Beinn Dhubh, Losgaintir

Summary

Beinn Dhubh and its neighbour Beinn Losgaintir appear unremarkable, rounded hills from a distance. However their superb position overlooking the Luskentyre Sands on the one hand, and the mountains of North Harris on the other, ensures they make for a shorter hillwalk with sensational views. A tough route for Grade 3.

Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

Rating

Terrain

Pathless hillwalking. Ascent up broken slabs and easy ground along the summits; some boggier terrain lower down and a steep descent.

Public Transport

Bus service between Tarbert and Leverburgh to start of Losgaintir road.

Start

Around 400m along the Losgaintir branch road off the A859. Open in Google Maps.

Hillwalking in Winter

Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. All route descriptions and difficulties given here are for summer conditions. See our Winter Skills page for basic information on the essential skills, techniques and knowledge needed for winter hillwalking.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 11.5km / 7.25 miles
Time (summer conditions): 4 - 5 hours
Ascent: 574m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NG092973

Summits Climbed

Sub 2000: Beinn Dhubh

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Accommodation

Walk Description

User reports (4)

Stage 1

The walk begins at a metal kissing gate beside another iron gate on the north side of the Losgaintir road, around 400m from the junction with the main A859. It is possible to park at a very wide section of road a short distance further west. Go through the kissing gate and cross the Allt Totain 'ic Fannan on stones a few metres upstream. Aim for Sròn Godamuil, a rocky spur; cross very boggy ground initially to reach the foot of the slabs. These can either be scrambled up or avoided (mostly to the left); the gradient of the slabs soon eases, giving some drier walking and making for a more enjoyable ascent.

Stage 2

Throughout the ascent there are great views back over the Luskentyre sands, gleaming white on a sunny summer's day. There are two tiny cairns atop Sròn Godamuil; from here the walk continues gently uphill northwards, with the ground gradually becoming less rocky. A small cairn stands on the plateau at Mullach Buidhe, giving a first view of the mountains of North Harris to the north.

Stage 3

A broad ridge offers very easy walking over to the summit of Beinn Losgaintir, which has a larger cairn; by this point West Loch Tarbert (Loch an Siar) provides a stunning foreground to the view of the mountains, whilst the view over Luskentyre stretches right down the western side of Harris.

Stage 4

Continue down to a bealach and then up broad, open slopes to reach the top of Beinn Dhubh itself, where a trig point is set into a large windshelter cairn. On a fine day the views are simply sensational, with Taransay and the vast Atlantic beyond added to the panoramas already mentioned. Continue towards Taransay to reach a couple of cairns marking the end of the ridge.

Stage 5

The ground beyond the cairns falls away very steeply, so curve to the left (southwest) to descend grassy ground strewn with boulders at first, steepening into a wide heather slope further down. As the gradient finally eases, aim for the pebbly bay at Mol an Tighe at the foot of the Abhainn Aird Groadnish. Here two gates lead through a fence to enable the walk to be continued above the shore; cut west across the Aird Grodanais peninsula.

Stage 6

Continue along the rocky ground above the shoreline, passing through a gate where a fence meets a drystone wall and then a second gate through the wall itself. Continue on the grassy and rocky ground above Tràigh Rosamol beach, contouring across the slopes until the small car park is reached. From here the walk leads back along the minor road through Losgaintir for around 4km back to the start, with good views of the sands for much of the way. If time permits, the first section of road could be avoided by instead walking on the Luskentyre Sands.

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