Causeways are some of the UK’s most unique and scenic routes, offering access to islands and peninsulas via narrow strips of land, man-made roads or sandy crossings across the sea.
They often link to remote islands and carry layers of history, from wartime defences to ancient pilgrimage routes. Access can be straightforward or highly dependent on tide times, with certain routes cut off daily by rising water.
From the Outer Hebrides of Scotland to the Wild Atlantic Way running down the west coast of Ireland, these are some of the best drivable and walkable causeways around the UK and Ireland, offering adventure, history and stunning coastal scenery. Just make sure you cross safely – and never during a rising tide.
What is a causeway?
Driving causeways
Holy Island Causeway, Northumberland
The Holy Island of Lindisfarne was once the monastery home and hermitage of St Aiden and St Cuthbert. These days, this medieval island is an international centre of pilgrimage, with pilgrims crossing at low tide from the Northumberland mainland every year. Groups will follow a walk of between 70 to 120 miles in the days running up to Good Friday, and cross over to the island to visit Lindisfarne Priory for Easter to pay homage to the role the island played in bringing the Christian gospel to England.
A mile off the mainland in the North Sea, Lindisfarne is joined to the mainland by a causeway, which is cut off twice a day by fast, incoming tides. You can drive over the causeway, but there is also an additional walking route over the sand, but walkers are advised to do it during daylight hours with someone who has local knowledge. As with most causeways, never cross during a rising tide! Next, head south to the Farne Islands, accessible by boat.
Uist Causeways, Outer Hebrides
These Scottish islands in the Outer Hebrides are connected by a chain of causeways: Eriskay to South Uist, South Uist to Benbecula, Benbecula to Grimsay, Grimsay to North Uist, and North Uist to Berneray. To get to these islands, you take a ferry from nearby islands Barra or Harris. These stunning single-track roads take in uninterrupted views of the Hebrides’ famed bright white sand and jade sea. When crossing the Sound of Eriskay, look out for bottlenose dolphins, seals and birds of prey. These aren’t tidal causeways, so are usually always open for visitors.
Churchill Barriers, Orkney Islands
These four causeways span a total of 2.3km, connecting the Orkney mainland to the isles of Lamb Holm, Glimps Holm, Burray and South Ronaldsay. They were born out of the sinking of the HMS Royal Oak in 1939, after a German u-boat entered Scapa Flow – the sheltered body of water here. Winston Churchill ordered the building of these barriers to block off the eastern approaches to Scapa Flow, the labour of which was mostly provided by Italian prisoners of war. They were also charged with building the stunning Italian Chapel on Lamb Holm, created out of two Nissen huts – steel barracks used during the war.
Officially opened in May 1945, the barriers now act as causeways – but you can still see the wrecks of blockships previously used to block the channels into Scapa Flow.
Omey Island, County Galway (Ireland)
You can drive or walk across a wide sandy beach to Omey Island in County Galway – but only at low tide. Set along the scenic Sky Road Loop near Claddaghduff, the island is home to the medieval remains of Teampaill Feichin (Feichin’s Church), on the site of a seventh-century Christian village. It was buried in sand until 1981, when it was excavated.
Vatersay Causeway, Outer Hebrides
Popular with walkers, Vatersay is the very start of the 200-odd miles of Hebridean Way, a route that spans ten breathtaking islands in the Outer Hebrides. At the far south end of the island chain, Vatersay’s causeway connects to the nearby island of Barra, from which you can get a ferry to the Uist islands. At just 250m long, this causeway was built between 1989 and 1991.
Before this, the island was only reachable via passenger ferry, making the transportation of cars, cattle and goods challenging. Like the Uist causeways, the Vatersay causeway isn’t impacted by the tides – but it may be closed in severe gales or dangerous weather conditions.
Pedestrian causeways
St Michael's Mount, Cornwall
One of the best castles in the UK, St Michael's Mount is located 366 metres off the coast of Marazion on the south Cornish coast – linked by a granite causeway. Visitors can cross from the mainland to this ancient tidal island at low tide, or take a short boat trip at high tide. Managed by the National Trust, this coastal castle and chapel have been home to the St Aubyn family since around 1650.
We named St Michael’s Mount as one of the most extraordinary castles in the world.
Ynys Llanddwyn, Anglesey
Welsh for “Llanddwyn Island”, Ynys Llanddwyn is a small tidal island attached to the mainland at low tide. Tŵr Mawr Lighthouse sits atop the island on the western edge of the Menai Strait, which separates Anglesey from the mainland of Wales. Head to the island for rolling sand dunes, large rocky outcrops and a visit to St Dwynwen’s Church, the remains of a medieval chapel dedicated to the Welsh patron saint of lovers.
Cramond Island, Edinburgh
Cramond Island is a tidal island about a mile out to sea in the Firth of Forth near Edinburgh. A paved path leads the way out to the island at low tide, next to a row of concrete pylons, which were constructed as a defensive system during the Second World War. Check safe crossing times before venturing out to the island.
The island itself is uninhabited. In the 1800s, it was used to graze sheep, with remains of a stone jetty. The farmstead on the island was later used as a holiday let. During the two world wars, the island was requisitioned by the military, with buildings and defensive structures still visible today.
Worm's Head Causeway, Gower Peninsula
With views over the stunning Rhossili Bay, Worm’s Head in South Gower is well worth a visit. Wild ponies keep you company as you drop down to the rocky outcrop, which is accessible for about 2.5 hours either side of low tide. It’s also a great spot for grey seals, who frolic in the water and bask on the rocks in this area. The walk out to Worm’s Head is not for the faint-hearted, however. The rocky terrain can be slippery and challenging, and the headland is about a mile long.
Welsh poet Dylan Thomas described the Worm’s Head as “the very promontory as depression” – and once spent the night on the headland after being trapped by the tide.
Burgh Island, Devon
Devon's tidal Burgh Island was the inspiration for several novels by Agatha Christie, who owned a beach house there. The remains of a chapel are still on the island, believed to have been built around 1411. Those travelling on foot can reach the island from the mainland at Bigbury-on-Sea via a strip of sand. The Burgh Island Hotel has a sea tractor, which transports guests.
Top image: Causeway connecting Isle of Eriskay to South Uist in Scotland's Western Isles (credit: Getty Images)
