Hartaval and Baca Ruadh
TROTTERNISH, PORTREE AND THE BRAES
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1. Park at the Storr car park in the forested part of the Portee - Staffin road - there are normally several cars parked here, and there is more space in the lay-by The path starts through the canopied gate by the interpretative boards. The excellent path winds uphill through the woodland. This section was once a quagmire but follow a series of improvement projects it can now be done with dry feet. There are occasional breaks in the trees revealing views of the Isle of Raasay offshore and Applecross on the mainland beyond. After passing a marshy point the path reaches a gate (with warning signs) - go through it to reach the open moor with spectacular cliffs ahead. The Old Man can be difficult to pick out from the cliffs behind from this point.
2. Once almost level with the Old Man take a branch path off to the right, which ascends diagonally below the Needle Rock formation and reaches a fence just below the main Storr cliffs. Cross the stile and follow the path round the corner, taking care when scrambling up a short rocky section. Beyond this, a path contours round the slopes of Coire Scamadal almost on a level. Follow this right round the corrie until it is easy to ascend the grass slope on your left, reaching the plateau near a rocky outcrop. From here, contour southwest until you can find a simple descend down to the Bealach a Chuirn.
3. Climb the steep grassy slopes on the far side of the Bealach. The gradient soon eases and there is wonderful walking along the edge of the Trotternish escarpment to the summit of Hartaval, at 669 metres the second highest summit on the ridge. Continue along the edge until making another steep descent to the Bealach Hartaval.
4. The climb out the far side of the Bealach Hartaval is extremely steep; it is best to keep just right of the rocks directly above the bealach. The ascent is thankfully quite short and leads to a fabulous, easily graded ridgewalk for a couple of kilometres to the summit of Baca Ruadh, 639 metres.
5. The return walk is by the same route, with all the up and down that that entails. If you have the energy, however, it is worth continuing along the escarpment across the next (much gentler) bealach and walking out to the summit of Sgurr a Mhadaidh Ruadh (the Peak of the Red Fox). This summit is lower than its neighbours but projects dramatically out from the rest of the ridge, making it an airy perch. It is the peak which looks so dramatic from Loch Cuithir far below. After visiting the summit, return along the ridge.
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