Hosta

As well as Langass the North Uist AAC cross country runners use Hosta beach for their training. From January right through till the end of the cross country season Hosta is the training route used by the club every Saturday. Hosta Beach is situated in the North-West of North Uist and is roughly 10 minutes drive from Paible School. This picturesque beach is known for its strong water currents, magnificent waves and tourist attraction but it still provides a stern test for the cross country runners.

The main marked out course is 1 mile long and is a mixture of machair, dunes, beach and gravel path. There is also several other running routes that can be used instead of the main 1 mile course, all of varying distances. The beach is soft sand with steep dunes and the machair is littered with rabbit holes so running Hosta is not easy. Age determines distance and course, but 'loops' and 'repetitions' are part of the training as much as running the course for a personal best.

Hosta has been used on numerous occasions as the course for the Western Isles cross country championships and is a popular course with those that come from the other islands. It is a test of several cross country skills and this coupled with Langass prepares the North Uist athletes for all hurdles that they are likely to encounter on their travels around the mainland.

The Hosta beach course is loathed by some, but overall is more friendly and forgiving than Langass. Those who dislike it can still do the course and the distaste is more a beach problem than a course issue.