Bleabhal [Bleaval]

This rugged Marilyn is the highest point on the South Harris peninsula, offering a perspective far grander than its modest height suggests. The terrain is characteristically Hebridean—rocky, occasionally boggy, and wild. From the summit, the intricate labyrinth of islands in the Sound of Harris stretches beautifully towards North Uist.

• •The name is a Gaelicised version of the Old Norse Blá-fjall, meaning 'Blue Hill'. This was a common descriptor used by Viking seafarers for hills that appeared as distant blue silhouettes when viewed from the water.
• •Its position makes it an ideal vantage point for surveying the 'Golden Road'—the winding, narrow route that threads through the famously rocky, 'lunar' landscape of the Harris east coast.
• •On a clear day, the summit offers an unmatched view of the white sands of Luskentyre and Seilebost to the north, contrasting sharply with the deep turquoise of the Atlantic.
• •While the climb is straightforward, the lack of defined paths and the sponge-like quality of the lower slopes mean you are likely to finish the day with very wet feet, regardless of the weather.