Friday 30 May 2025 - Ben Tianavaig

Others went back to the Cuillin ridge or to the Quiraing, whilst Sue and I paid a second visit to Ben Tianavaig, some 20 years after our previous visit. That one was marked by long waits for my former work colleague, Garry Scholes; today it was me who was slow.

This time we passsed some guilty looking deer before starting up from Tianavaig Bay, whereas last time we started from Penifiler, so whilst Sue had no recollection of the previous visit, it was irrelevant as the only common point with today's walk was the trig point.

The picture above is just a reminder of the lush foliage at the start and finish of the walk. We were soon rising gently up the southern flank of the hill, amongst Ring Ouzels, Wheatears and melodious Skylarks.

There were a dozen or so folk on the hill this morning; various nationalities and a resident of Dunvegan with her North Devon parents.

As summit photos were reciprocated we listened attentively to the call of a Snipe, swooping and climbing nearby. In the grass just below the summit another call drew us to observe a Golden Plover just a few metres away.

The Cuillin summits were in and out of cloud. It would be a good day for those attempting to reach the summits and the ridges over there.

There were great views from our relatively lowly summit. 

On our way down to a conspicuous rock, we noted that we'd also seen Sea Eagles far below, as well as the following:

Cuckoo, Black-backed Gull, Hooded Crows, Oyster Catchers, Great Northern Diver, Kestrel, and other smaller birds.

The huge rock has some distinctive features.

A Sea Eagle, on what appeared to be a favourite perch, was some distance away.

The route down to the coastal footpath was mostly gentle in gradient.

We found a good spot to enjoy the last of our tea and we broke the back of today's Squaredle puzzle. A recent addiction. Blame Sue.

We took the last section very slowly in the hope of spotting Otters. Without any luck. Plants, including English Stonecrop, were easier to locate.

We were back at the car at around 3pm after our 7.6km walk with at least 420 metres* ascent, taking us about a very leisurely 4.5 hours.

* Garmin says 413 metres ascent.

OMN mapping shows 571 metres ascent. 

Thus all ascent figures mentioned on these pages are very much just estimates.