Heaval
Heaval, Island of Barra. Section 24D.
Height – 383 metres. Map – OS Landranger 31.
Climbed - 6 June 2011. Time taken – 1.25 hours.
Distance – 3.5 kilometres. Ascent – 300 metres.
Trip Report Details:
The sunny morning had been replaced by some light rain with cloud engulfing the summit of Heaval. I was dropped off at the high point on the A888, between Breibhig and Castlebay, where a new car park and picnic area had been constructed.
I crossed the main road and passed through a small gate but the area beyond was rather wet and boggy so I walked along the edge of a fence until the conditions improved. On crossing the fence I commenced the ascent of Heaval following several grassy rakes.
The cloud continued to lower and as height was gained I found traces of muddy paths some of which I followed. The ground steepened before I reached the south-west ridge of Heaval then an easy walk took me to the summit trig point. It appeared that a rock to the north-west was slightly higher than the base of the trig point so I decreed the rock was the highest point of Heaval.
Due to the low cloud there was little point in hanging around at the summit so initially I descended by my ascent route before, once out of the cloud, aiming for the area of Gleann in Castlebay. The ground was fairly steep in sections with a few rocky outcrops. Lower down there were some tussocky ground to cross before I reached the old track that led from my starting point to Gleann. It was then only a short walk to my accommodation in Castlebay.
The map shows the Gaelic name for this hill which is Sheabhal.
Photos taken on walk.