Sound of Sleat
Height – 561 metres. Map - OS Landranger 33.
Climbed - 3 February 2010. Time taken - 6.25 hours.
Distance - 13.5 kilometres. Height climbed - 650 metres.
Trip Report Details:
We headed over to the Island of Skye and the Kylerhea road, which was reached from the A87 west of Kyleakin. The road, which is single track, was covered in snow and ice. The route headed up through Glen Arroch towards the Bealach Udal but we stopped at the bridge where a vehicle track crossed the Allt Mor (Grid Ref. NG7293021789). There wasn’t a lot in the way of parking here so we used the bellmouth as we didn't expect anyone to be accessing the snow covered track that day.
The first part of the walk involved continuing up the Kylerhea road to the Bealach Udal, a distance of over two kilometres. At this bealach we walked to the radio mast following some bootprints, probably from the previous day. Once beyond the end of this short section of mast road we tracked these prints to the east of Beinn Bheag where they headed directly towards Ben Aslak. We continued to it's col with Beinn Bheag, from where we commenced the ascent of Ben Aslak passing a small snow covered lochan. The lying snow was now more compact and in places icy as we ascended a gully and made our way to the eastern summit of this Graham, where we had views of Glenelg, Lochs Alsh and Duich, and the Sound of Sleat.
We then headed over to Ben Aslak's South-West Top which is reportedly the highest point but that is difficult to tell from looking at them. From here we continued in the same direction and it was initially an easy descent through the snow until we reached some rocks which we had to work round to reach the Bealach na Cruinn-leum. The snow and ground was rather soft here so progress was slow in case we went into the bog.
Once beyond the bealach we stopped for lunch before climbing onto the north ridge of Beinn Dubh a’Bhealaich, bypassing it's summit, and headed out to Beinn na Seamraig. At its summit cairn we had good views of Loch Hourn, Isle Ornsay, Sound of Sleat, the Skye Cuillin and the Islands of Rum and Egg as well as spotting some snow buntings. After taking in these superb views we left this Sub 2000 hill and retraced our steps back to Beinn Dubh a’Bhealaich’s north ridge. This ridge was followed until lower down when some rocky outcrops appeared so we descended north-east to join the vehicle track below Bealach na Cruinn-leum. Progress was now easy on the snow covered track and this took us to the bridge over the Allt Mor and the end of another good hill day.
Photos taken on walk.