10 DAY NOVEMBER TRIP OUTER HEBRIDES (Day 6)

A sunny day dawned so this was the day for going up little Ceapabhal, the distinctive saddle backed hill that rises above Scarista beach.There are more details of this walk in the excellent walkhighlands website which also lists Walk Reports from folks who have completed a particular route.I always check these before doing any route.I wrote up my own Walk Report on the site for further reading. It is a fabulous short hike, though tough going in terms of it being quite steep.Very much worth the effort! Here’s the link to my experience this November:

https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=121958

I’ve also written it up in more detail here:AN ISLE OF HARRIS HIKE- OCEAN, ISLANDS, EAGLES AND SEALS

Some photos here to confirm what an amazing vista it gives.It took us about 1hr 15 mins to get to the top and we had aorund half an hour there before the breeze made it a bit too cold to hang about any longer.The route to the base of the hill can be the same as out to Northton Temple though it’s a little shorter to head out on the inland track initially.We chose the coastal route back.

Decided to walk back to the car via the beaches and low cliffs as it’s such a lovely route beside the sea.

(We also did this – one of my favourite of all hillwalks – on a sunny July day in 2024, with my son and his wife and my wee grandson who was in a Baby Carrier/Rucksack and enjoyed every minute.He also loved playing with my walking poles at the summit though was starting to get a tad too exuberant with them!)

There were still a few hours of daylight, so we drove round to Luskentyre.The beach goes on for about 3km, way beyond the usually photographed section so it makes for a good stroll.The beach was much emptier this time and the big photography group we saw out with their tripods , had gone.That seemed a shame because the light was much better than it had been yesterday.However, a couple of photographers were still around – there usually are a few on most days.

Back to the house and Chris fired up the stove, getting everything cosy quite quickly.Then a quick change into fresher clothes and off we set into Tarbert, around a 25 min drive away, for dinner at 6pm in the Harris Hotel.Nice hotel, comfy, simple, quite traditional and we have always had very good food here.I still remember the Lamb Shank I had year back.Tonight was no different.

Excellent Crayfish Caesar salad starter, then a very rich Venison Casserole and Sirloin Steak for Chris.I was so full but determined not to miss out on my favourite part of a meal – pudding! Decided to share their Sticky Toffee Pudding which was gorgeous!

Back to the Hut, nice to come into the heat of the stove. Popped out occasionally to look at the incredibly clear night skies, spotting the constellations – Orion, Cassiopea, the Plough, Pleiades…Beautiful. So quiet here, just the sound, now and again, of sheep meh-ing in the adjacent field.

Very sad to think of leaving Harris tomorrow but – Assynt awaited! Equally magnificent in a different way.

Previous Days:THE OUTER HEBRIDES – 10 DAY NOVEMBER TRIP (Days 1/2 Oban and Barra)THE OUTER HEBRIDES 10 DAY NOVEMBER TRIP ( Days 2/3 Eriskay, Benbecula and The Uists)10 Days OUTER HEBRIDES in November (Days 3/4 Berneray and over to Harris)THE OUTER HEBRIDES 10 DAYS NOVEMBER TRIP(Days 4-5Harris)