Mealasbhal & the Bhaltos peninsula - Lewis

[Gordon Ballantyne]

Mealaisbhal is the highest of the Uig Marilyns, so I unloaded my bike at the end of the track just past the Distillery and pedalled off.
There was a "private road" sign and gate at the Abhan Stocaill dip about a mile up the . There is another gate further up the track with a tight ( for a bike) bypass.

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There were showers barreling north down through the glen which gave rise to lots of primary & secondary rainbows.
I abandoned my bike where the track and Loch Raonasgail come close to the descending rocky ridges of Mula Mac Sgiathain.

Looking up the Tamnabhaig track with the impressive crags of Teinneasabhal dominating the glen

This seemed to give relief from the boggy bits and made the ascent easier than yesterdays splashing. As the showers continued to bowl down the glen, I sheltered behind convenient rocks to avoid the worst of them. From the bealach between Mula Mac Sgiathain and Mealaisbhal I spotted a notch in Mealaisbhal's summit ridge so headed for it. A wee scramble to the east from this notch brought me to the top. The showers seem to have petered out now so I could enjoy the view although there was a wee edge on the breeze -normal for october in Scotland but I must've got softened by the hot winds of the past summer !

The top of Mealaisbhal from Mula Mac Sgiathain

Looking out to sea from the top of Mealaisbhal

I shuffled off down to the bealach to have apieve out of the breeze. As I sat looking up Cracabhal, I felt a bit intimidated by the thought of having to descend back down through the crags. Eventually I phsych'd myself out and descended into the glen by a fairly hairy series of outcrops which I'd noted from my starting point. Just needed to take it easy and take a lead from the animal tracks that threaded their way between the crags ( Ray Mears would've been proud of me ! )

The descent route from near Glipan Teodha into Glen Raonaisgail

Near the bottom I watched an estate vehicle cruise by, but it was too far away for a pleading look for a lift back to my bike. It's easy to forget that when you've had a stiff descent and the legs are like jeelie, that the object of game is primarily exercise - so discipline is needed.

More rainbows on the way back doon the glen

Anyway it was only a short shuffle back to the bike and an easy hurl doon the glen past the cattle. Near the bottom of the track, I stopped to news with a couple out for a walk. They were apparently looking forward to a fish supper in Stornaway that was open on - SUNDAY ! Shock, horror. !
On my way back to the Otter Bunkhouse, I made a ( clockwise - as requester ) circuit round the Bhaltos peninsula to view the stunning beaches and have a look at the Lochlann boat that was primed to take us to St Kilda.( the weather never relented, so it didn't happen this time )

Near the discovery site of the Lewis Chessmen

The beaches of the Bhaltos peninsula

Uig C of S church

Toffee coo with Carishader across the water behind

The Uig quay with the bunkhouse across the water

[Sgurr]

Is there a chippy in Stornaway open on Sunday? Things are slipping/opening up/ interesting (delete according to "moral" views). We did this hill from the west following the Cicerone Guide. Much less daunting descent than yours.