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Footwear

Lewis and much of Harris consist of peat bog and even the summit plateaus of the highest mountains can be distinctly ‘quaggy’. The wet conditions underfoot might lead you to consider wearing wellingtons for walking but this would be unwise. While they might be a suitable choice for short, low-level walks, wellingtons do not provide the support needed to move safely on steep ground; neither do they have the type of sole needed for a good grip on wet rock. Today most good quality, ankle-height walking boots are totally waterproof and you will only get a wet foot if you go in up to your calf.

In the days when walkers wore knee length breeches gaiters were ubiquitous, but nowadays they are less often seen on the hills. They will provide protection when moving through wet grass and heather and will certainly help keep your trousers clean, but they cannot be expected to keep your feet completely dry.

Abandoned blackhouses around Ob Leasaid in South East Harris

Walking in the more remote parts of the islands is inevitably going to involve fording streams; carrying a pair of chunky plastic beach shoes and a towel in your pack may be advisable, especially if you do not have overnight access to drying facilities. However, if you cannot see the bottom of a stream or if it is in spate, you should either venture upstream to find a narrower and easier place to cross or turn back.