Walk 3753 - printer friendly version

Blabheinn via south ridge Walk

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 8.0 miles / 13 km

Ascent - 3400 feet / 1030 metres

Grade - mod/hard

Start - OS grid reference NG545172
Lat 57.1796980 + Long -6.0638091
Postcode IV49 9AX (approx. location only)

A walk to the summit of Blabheinn, a Munro rising to 929 m. above sea level is said by some to be the finest hill on Skye. In particular the view from the east along the road to Elgol shows the magnificent grandeur of this peak, which is the most dominant of the Cuillin outliers. The route of ascent starts with easy walking along a moorland track before turning north to make an ascent up the south ridge.

The start is the small layby (grid ref. NG545172) on the road to Elgol about 500 metres beyond the turn off for Kilmarie. After parking cross the road to the gate and stile to join a track crossing a rugged moorland landscape. Along the way several burns are crossed as you make easy progress. To you right is Slat Bheinn which dominates the scene as you head towards Am Mam col marked by a cairn. The view ahead opens up to the Black Cuillin and you also get you first view of Blabheinn's south ridge.

The track veers north with a view across Camasunary bay below and Glen Sligachan ahead. Just before a hairpin bend in the track, bear right at a small cairn onto a small path that soon crosses Adhainn na Leac (grid ref. NG523194). Shortly after crossing the stream, turn right off the path and start the ascent of the ridge. The onward route twists and turns up the ridge avoiding rocky outcrops and gullies. If you wish, you can tackle the outcrops head on as the scrambling is rewarding and not too difficult.

As you gain height the initial grassy nature of the ridge leads becomes rockier. The path avoids all difficulties and leads to the to a large cairn on the southern summit. To continue to the north summit requires a 15-metre descent across a ledge which requires a head for heights and scrambling experience. If this is beyond your capabilities, then be satisfied with the view from the South Summit before retracing your steps down the ridge and back to the start. If you have the necessary ability, then head up the north summit which is the highest point of the hill. On return the 15- metre scramble is less daunting.

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