Bla Bheinn

This magnificent mountain is just a Monroe (at 3,000ft exactly), but looks and feels much more. It sits at the south of the series of mountains to the east of the Glen Sligachan at the heart of the Cuillin, just inland from Camasunary beach; its status as a Red or Black Cuillin is slightly uncertain, although it is more generally regarded as an outlier of the Black Cuillin.

Bla Bheinn is widely admired for its looks, with its tough yet shapely  rocky dome and its long, sharply elegant southern ridge descending towards Camasunary beach, all commanding some of the best views in Skye, and that is of course saying a lot: across Sgurr na Stri and the jagged glamour of the Black Cuillin ridge to the west; up Glen Sligachan to the north and south along the Elgol Peninsula to the sea and the Smaller Isles; and East across Loch Slapin to the furthest of the Red Cuillin. Marvellous.

This is not an easy climb, both steep and complex, on a rough and sheer mountain, so should be undertaken in good weather only. The normal route is from the the Elgol road, at the head of Loch Slapin, plodding up the Allt na Dunaiche valley,  as it climbs, steeply at times and with beautiful waterfalls, up into the vast bowl to the east of Bla Bheinn. You then swing left up a steep little canyon right into the heart of the Fionna Choire corrie right under Bla Bheinn. You turn right to slog up on indistinct paths to the east ridge, which you then follow on a clearer path to swing round around westward to the summit. This is hard work and scrambly in places, but not desperately difficult in good weather. Likewise the descent (on the same route), which would not be a great place to be in cloud.

Walkopedia really wants to climb this mountain. It is unfinished business from our Skye expedition.

Skye has notoriously fickle and often bad weather, and conditions on top can be appalling. It is easy to lose your way in cloud/mist,so not recommended if bad conditions likely. Always come fully prepared.

For more information and photos, including detailed practical information, see our Isle of Skye walk page.