Stulabhal [Stulaval]

Rising above the wild landscape of South Uist, this rugged Marilyn is a quintessential island peak of Lewisian gneiss and peat. The ascent is a pathless, untamed experience, rewarding walkers with a summit view that stretches across the labyrinth of lochans to the west and over the Minch to the peaks of Rum.

• •The name is a relic of the Viking Age, combining the Old Norse 'fjall' (mountain) with a descriptive prefix, reflecting the deep Norse influence on the nomenclature of the Scottish islands.
• •From the summit, the view to the east across the Minch is dominated by the unmistakable, jagged silhouettes of the Cuillin on the Isle of Skye and the distinctive profile of the Small Isles.
• •The hill is often tackled as part of a challenging north-south traverse of the South Uist hills, connecting with the higher Beinn Mhòr across steep, rocky ground that requires careful navigation.
• •To the south, the summit offers an exceptional bird's-eye view of the winding sea loch of Loch Boisdale and the scattered islands of the Sound of Barra.
• •The lower slopes are home to some impressively deep peat hags, which serve as a masterclass in why Hebridean walkers rarely expect to finish a day with dry socks.