Accessibility Guide for RSPB Scotland Balranald nature reserve

Travel by public transport

You can get to RSPB Scotland Balranald nature reserve by bus and boat or ferry.

• There is a bus service which runs across the Outer Hebrides, although these do not always stop at Balranald. Contact Grenitote Travel on 01876 560 244 on the morning of desired travel to ensure the bus will stop at Balranald. The bus stop is 0.50 miles / 1.6 km / 1.6 km from RSPB Balranald Nature Reserve. The bus stop is 0.5 miles / 0.8 km from RSPB Scotland Balranald nature reserve.

The nearest port is Lochmaddy. The port is 16 miles / 25.8 km from RSPB Scotland Balranald nature reserve.

Situated on North Uist, either a ferry or a plane will need to be taken to reach the island. Ferries for Lochmaddy leave from Uig on Skye, but the reserve can also be reached via ferries from Mallaig and Oban which berth at Lochboisdale in South Uist.
The ferries run throughout the year, and more details can be found at www.calmac.co.uk

Travel by taxi

You can get a taxi with Alda's Taxis / Minibus by calling 01876 500 215. You can get a taxi with A1 Taxi's by calling 07769 637755.

Parking

We have a car park. There are accessible parking spaces. The parking is less than 50 metres from the main entrance. Parking is free.

There is a drop-off point at the main entrance. The drop-off point has a dropped kerb.

From the car park to the entrance, there is level access. The route is 1200mm wide, or more.

Path to main entrance

From the street to the main entrance, there is level access.

Main entrance

The main entrance has level access.

The main door is side hung and manual.

Visual Impairment - General Information

Some parts of the venue have low lighting.

Public toilet

Balranald Nature Reserve toilet

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. The route is 900mm wide, or more.

The toilet door is 900mm wide.

The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the left.

There is 600mm at the side of the toilet. There is 1350mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 400mm high. The toilets have handrails.

Designated Walking Trail

Balranald Nature Trail

The trail is 4500metres long. Some of the trail has a loose surface. Some of the trail has cobbles.

• The middle section of the path is blocked by a kissing gate, and beyond the path is very variable in quality. The trail is sloped. The trail has seats.

•             The first part of the path follows the crofting road, which is partially tarred and the rest is made up of compressed sand and soil. The middle section is blocked by narrow kissing gates and the track becomes a narrow path through the vegetation. This has had no management on it, and is a natural path. This crosses boulder beaches and some steep areas, which are not recommended for anyone of limited mobility. The latter part of the track again joins the road, or follows easy walking paths along the top of the beach.

Beach

The beach access point is 10.00meters from the nearest car park.

The path to the beach from the lower car park (photographed) is steep and on loose sand. 

Alternative beach access

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access.

The beaches associated with Balranald Nature Reserve do not have any infrastructure associated with them. The access in places is steep, but there is a gradual gradiant at the access from Hougharry township.

Accessibility equipment

Dogs have full access to the nature reserve. Ensure all excrement is picked up and removed from the reserve. There is a bin provided by a local crofter. This is situated on the fence outside the visitor centre.