Hartaval and Baca Ruadh

Summary

An exploration of the Trotternish Ridge north of the Storr. This is a spectacular section of ridge and you can continue as far as you wish, however the return has to be made the same way.

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Grade

Bog Factor

3.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Mostly grassy ridge-walking but with steep grassy and rocky ascents/descents from the bealachs

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.

Getting there

Start

Storr car park on the left side of the A855 heading from Portree.

Public Transport

Bus number 57 - 4 times a day from Portree - get off near Storr car park.

Start Grid Ref

NG508528

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 19.5km / 12 miles
Time (summer conditions): 6 - 8 hours
Ascent: 1350m (Profile)

Summits Climbed

Fiona: Hartaval

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Explorer 408 - Trotternish

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Walk Description

User reports (2)

Stage 1

Park at the Storr car park (parking charge); there are toilets and a coffee kiosk opposite. The path starts through the gate at the top of the car park. The wide path winds uphill through an area intended to regenerate with native woodland. Keep ahead/slightly right when the path forks although it doesn't really matter as both join up later. There are views of the Isle of Raasay offshore and Applecross on the mainland beyond. The path passes through two gates to eventually reach the open moor with the spectacular cliffs of the Storr up ahead.

Stage 2

The Old Man can be difficult to pick out from the cliffs behind from this point. Continue up the main footpath, ignoring a smaller path off left and climbing ever upwards towards the right side of the Old Man. Continue up between the Old Man (on your left) and the Cathedral Rock (on your right), then turn right onto a path that passes above the Cathedral Rock, which is pierced by a couple of 'window' holes. This eventually reaches a fence with a stile in a dip.

Stage 3

The view back from here to the Old Man and the Cathedral rock, backed by the Storr Lochs, is a classic, seen even better by detouring to the right as you approach to view it from the top of a small crag popular with sunrise photographers. Cross the stile and follow the path round the corner, taking care when scrambling up a short rocky section.

Stage 4

Beyond this, a path contours round the slopes of Coire Scamadal almost on a level. Follow this right round the corrie until it is easy to ascend the grass slope on your left, reaching the plateau near a rocky outcrop. From here, contour southwest until you can find a simple descend down to the Bealach a Chùirn.

Stage 5

Climb the steep grassy slopes on the far side of the Bealach. The gradient soon eases and there is wonderful walking along the edge of the Trotternish escarpment to the summit of Hartaval, at 669 metres the second highest summit on the ridge. Continue along the edge until making another steep descent to the Bealach Hartaval.

Stage 6

The climb out the far side of the Bealach Hartaval is extremely steep; it is best to keep just right of the rocks directly above the bealach. The ascent is thankfully quite short and leads to a fabulous, easily graded ridgewalk for a couple of kilometres to the summit of Baca Ruadh, 639 metres.

Stage 7

The return walk is by the same route, with all the up and down that that entails. If you have the energy, however, it is worth continuing along the escarpment across the next (much gentler) bealach and walking out to the summit of Sgùrr a Mhadaidh Ruadh (the Peak of the Red Fox). This summit is lower than its neighbours but projects dramatically out from the rest of the ridge, making it an airy perch. It is the peak which looks so dramatic from Loch Cuithir far below. After visiting the summit, return along the ridge.

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