Blabheinn South Top

About Blabheinn South Top

Separated from the main summit by a narrow, rocky col, this rugged Munro Top offers the quintessential Skye experience of rough gabbro and steep drops. While often overlooked by those bagging the Munro, the South Top provides the most dramatic perspective of Blà Bheinn’s Great Gully and the jagged Black Cuillin ridge.

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Did You Know?

• •The name Blà Bheinn is typically translated from a mix of Old Norse and Gaelic as 'Blue Mountain'. In Norse, 'blá' could refer to blue-black or raven-black, a fitting description for the dark, brooding gabbro that makes up this massif.
• •Despite being only a few metres lower than its northern neighbour, the South Top is classified as a Munro Top rather than a separate Munro. The two are joined by a short, airy ridge that demands a steady head and a small amount of scrambling.
• •The summit offers a superior view south-west across the waters of Loch Scavaig. From here, you can see the entire arc of the Black Cuillin main ridge, including the distinctive profiles of Sgùrr nan Gillean and the Inaccessible Pinnacle.
• •The mountain is part of the Strathaird Estate, which is managed by the John Muir Trust. The trust works to maintain the popular approach paths from Loch Slapin, which have historically suffered from heavy erosion due to the mountain's popularity.
• •It is a frequent occurrence for walkers to reach this cairn, settle down for lunch, and only then notice that the true Munro summit is actually the peak sitting slightly higher across the narrow gap to the north.