Bla Bheinn - with its head perpetually in the clouds!

[EACHANN AN DOIRE]

For those of you out and about anywhere in Scotland last week – 3 to 10 July – you’ll know the weather was extremely wet to say the least. Most especially in Skye where I spent the week on holiday. From the Saturday onwards I waited and waited hoping the weather would improve – or at least for the cloud base to lift a bit above 3 feet! By Thursday I could wait no longer so decided to climb Bla Bheinn by the “tourist route” I had hoped to go via Sgurr nan Each and the Clach Glas but the viz was appalling and the winds were gale force at times. As it was I was actually, no kidding, actually blown over twice!

Anyway – I climbed Bla Bheinn and despite the conditions I rather enjoyed it. The cloud base was about 500/ 600 metres so up to that point the views were pretty good back down to Loch Slappin. Indeed the first 300 meters or so by the Allt na Dunaiche was very picture-skew. Visibility in the top half was very poor – the going was steep on loose scree – and my legs hurt. On the plus side, because the ascent was over less than 4 kilometres, it was steep but quick. Bottom to top in 2 hours 40 minutes. (1 hour 25 mins for the descent)

The weather didn’t clear until Saturday when the best of these photos were taken. The cottage we had rented was really fab and I’m hoping I can rent it again at short notice for a long weekend – just to pounce upon a reliable and favourable weather forecast. Can’t wait for the chance to climb this mountain again.

Cheers!

A

[Penguin]

The views from the top of Bla Bheinn are fantastic. Hopefully you'll get the opportunity to do it again, next time in decent weather! At least you managed to get out and about still, despite the weather. Looks like you had a good time anyway.

Penguin

[gaffr]

That looks like a fine wee cottage that you had for your stay...I bet that it felt like a five star place in weather like that....the July weather in Scotland can be very unpleasant....have had many trips to the North when the hill plans were spoiled....especially in days when holidays had to be taken in July.
One way is to keep an eye on the forecasts and go...not so easy when you have to arrange, in advance, leave from work, a holiday place to stay etc....easier with the tent/bothy combination but that too can have it's downside
Just have to keep coming to the North.....fifty% sucess rate acceptable?

[Paul Webster]

Hard luck - I don't suppose another person telling you how wonderful the views are from there is going to help You did well finding the route in that clag!

[HighlandSC]

Unlucky with the views Still a great day though I'm sure.

A timely reminder for me not to take too much of a chance. Me and some friends are on standby thinking of Skye this weekend, or more likely next weekend and Bla Bheinn's at the top of the hit list. We're in that club lucky enough to have a tent and no fixed dates - just waiting for the glorious sunshine!

[Taraloo]

Aw thats such a shame. I am hoping to do Bla Bheinn this weekend but looks doubtful if the weather stays the same as last weekend. Was it difficult to find the route?

[Jock McJock]

Pity about the weather but at least you got out and made a go of it. Hoping to get to Skye at some point and that wee hoose looks the business. Any chance of sending me the contact details for it? I promise I won't steal your short notice long weekend

[EACHANN AN DOIRE]

Hi Taraloo,

Was it difficult to find the route? – well sort of yes and no. I tried to follow the route in this web site and for the most part that was OK. From about 500m, from where I took the photo of the wee lochan, the going was hard on a steep scree slope and very poor viz. At about 600m (map ref 533210 to be exact) there was a bit of levelling out then all scrambling almost to the summit –not difficult or arduous scrambling but a bit of a bugger trying to find trace of a route. I found traces of a discernable path here and there but it wasn’t clear. Dead simple to find on the way down of course –doh!

Jock,

The accommodation was in Torrin and we booked through Islands & Highlands Cottages – here’s the link to the page on our cottage.

http://www.highlandholidaycottages.co.uk/isle_of_skye/17_Torrin_Elgol/index.shtml

£470 per week including fees. It was a lovely lovely house but the weather was the very definition of dreich × 10!

Cheers

Alastair