A week in the Uig hills - Part 2

[petelynn]

Another reasonable days weather between gales and rain enabled me to complete the western group of the Uig hills. Today Mealaisbhal and Cracabhal

Mealaisbhal (right) and Cracabhal from Uig

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I parked at the north end of Breanais and walked up the old peat road until it petered out then headed across the boggy ground towards the N end of Mealaisbhal skirting loch Sanndabhlat.

Mealaisbhal from start of Walk

Bog bean in pool

Northwest over Loch Sanndabhlat

A steady climb over grass and rock slabs led to the increasingly bouldery minor top at 460m with great views.

Mainly blocky boulders higher up

Mealaisbhal summit from minor top

Tahabhal across Loch Raonasgail

Suaineabhal and Tarain (right)

Uig sands and Gallan head from minor top

View NE - Gt Bernera behind Suaineabhal

Then just a matter of picking a way through the boulders up to the summit of Mealaisbhal. The view to the SE now showed the route over to Cracabhal and the Harris hills beyond.

Mealaisbhal summit

SE from summit

Cloud came down in a brief shower as I descended to the col between Mealaisbhal and Cracabhal. The words in Richard Barrett's 'Walking in Harris and Lewis' formed a debate in my head as I made my way down to the col. 'Ascending the steeper rock on the north face of Cracabhal looks more difficult than it actually is but if you're inexperienced and lack confidence in moving on steeper ground ...'. The thought of a detour and never knowing whether it was easier than it looked meant I finally resolved to go straight up.

Cracabhal N ridge

And it was easier than it looked. The grassy bits, sodden and slippery with peat were worse than the rocky bits. I wouldn't have wanted to come down this way and there was no space to stop for photos. But twenty minutes later I was up and a bit relieved, a bit pleased with myself. Then it was on to Laibheal a Tuath and back to the road by a similar route to the Grimobhal walk.

Back to Cracabhal from Laibheal a Tuath

Harris hills from Laibheal a Tuath

Mealaisbhal from Laibheal a Tuath

On my way down I saw a couple of mountain hares, one still in the process of moulting its white winter coat, a couple of red grouse, noisy greenshank and grey plover and, rarest of all a person. This turned out to be a lady from Essex just moved to Breanais and hoping to convert a stone barn to a hostel.

I didn't get to climb anymore of the Uig hills in my weeks stormy weather but I'll post a final report on a couple of low level walks.

[Alteknacker]

Wow! Looks really wild and remote - one to do on one's own, definitely. I'd no idea that Harris had hills ....

[petelynn]

Yes, these hills definitely have an edge of the world feeling to them and are too remote and not high enough to be much walked. From here in Norfolk it took 36 hours to get there. The solitude you get from walking alone here is real - but there is no help at hand and almost never a mobile signal so I was well aware of the need to be careful. I now prefer to walk without the help of paths - at least it removes the anxiety of losing the path!

[Mal Grey]

An amazing looking part of the country. Thanks for sharing. I love the Norse influence on the names up there, mixed in with the Gaelic.