keep an eye out for small garden birds, cuckoos, and perhaps even a long-eared owl.

The walk ends by a gate opposite the site of Coroghan Barn, one of the last surviving examples of bank barns in Scotland. From here, either go back the way you came, or cross the field to Coroghan Barn and follow the track right, towards the Community shop.

Take the road through the farm gate at Jane’s Cottage, heading up a short, steep hill until the field opens out in front of you. Moving away from the dirt track, take the grass path to the right, past Caslum House and along the stone wall. Slip through the farm gate in the top right-hand corner, taking a moment to look back at your first view across the bay to Sanday.

Follow the dirt track around the right-hand side of Kate’s hill, skirting the other fields. If you’re visiting in spring, look out for lambs and calves! The views here are very open, offering a good view of the bay and Sanday.

Kate’s Wood should be evident ahead of you. Enter through a farm gate at the bottom, and follow the well-maintained paths. You have a few choices here: take the path that climbs up through the woodland offering spectacular views across the bay to Sanday and become immersed in the woodland flora and fauna. Listen out for cuckoos in spring and summer. Or follow the lower path along the bottom of the woodland and exit through the far gate. Occasionally, sea eagles can be seen soaring in front of the cliffs to your left.

From the far side of Kate’s Wood, it is possible to join the A’Chill path, or cut across the field towards Tighard.