![An Tobha [The Hoe]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fs0.geograph.org.uk%2Fgeophotos%2F07%2F51%2F76%2F7517643_f07e8f71.jpg&w=3840&q=75&dpl=dpl_HxnhrACFBuHaG2wuQvfDwvzaqGXF)
Marilyn · Outer Hebrides
An Tobha [The Hoe]
An Tobha — 'the hoe' in Norse-influenced Gaelic — is the highest point of Sandray, the uninhabited island in the NL 593 grid square south of Vatersay. The 171m summit requires a charter boat to reach but rewards visitors with a wholly empty island.
Quick facts
- Height
- 171m/ 561ft
- Grid ref
- NL 59389 87250
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
blanket bog 50% · Lewisian gneiss 35% · rocky summit 15%
After landing on the east shore from a charter from Castlebay or Vatersay, climb directly up the heathery flank to the rocky summit dome. The whole circuit takes around 2-3 hours on the island itself, plus the boat passage either side.
Terrain
Pathless heather and gneiss with patches of machair near the landing beaches. The interior is rough underfoot but free of any walked tracks because the island has been uninhabited since 1934.
In winter
Effectively impossible in winter because boat operators rarely sail to Sandray once Atlantic swells build from October onwards. A late-spring or summer expedition is the only sensible window.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow9h 1m
- Edinburgh12h 37m
OS maps: OS Landranger 31, OS Explorer 452S
Mobile signal: Poor. No EE signal; South Uist interior has virtually no coverage.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:37
- Sunset
- 22:25
- Civil dawn
- 03:30
- Civil dusk
- 23:32
NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 June 2026
An Tobha [The Hoe] — common questions
- How hard is An Tobha [The Hoe]?
- An Tobha [The Hoe] is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Terrain: Pathless heather and gneiss with patches of machair near the landing beaches.
- When is the best time to climb An Tobha [The Hoe]?
- The standard good-weather months for An Tobha [The Hoe] are March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October. Outside those months, expect winter conditions on the high ground — full mountain kit, navigation skills, and a check of the SAIS avalanche forecast for the relevant region.
- Can I bring my dog up An Tobha [The Hoe]?
- Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.
- Is there mobile signal on An Tobha [The Hoe]?
- Poor. No EE signal; South Uist interior has virtually no coverage.
- Is An Tobha [The Hoe] safe in winter?
- Effectively impossible in winter because boat operators rarely sail to Sandray once Atlantic swells build from October onwards. A late-spring or summer expedition is the only sensible window.
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