📌 Luskentyre, Isle of Harris
★★★
Beinn Dhubh (black hill) is the rounded summit overlooking the north side of Luskentyre Bay, and the eastern end of a chain of hills stretching inland towards Tarbert. There are no paths to assist with the ascent, but the reward for taking on the challenge is a magnificent vista encompassing North Harris, South Harris and the deep blue sea surrounding them – with one of Scotland’s very best beaches waiting at the bottom. The start and finish of the hill walk proper are linked by a 4 km road walk, though quite a scenic one. Begin in the middle to break up the monotony, or walk along the beach for some of the distance if the tide is low.
📷 Chronological photo guide
Road section at the start along Luskentyre Bay (at high tide) 
Pathless, heathery slopes to begin the ascent 
The route’s target on the horizon 
View east across South Harris 
Sròn Godamuil 
Magnificent views towards North Harris from the summit ridge 
Beinn Losgaintir 
Luskentyre beach 
View east from Beinn Losgaintir 
Beinn Dhubh 
Looking north from the summit 
View northwest 
Taransay 
Luskentyre and South Harris 
The descent is long, steep and pathless 
Beinn Dhubh from Mol an Tighe 
Mol an Tighe 
Coastguard helicopter above Tràigh Rosamol 
Tràigh Rosamol is the reward for a tough descent 
Coastline east of Tràigh Rosamol 
Road return
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at car park on minor road 1 mi southeast of Luskentyre, Harris. Other start points possible elsewhere on the same road
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NG 079982
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 57.877641,-6.929821
🚌 Bus to Luskentyre (join route here)
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
▶ 12 km / 7 mi | ▲ 570 m | ⌛ 4-5 hr
Features: △ Beinn Losgaintir (436 m); △ Beinn Dhubh (506 m, “Torbett”); 🏖️ Luskentyre beach ★★★★★
⬤ Tough | Pathless apart from the road section at the start / end. Variety of terrain types: rock slabs, short grass, tiring heather (mostly on descent), some bog lower down. Sustained, steep ascent and (especially) descent.
Download file for GPS➡️ Anticlockwise circuit: start – leave road at 🧭 NG 094974 – Sròn Godamuil – Beinn Losgaintir – Beinn Dhubh – descend west then north to Mol an Tighe – Tràigh Rosamol (north part of Luskentyre Beach) – start via road
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Possible eagle sighting, snipe, rabbits, sheep and lambs. Lots of spiders and beetles on the rocky ascent.
Weather: Blue skies, approaching 20°C. Cool breeze for the ascent, but wind progressively dropped making for an uncomfortable descent.
May 2018
