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Ever since we have been visiting Skye, we have always wanted to climb Ben Tianavaig. We imagined the view across Portree Harbour to be something special. This walk wasn't going to disappoint.
We parked at the beach where there is room for 4 or 5 cars and were getting ready to go when Rick realised that his jacket was still hanging up in the cottage. Fortunately it was only a 30 minute return journey to fetch it and we finally set off around 1130am.
Walking up the road towards a post box, we carried on up a driveway and turned off at the path with the small sign marked Hill Path. You have to jump to get up the small hill and ditch, but once over we climbed along a small path lined with Rowan Trees. We went through a couple of gates and eventually turned to the right and started heading along the edge of the hill, gaining height quite quickly. The views of the bay below and the Cuillins straight ahead, with rain clouds lingering around them looked quite spectacular.
- The path to the left heads up hill
- Cuillins in the mist
We walked past two tors before beginning the climb towards the summit by the third and last one. It was quite easy to find a way up as there is a single person path right through the heather. Eventually we reached the edge of the cliffs, with splendid views of Raasay right in front of us.
- The climb begins
The path heads out onto open moorland, with cliffs on the right, and we set a course straight up to the trig point, which we could see easily the higher we got. The Cuillin clouds were getting closer to us, so we stopped and got dressed up for winter, (jacket, waterproofs, beanie, gloves), and carried on. The wind was bitterly cold by now, blowing across the water from the Cuillins.
- The trig point appears
- Here comes the rain
We reached the summit and as we did, the heavens opened and driving rain hit us from behind. We seeked shelter behind the trig point, there is a lower bit which offered protection, and grabbed a bite to eat as the rain came and went and the cloud started forming around the summit.
As if by magic, the cloud then lifted and the sun came out and bathed Portree in light, allowing for some photos of the Island capital. As Rick was taking the photos we heard a commotion in the skies and saw two birds fighting. A third bird joined in and we realised that we were witnessing a Sea Eagle chasing a Golden Eagle, which then became the hunted as a second Golden Eagle joined in and chased the Sea Eagle away. The two Golden Eagles then headed across the water towards Raasay, but must have seen us and turned back and put on a show for us flying right over our heads and gliding gracefully around the hill.
- Portree
Getting photos in the wind was hard, but Rick snapped away hoping for some to turn out.
- One of the Eagles
- And the other one
- This one circled us quite close by
Looking back towards the Cuillins, we saw the next rain band sweeping in, and raced back down the hill in record time. The rain was pelting us all the way down, it actually hurt. As we got back to the Rowan Trees, the clouds parted and the sun came out. Back at the car park, as we were changing, our Golden Eagle friends put on a show for us again. Wonderful birds indeed.
- As Annie once sang, here comes the rain again