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<< morning: Macleod's StoneOof, a bit of a tough one this. Beinn Dhubh's only 506 metres high but paths are nowhere to be seen and - beginning from sea level - you climb every single one of them. After a morning strolling along Harris's various beaches it was time to give my foot a proper test after my injury earlier in the week. My foot turned out fine, but it was the hot weather that made it tricky...
A gate gives access to the open hill from the Luskentyre road. Slightly boggy heather to start, but this turns to exposed rock slabs as soon as the gradient steepens, making for fairly quick progress. A nice cooling breeze for now, despite warm temperatures by island standards.
View of this afternoon's target:
Looking inland:
Rock slabs:
Reaching the shoulder at Sron Godamuill, the terrain levelled out a bit and the ground became less rocky.
Another short pull up to Beinn Losgaintir, where North Harris comes into view:
View ahead:
A short descent and reascent with a boggy patch in the middle led to Beinn Dhubh.
Taransay out to the west, seen from a lower cairn west of the summit. It was too hazy to see St Kilda today.
The breeze had been moderating through the day, and it dropped completely at this point, making for a pretty horrible descent. Pathless, steep, hard on the ankles, 20 degree heat and no shade... and boggy in places. On the plus side, at least we hadn't ascended this way! Looking back up:
We were glad to reach the (tiny) beach at Mol an Tighe, where there was the merest hint of a cool breeze blowing across the sea. It's a spectacularly scenic location:
Next, a nondescript traverse across grass to the culture shock of Traigh Rosamol. This was by far the busiest beach we'd seen all week. A coastguard helicopter was hovering above.
Tempting to stay at the beach for a bit, but we had to get back to the car for our drive up to Stornoway, where we'd booked a B&B for the next two nights. Tarmac time... 4 km of it, in boiling sunshine
We tried hitching a lift, and were finally successful with 1 km to go. Better than nothing! On our 1 minute journey we chatted to the couple about the wonderful beaches and weather, and found out we both planned to head up An Clisham tomorrow.
A decent walk - a bit hot today, but well worth the discomfort for the views!
>> next day: An Clisham