Why visit?
Visit for:
- birdwatching
- coasts
- geology
- scenery
- mammals
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This stunning beach has a beginners snorkel zone comprised of small rocky reefs providing habitat for fish, crabs and urchins. In between the reefs, large shoals of sand eels can be seen.
On the other side of the headland, across the machair off the slipway, urchins and large pollack live among the kelp beds. Deep water and currents make this an advanced area.
Both sites are best snorkelled at low tide.
Plan a visitBy road
From Àird Àsaig, follow the A859 then turn left onto the B887, following this road west until it ends at Huisinis beach (on the way passing Bunavoneader Whaling Station (Bun Abhainn Eadarra), the North Harris Eagle Observatory Car Park and Wild Harris). Note that the B887 is a single track road with passing places and has lots of sharp twists and turns; despite being only 13 miles, it can be an over 30 minute drive from Àird Àsaig.
The designated parking areas either side of the Huisinis Gateway building and are designed to limit impacts on the machair habitat, and the campervan hook-ups 400m before the township help keep vehicle pressure to a minimum. Please follow all vehicular signage in the area and note that parking on the machair or the beachhead is strictly not permitted.
Please note that parking meters are in operation to support maintenance of this site and others by the North Harris Trust. All parking meters accept contactless card payments only – cash payment is not possible. Current tariffs are shown HERE.
Overnight parking is tolerated, however please bear in mind this is a car-park on croft land, not a campsite.
The nearest electric vehicle charging station is in Tarbert (16 miles away).
Access Google Maps location pin here (TBC).
By rail
N/A
By bus
Buses are provided locally by Lochs Motor Transport
Provided by Google Maps
Here is the wind forecast and tide times for this snorkel site. It is your responsibility to assess whether these conditions are suitable for snorkelling.
| West Loch Tarbert (Outer Hebrides) Tide Times Sun 27th Jul 2025 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tide | Time | Height |
| Low | 02:53 | 0.66m |
| High | 09:13 | 3.43m |
| Low | 14:52 | 0.86m |
| High | 21:19 | 3.73m |
| www.tidetimes.org.uk | ||
Other considerations
Please be a responsible snorkeller; do not touch, take or tease wildlife.
This area is home to breeding seabirds (April-September) and seals (harbour seals June-July, grey seals August-December). Please behave responsibly and stay distant, wildlife should be left undisturbed. For more information see sealalliance.org and nature.scot. Avoid disturbing ground-nesting birds and livestock; follow the Outdoor Access and Marine Wildlife Watching codes.
Snorkelling can be dangerous and is done entirely at your own risk. Information is provided free of charge; it is your responsibility to check the conditions present on the day and assess whether it is safe to snorkel.
Please read our top tips to being a safe and responsible snorkeller.
Look out for the following species on your snorkel...
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