The island provides many opportunities for walks of varying degrees of difficulty.
If time is short, a meander around the bay from the pier to the imposing St Edward’s Church on Sanday takes in many of Canna’s highlights in a couple of hours. Walking along the road, you can admire the unusual little Presbyterian church, the Rhu Church with its ‘rocket’ tower, before arriving at the community shop and Café Canna.
It then passes the Change House, so called because that was where all the business of the island used to be conducted in the 18th century.
You can’t miss the iconic little post office beside the old red phone box.
Another 2 minutes’ walk will take you to the St Columba Chapel with its beautiful stained glass windows.
If you have time, a quick detour behind the chapel will take you to Campbell’s Wood, where John Lorne Campbell is buried.
Walk through the wood for a couple of hundred yards and you will arrive at the impressive Celtic Cross and the curious Punishment Stone.
Back on the main road, a stroll through the Square (or along the shore if the tide is out) will lead you to the bridge over to Sanday, past Eilean a’ Bhaird (the Island of the Bard). The bard in question is Canna’s bailie from the 18th century: the famous Jacobite poet Alexander Macdonald.
See the Fisherman’s Shrine at the end of the bridge with its stained glass.
From there to St Edward’s overlooking the harbour is a stroll of about 30 minutes by the old road along the shore. St Edward’s is closed to the public but remains an impressive building.
If time permits, follow the ‘puffin trail’ in spring, to catch views of the birds out on the Dun Mor stack.
Turning right before the bridge will alternatively take you on a longer walk past the fank (sheep pen), the campsite, the prehistoric souterraines and onto Tarbert beach and beyond to the far west, along the moor.
Leaflets with details of points of interest will be available in the Pier waiting room and the shop.
