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Myself and a friend from uni travelled the Outer Hebrides over 9 days in the middle of September, staying in every island along the way. On our first day, after a 7 hour ferry ride from Oban, we tackled Heaval on Barra.
- Heaval from the ferry.
On the walk there, we bumped into a guy who had just climbed it telling us ‘it’s a doddle’. Great! We thought. The top of it was covered in clag, but we hoped for the best.
- Looking up at the 'doddle'.
The whole way up was pretty boggy, but especially the foot of the hill. No midges were about luckily.
- Castlebay.
Soon after starting, we both realised it definitely was not going to be a doddle. We are not hill fit (or any fit for that matter!), so it proved to be a bit of a challenge.
About ¾ of the way up there is a statue, which i’m guessing is Mary and Jesus.
- Last steep climb to the top.
Unfortunately the clag never went anywhere, so the apparent great views of Barra vanished.
My aunt had bought me a Balmoral hat, and sent me it, wanting me to get pictures taken with it everywhere. And so the first one was taken...
- Timer.
And another one...
It was an amazing start to the holiday, which turned out to be one i will never, ever forget.