Roineabhal is the highest summit of the bare, rocky, lunar-like landscape of southeastern Harris. The ascent is rough and pathless, but is rewarded with superb views over the sea and surrounding islands.
Bog Factor
Pathless, wild terrain, with acres of bare rock and heather.
Parking at St Clement's Church, Rodel (Roghadal).
Bus to Rodel from Leverburgh or Tarbert.
NG048831
Rodel is famous for the medieval St Clements Church which is well worth exploring for its magnificent tomb carvings inside; note also a sheela-na-gig outside on the east side of the tower - a sheela-na-gig is a carving of a woman displaying her genitals, common on churches of this date; whilst on the north side is a carving of a lewd man. After visiting the church, turn right along the road, keeping left at a junction to head towards Fionnsbhagh (Finsbay).
The road climbs up past a communications mast and then passes Loch na Cachlaidh. Continue a short distance further until the boggiest ground is left behind and there is a good point to strike off across the rock-strewn hillside, aiming for the top of Beinn na h-Aire (the hill of the lookout). The going can be wet at first but soon becomes drier, and the very extensive outcrops of rock make for rough but reasonably good going underfoot. As height is gained there are stunning views back to Rodel, over to the hills of North Uist, and northwards along the deeply indented eastern coastline of Harris.
There is a prominent cairn at the southern end of Beinn na h-Aire. Much of the rock in this area is the anorthosite, which contains titanuim and is rare and relatively valuable. A plan for a super quarry to extract it was the subject of a drawn-out planning inquiry throughout the 1990's - the application was eventually refused in 2000. From here the broad ridge leads more gently northwards, passing a further cairn and then crossing a slight dip. The cairn at the north end of Beinn na h-Aire can be bypassed to the west; head across a shallow bealach before the final ascent up onto Roinebhal.
There is a prominent cairn atop an outcrop immediately before the summit, which is marked by a trig point inside a windshelter cairn, with several more cairns scattered around the plateau. The views, as might be expected, are superb, although Leverburgh is hidden by the broad plateau.
Rather than tackle the boggy terrain of the Abhainn Thorrb, it is probably better to return back over Beinn na h-Aire; head back round the broad ridge to reach the southernmost cairn. The easier return route is probably to retrace your steps, but from the cairn a steep descent can be made carefully southwards, avoiding any crags, to eventually reach the northern end of Loch Thorsagearradh.
From here a good grassy path heads southwards down the west side of the loch. Do not cross the outflow at its foot, instead continuing southwards through the dip, bedecked with gorse bushes. Keep to the left side of the valley floor to avoid the worst of the wet ground. The church soon comes back into view ahead. Keep to the left side of the wall to eventually return to the road.
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