I left home nice and early this morning to drive to Ullapool to catch the Calmac ferry across to Stornoway. The weather was outstanding all the way across to Ullapool. Given the good weather I was really looking forward to the ferry crossing. I am also glad the weather was nice for the 500th Trip Report.

I took a good number of photos during the crossing, a selection of which can be seen below. Scotland is a beautiful country (especially when you can't see any wind turbines!)

Looking back to Ullapool:


Ben Mor Coigach:


Looking back to Loch Broom:


Looking back to Loch Broom:


Quinag, Suilven and Stac Pollaidh making an appearance:


Panorama looking South:


Summer Isles:


Suilven (zoom):


Summer Isles with Stac Pollaidh and Cul Beag in background:


Looking back:


Looking towards Harris:


On arriving in Stornoway, I drove to South Lochs to check into the Ravenspoint hostel in Kershader - a superb wee community-run hostel, cafe and shop that have recently re-opened after refurbishment.

After checking in, I drove to the end of the road at Tom an Fhuadain for an ascent of Beinn Bhreac.


Hill: Beinn Bhreac
Date: Friday 2nd May 2014
Company: Just myself
Distance: 6.8km, Ascent: 170m
Time: 2Hrs 05Mins


Click here to see a map of the route undertaken

Beinn Bhreac is a small hill surrounded by numerous lochans. Walking in a straight line to get to Beinn Bhreac would be fairly difficult. I couldn't find any reports on the internet for this one. I guess it is ascended fairly infrequently.

From Tom an Fhuadain, I followed a track for a few hundred metres before starting to work my way across trackless, wet terrain.

Start of walk from Tom an Fhuadain:


Loch Odhairn is a nice sea loch. Loch Odhairn:


I tried to pick as good a line as I could in the general direction towards Beinn Bhreac. The hill is not visible during the initial section of walk.

Gradual ascent:


I soon came to my first lochan and then another and then another ...

Lochan:


Another lochan:


More lochans:


Many of the lochans are really beautiful with little islands within them.

Looking towards Beinn Bhreac:


The North Harris hills were looking nice today. All of these hills are worth doing - excellent viewpoints.

Looking towards North Harris hills:


I chose Beinn Bhreac today for my 500th Trip Report as I strongly suspected it would be a good viewpoint for the Shiants. I also wanted an easy hill as I strained a muscle in my back less than a week ago. On approaching the summit, I was not disappointed. I got great views of the Shiants.

The Shiants:


The Shiants (zoom):


The Shiants (zoom):


The Shiants (zoom):


There are several lumps and bumps around the small lochan near the summit. I did a circuit of the lochan ascending each of them.

The Shiants from summit of Beinn Bhreac:


I decided to take a different route back in order to pass more lochans.

View during ascent from Beinn Bhreac:


Loch nan Stearnag:


Approaching Tom an Fhuadain and Loch Odhairn:


Approaching Tom an Fhuadain:


It took me over two hours to walk 6.8km; a nice leisurely pace today. Great views .