One of my most memorable Hebrides hikes was to the highlands of Rum. My wife and I were staying in the B&B accommodation in the back of Kinloch Castle, and late on a sunny afternoon I started up the path that ascends the Allt Slugan a' Choilich. After reaching the black cauldron of Coire Dubh I climbed the short, but steep zig-zag path to Bealach Barkaval.
From there I crossed a moonscape of rock before starting up the rocky mantle of Hallival (first photo). At its summit I rested for a while next to the pillared cairn, enjoying a great view down to Loch Scresort and north to Soay and Skye (second photo). All the Small Isles were in view, especially Eigg, five miles to the southeast (third photo).
I really wanted to follow the ridge south to climb Askival, the highest hill on Rum. It only involves a drop of 120 metres, followed by an ascent of 200 metres (last photo), but I decided to save that for another time; for I was dead tired, as earlier in the day my wife and I had walked to Kilmory and back. After enjoying the view for a while I started down in search of a cold beer in the bistro at the back of Kinloch Castle. Someday I hope to return to Rum and ascend Askival.
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| The tip-top of Hallival |
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Looking down to Loch Scresort from the summit cairn of Hallival
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| Eigg seen from Hallival |
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| The view over Glen Dibidil from Hallival |
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| The ridge between Hallival and Askival |
That it is!
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