Day 2 - Wild Hiking in Harris

Tom above Loch Seaforth

Wow what a day!  We were planning to go to the beach today because we were expecting sunshine, but we woke to grey cloud and after some investigation, it turned out that the sunshine wouldn't be out until late afternoon.  Even though it was grey, the visibility was great, so we decided to go for a walk up a mountain instead to enjoy some views.

There is a walking book in the cottage so we studied it and decided on a 6 mile walk in North Harris. We made a picnic and headed down to the lay-by.  Now walking in Scotland is very very different to walking in England.  There are very few way marked routes, and very few paths; most walking is wild walking across peaty, heathery moors - not easy to do.

On top of the first summit

This walk started on a track which was easy enough, but then we had to make our way across a peaty moor to the bottom of a mountain and then literally just climb up the heather and rocks to the top.  It was amazingly hard work!  Not only was the terrain difficult, but it was windy, very very very windy!  So windy that I could hardly stand up, let alone Tom!  We did have some tears with the wind, but once we reassured him and held his hands and I gave him my hat he was fine.

We found a nice alcove in the rocks on the way up, out of the wind and had some sandwiches.  We then headed to the top of the first summit: Mula Chlainn Neil.  The wind screamed all around us, however, the view was amazing which cancelled out the wind.  We could see mountains and lochs all around us and the sea on both sides of the island. There were no roads, no houses, no sign of human life at all - food for the soul I call it.

We were even lucky to see a hare run around.  The route we had chosen had 4 summits to it, but as the wind was so strong, we decided just to do 2 of them, choosing to walk around the others to keep us out of the wind as much as possible.  It didn't detract from the walk at all, we were enjoying being in the scenery, we had fantastic 360 degree views the whole time.  Tom did so so well, didn't complain and happily bounced around on the heather, chatting away 10 to the dozen.

Walking down, hand in hand

Good team work in beautiful scenery

After the second summit, Mullach a Ruisg, we were able to see the track back down which would lead us back to the car.  We stomped our way down through the heather and bogs and congratulated ourselves big time to have got so far!  We were very very proud of Tom - certainly the hardest walk he has ever done.  We walked back along the track to the car (Tom was skipping, jumping and talking as if he was just out for a short stroll).  By now the sky had cleared and the sun was out.  It was hot - the car temperature gauge said 20 degrees!

Not a bad view!

We got to the car, changed into sandals to give our aching feet a rest and headed back towards the cottage.  We noticed a big bird up ahead, slowed down and to our amazement watched a golden eagle float over us!  This area is known for being a good place to spot them, that's why we did the walk - typical we see one from the car, when we didn't have a camera to hand, but we were all made up.  It was absolutely huge, and gleaming in the sunshine.

Hebridean weather!

We got home, and enjoyed sitting outside in the sunshine having a drink before showering and making tea (fishcakes, local black pudding, salad and fried spuds with chorizo - an eclectic mix - it worked, mainly because we were so hungry)

Anyway a fantastic day, hopefully it is going to be sunny all day tomorrow...