The mountainous Isle of Harris, offers a real and satisfying challenge to experienced walkers visiting the Outer Hebrides.
Harris is an island of contrasts. In the east you'll find a lunar-like rocky landscape with mountains rising high out of the sea. In the west you'll find some of the finest beaches in Europe with clear azure blue waters and long white sandy beaches.
This adventurous sea kayaking and walking route is a challenging expedition which will provide happy memories for many years to come.
If you plan to undertake this route without the services of a local guide, then it's important to be properly equipped and experienced, both with sea kayaking and Scottish hillwalking, as there are few paths and markers. Alternatively if you hire the services of a guide, you're experience is likely to be all the richer as their local knowledge and expertise is likely to add another dimension to your trip. For undertaking a guided trip, contact Canoe Hebrides, who will be able to help with this.
An Cliseam (Clisham), rising to 799 metres is the only Corbett in the Outer Hebrides and is the highest mountain in the archipelago.
This route starts off with a 'put in' at Loch Mhiabhaig on the B887 to the west of An Cliseam, followed by a 7km sea kayak along Loch a' Siar to The Old Whaling Station at Loch Bun Abhainn Eadarra.
From the small settlement of Bun Abhainn Eadarra a rough path heads up the lower slopes on An Cliseam. Bear in mind that this is an ascent from sea level to 799 metres so it's worth pacing yourself!
The path heads steeply up and peters out just before Coire Dubh. Head up and over Mo Buidhe and then on to An Cliseam's westerly outrider Mulla-Fo-Dheas at 743 metres (be mindful of the north-east cliffs close to the summit of this outrider). From here descend south-east to a bealach at around 600 metres, before the final push to the summit of An Cliseam at 799 metres.
There's a large stone wall around the summit cairn which will provide some protection in high winds. On a clear day, the views west down Loch a' Siar and towards the Isle of Taransay and even St Kilda 44 miles away are stupendous.
To return to the sea kayaks at the derelict whaling station, retrace your steps to gain the ascent path previously described. Or an alternative is to head south-east from Clisham's summit, taking care to avoid the crags at grid ref. NB158072 to make for a lay-by on the A859 road.
