Untitled Document

Ben Tianavaig.

Start. Camustainavaig.

Route. Camustainavaig - Creagan na Sgalain - Mc Queen's Rocks - Ben Tianavaig - Mc Queen's Rocks - Creagan na Sgalain - Camustainavaig.

Notes. Forget the Trotternish ridge and honey pots of the Old Man of Storr and Quiraing, with their large pay and display car parks and lots of people, the scenery up on the ridge is nothing short of spectacular, the views terrific. But today we headed for the quiet, a hill with green paths and few people, with a free car park and awesome vistas from above precipitous sea cliffs, a hill where Eagles dare. Ben Tianavaig dominates the Portree skyline, a craggy pyramid rising from sea level to the south east of the town, we climbed it from the south, a small car park at Camustainavaig on the edge of Tianavaig Bay has room for a few cars.

Fifty yards up the road a red post box marked the start of the hill path, and a cracking good path it was. Fenced at first through a Rowan cops before swinging right passing above frightening drops, with loads of air to our right we headed round the corner onto safer ground, a good path then guided us up the hill. At one point we stood watching an Eagle souring on the thermals, a majestic aerial display, too high to photograph, later whilst having a brew not one but two young Eagles rose above the cliff edge before diving out of sight, we were lucky enough to see them again further up the hill.

After a couple of rocky steps the summit tilted into view, as we approached the cylindrical trig point the views stopped us in our tracks. North to the giant finger of the Old Man of Storr, north east over the Sound of Raasay to the islands of Raasay, Flodda and Rona with the hills of the mainland beyond, north west offers views over Portree and Skeabost, on a distant horizon the outer islands of Harris and Lewis. Below our feet we even had a mini Quiraing and hidden valley.

Having took loads of pictures we dragged ourselves away from the summit, our route back was simple just follow the path that guided us up the hill, taking care not to slip on the airy exposed bits, as I’m typing this you can guess an uneventful descent was had by all.

view route map.

home.

Sunlight dances across the Sound of Raasay with Tianavaig Bay to the right.

Above the Rowan cops looking down on Tianavaig Bay.

Camustainavaig a scattering of homes overlooking Tianavaig Bay.

Stunning views over silvery seascapes to the Red Cuillin of Skye.

The Isle of Raasay, Dun Caan being the dominant top.

Wonderful views over Tianavaig Bay and the Braes, on the far horizon tilting into view the Black Cuillin.

Viewing Beinn na Capull with the Black Cuillin rising behind.

Nearing the final pull to the summit viewing the Torran end of Raasay and the tiny island of Rona.

Still climbing looking back through the Narrows of Raasay.

Stretching to the east the Isle of Raasay.

Mentioned in the text above, below our feet a mini Quiraing and hidden valley.

The final climb, in the distance The Storr one of the most popular attractions on the Isle of Skye.

Could you wish a better place than this little walked hill on the Isle of Skye, looking south over the Braes with the Red Cuillin to the left, the Black Cuillin far right, the dominant peak in the centre being Glamaig.