HEAVAL AND HARTAVAL
On our last visit to The isle of Barra over twenty years ago, or to be entirely correct our visit to the Isle of Vatersay, we had not managed to scale Hartaval any further than the Statue of Madonna and Child due entirely to the weather. On that occasion a howling hurricane made it difficult to even open the door to our cottage, this time the weather except for the usual Hebridean wind was in our favour and in six days of walking we only got damp once.
CLIMBING HEAVAL
Although steep and with multiple choices of sketchy paths the climb up from the car park is straightforward, we opted to climb to the westward and save the visit to The Statue of Madonna and Child for our return Journey.
KISIMUL CASTLE
This Medieval island fortress, the seat of the Calan Macneil, was first constructed in the 11th Century but the building as seen here dates back to the 15th Century. A flag flying from the keep denotes the Clan Chief is in residence. On our last visit we managed to get into the castle but this time we were out of season
The slope of Heaval is one of the few places where you can get a photo without either other buildings intruding or cutting the whole structure in half with the skyline.
ON THE SUMMIT OF HEAVAL
VIEW SOUTH FROM THE SUMMIT
Looking south across Castlebay to Vatersay, Sandray, Pabbay and Mingulay.
HEADING NORTH TO HARTAVAL
Descending to the shallow col between Heaval and Hartaval. Easy walking with no signs of the footpath erosion prevalent in other parts of the UK.
THE VIEW WESTWARD
Next stop America The view across A' Chroig with tiny Loch Uisge to Tangasdale
MADONNA AND CHILD STATUE
Know locally as Our Lady of The Sea the statue is made of Carrara Marble. To the left is the steep climb up to the Summit of Heaval which we had just descended on our walk back to the car.
