Beinn Chliad [Ben Cleit] [Ben Cliad]

About Beinn Chliad [Ben Cleit] [Ben Cliad]

Rising as the diminutive yet commanding high point of its island home, this rocky Marilyn offers an ascent through rough, heathery ground. While modest in height, its coastal position ensures a sense of exposure and scale, providing a rugged, distinctly Atlantic character to any walker reaching its trig-topped summit.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is Gaelic in origin, linked to the nearby settlement of Cliad; while 'Beinn' means hill, 'Cliad' likely refers to a gate or a lattice-like feature in the landscape.
• •Standing as the highest point on the island of Barra, its classification as a Marilyn is a testament to its prominence, as it drops significantly on all sides toward the Atlantic and the Minch.
• •The summit provides an exceptional vantage point over the white sands of Traigh Mhòr to the north, where you can watch scheduled flights land on the beach—the only airport of its kind in the world.
• •On a clear day, the view extends across the Sound of Barra to the peaks of Eriskay and the distinctive profile of Beinn Mhòr on South Uist.
• •It is perhaps the best seat in the house for aviation enthusiasts, offering a bird's-eye view of the beach runway without the need for a boarding pass.