Griomabhal [Griomaval]

About Griomabhal [Griomaval]

Situated on a rugged island landscape, this substantial Marilyn offers a wild, peat-covered ascent. At 497 metres, it occupies a commanding position, providing a sense of immense scale and isolation, with views stretching across water-scalloped moorlands and toward the jagged profiles of distant Hebridean peaks like Clisham.

Key Statistics

Find It

Did You Know?

• •The name is a classic Norse-Gaelic hybrid; the suffix 'bhal' or 'val' derives from the Old Norse fjall, meaning mountain, reflecting the deep Viking influence on the naming of Hebridean peaks.
• •From the summit, the southern panorama is dominated by the skyline of the North Harris hills, where the sharp peak of Clisham stands out against the more rounded, ancient gneiss terrain of Lewis.
• •Despite being a Marilyn, there are no established paths to the top; hikers must navigate a complex landscape of 'peat hags' and small lochans, making the ascent a genuine test of island navigation.
• •The local definition of a 'dry walk' here usually refers to the contents of your hip flask rather than the condition of the ground under your boots.