Bla Bheinn (also known as Blaven) is one of Scotland’s most breathtaking mountains, offering an unforgettable hiking experience for any outdoor enthusiast. Situated on the magnificent Isle of Skye, Bla Bheinn is an iconic walking destination—one that has earned a well-deserved place on countless hikers’ bucket lists and should never be overlooked.
Beyond the exhilarating ascent, Blaven rewards climbers with awe-inspiring summit views. From the top, you’ll be treated to a sweeping panorama of Skye, including the legendary Black Cuillin ridge stretching dramatically across the glen. In fact, the scenery throughout the hike is so captivating that it will both distract you from the challenge of the climb and leave a lasting impression for years to come. The memories of scaling Bla Bheinn will stay with you, and the photos you take along the way will never cease to amaze.
Another compelling reason to take on Bla Bheinn is that it is the only Munro on Skye outside the Black Cuillin range, making it more accessible and achievable for the average walker. While the climb is undeniably demanding, we strongly encourage you to take on the challenge. Below, we provide essential details to help you tackle Bla Bheinn with confidence and safety.
Don’t miss the chance to experience this extraordinary hike—no other mountain on Skye offers summit views quite as spectacular and unique as those from Bla Bheinn. Trust us, you won’t regret it!
Hike to Blaven in Isle of Skye, fact sheet
Height: 929 masl
Total time: 5-6 hours
Total distance: 9 km (there and back, 2 x 4.5 km)
Parking: small parking area along road to Elgol B8083 (directions)
Level of difficulty: 4/5 scrambling involved, mildly exposed sections, includes negotiating rocky terrain and steep scree gully, prone to sudden weather changes
Blaven weather: weather forecast for Bla Bheinn
Which map: Ordnance Survey Explorer 411 Cuillin Hills
How to get to Isle of Skye
The Isle of Skye, located off Scotland’s west coast, is one of the country’s largest and most spectacular islands. The easiest way to reach Skye is by car, and most visitors opt to drive.
Conveniently, Skye is connected to the Scottish mainland by the Skye Bridge, which links Kyle of Lochalsh to Kyleakin—eliminating the need for a ferry crossing. If you don’t mind a long drive, getting to the island is relatively straightforward. By “long,” we mean approximately 4 to 5 hours, depending on your pace. (Yes, your navigation is correct—the fastest route runs via the A9!).
Having visited Skye multiple times, we’ve found that the average journey time from Edinburgh to the Skye Bridge is exactly 4.5 hours. A similar travel time can be expected from Glasgow. We mentioned these cities because most visitors to Scotland arrive via Edinburgh or Glasgow.
While driving is the most convenient way to reach Skye, public transport is also an option. Although there is no direct train service from Edinburgh or Glasgow to Kyle of Lochalsh, you can take a train to Inverness and transfer there. From Kyle of Lochalsh, buses provide easy access to the island. Similarly, if you prefer to travel by bus, you will need to route through Inverness—fortunately, Inverness is well connected to other Scottish cities.
For those who want to add to the adventure, taking a ferry to Skye is another possibility. The most popular ferry route runs between Mallaig and Armadale, while Skye is also connected to the Outer Hebrides via a ferry from Uig to Tarbert.
There are no airports on the Isle of Skye, with the nearest international airport located in Inverness.
Related: 30 best hikes in Scotland
How to get to Bla Bheinn trailhead
The hiking trail to Blaven begins at a small car park along the B8093 road to Elgol and is easy to find (you can open directions in Google Maps). While the car park is signposted from the main road, it isn’t visible from there. Simply follow the signposted track, cross the cattle grid and a gate, and you’ll soon arrive at a small parking area tucked behind a cluster of low trees.
However, the trail itself does not start directly from the car park. Instead, you’ll need to return to the main road, walk back about 100 meters to a small bridge, cross it, and follow the well-trodden path. When facing the mountains, take the trail on the right-hand side of the stream/bridge—the path on the left will simply lead you back to the parking area.
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Hiking to Blaven, what to expect, and our experience
The hiking trail to Bla Bheinn was recently upgraded, and for the initial approach (approximately 3 km), you can expect a well-maintained track. This section gradually ascends through moorland, following the Allt na Dunaiche stream, with stunning views of Blaven and the surrounding peaks along the high ridge, including Clach Glas and Sgurr nan Each.
Around 1.5 km into the hike, you’ll need to cross the Allt na Dunaiche using stepping stones. We found hiking poles helpful for added balance and support.
Cross the stream and continue further, the trail will already be quite close to the rocky mountainside and you’ll be able to see Bla Bheinn up close and assess what’s ahead of you. Follow the trail as it gently turns left and heads for Coire Uaigneich- a grassy upper glen.
Look out for a small cairn that marks a trail fork (photo above) and leave the main trail at this point. Instead follow a faint grassy path that approaches the mountain and climbs its rocky slope. Very steep and rocky underfoot at first it soon heads into a gully filled with scree (loose rock) – your access to the high ridge of Bla Bheinn.
As soon as you reach the top of the gully you’ll arrive to an amazing viewpoint.
What lies ahead now is an easy scramble over rough black rock. As you leave the scree gully behind the terrain changes and further climb requires scrambling over rough rock. Although there are no marking you’ll easily find the way, you’ll see polished rock face or crushed rock where many have walked. The scramble is a great finish to a beautiful, fine hike. Before you know it you’ll already see the Bla Bheinn summit trig point!
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Standing atop Bla Bheinn, you’ll feel as if you’re on top of the world, gazing down from nature’s grandest rooftop. The breathtaking scenery will leave you speechless. If you need any more reason to tackle this hike, just take a look at the summit view slideshow below!
During our ascent, we encountered moody weather, with light rain and drifting clouds accompanying us along the way. Although we didn’t have perfectly clear views from the top, the ever-shifting mist only added to the dramatic, atmospheric beauty of the Isle of Skye as seen from Blaven.
The stunning, otherworldly views captured in the slideshow include the dramatic ridge of the Black Cuillin range—where we spotted the Inaccessible Pinnacle (In-Pin) and the distinctive tooth of Am Basteir—along with Glen Sligachan dotted with shimmering blue lochans, the Broadford hills, Loch Slapin, Marsco, and Sgurr nan Gillean. The autumn landscape (it was October!) unfolded before us in a striking mosaic of golden browns and yellows, set against the deep blue waters and the imposing black rock of the Cuillin mountains, legendary for their beauty and challenge. For this reason, we believe Bla Bheinn is one of the finest viewpoints on Skye.
To return to the car park, we recommend retracing your steps. Alternatively, you can descend via the tourist route, which begins at the lower summit of Blaven (see the interactive online map below).
Bla Bheinn hiking map
This interactive online map comes handy if you want to descent via the easier/gentler tourist route, or have a greater overview of the area.
What we loved about hiking to Blaven
We fell in love with Blaven—not just for the incredible hiking experience and the thrill of scrambling through the higher sections, but above all, for the breathtaking views along the entire route. The summit panorama of the Isle of Skye left us in absolute awe, a memory that will stay with us forever. Without a doubt, we’ll make it a point to revisit Blaven every time we return to Skye!
In our opinion, if you’re an avid walker but not an experienced rock climber—and you’re not venturing into the Black Cuillins, which are best suited for climbers—then hiking on Skye doesn’t get much better than Bla Bheinn.
Wild camping near Blaven, nearest campsite and accommodation
Due to the steep rocky terrain higher sections of Blaven hike or the top are not suitable for camping. The lower ground, the moor and Coire Uaigneich would be good to pitch the tent if needed.
Also, please keep in mind that the small size and busy-ness of Blaven dedicated car park makes it unsuitable for motorhome stay. Indeed, if you return from the hills late you could probably stay overnight at the car park, but would be expected to vacate the space at sunrise when the first hikers arrive.
Instead we recommend booking accommodation on Skye or camping at the nearest campsite at Sligachan.
Handpicked accommodation on Isle of Skye, near Bla Bheinn:
| Accommodation | Rating | Comment |
| Sligachan Hotel | 7.5 /10 | conveniently located, clean & comfortable, great value, stunning views |
| Breakish Escape | 9.5 /10 | great location, mountain and sea view |
| Seal Cottage | 9.2 /10 | comfortable, quiet location, sea view |
| Lighthouse Cottage | 8.2 /10 | convenient location |
| Hawthorn Dene Cottage | new | only 2 miles from Blaven trailhead, quiet location, mountain views |
*Level of difficulty explained: 1– easy walk, mostly flat 2-easy hillwalk, good path 3-moderate, possible some steep sections 4-long hillwalk, possibly some scrambling involved, possibly pathless 5-difficult, possibly pathless, long, requires technical skills
