📌 Braes, Isle of Skye
★★★★
Ben Tianavaig is the craggy pyramid dominating views south across Portree Bay. The slopes on its inland side are mostly grassy with a few rock bands, while to the east, dramatic cliffs drop away nearly into the Sound of Raasay. The ascent from Camustianavaig is therefore a hill walk with the feel of a coastal clifftop route – an unusual and very photogenic combination (just watch out for unprotected drops). Views of Portree, The Storr and Raasay from the summit are truly stunning on a clear day, while the Red and Black Cuillin provide the rear view panorama on ascent. Instead of returning the same way, dropping off the ridge into the An Ceam Dubh valley allows views of the great cliffs from below, ending with a scenic and occasionally airy coastal return. This area also has a great reputation for spotting eagles – with one treating us to a flypast on the descent. Altogether – one of Skye’s most underrated hill walks?
📷 Chronological photo guide
Tianavaig Bay 
Looking back across Camustianavaig 
Red Cuillin beyond the Narrows of Raasay 
McQueen’s Rock 
Summit, cliffs & sea 
View back, Black Cuillin now in view (right) 
Looking towards the summit 
This dry valley is used for the descent 
Looking back from the upper slopes 
Final summit approach 
Ben Tianavaig summit 
Looking south 
Looking north 
Looking northeast 
Looking southeast 
Valley descent 
Valley descent 
Valley descent 
Sheep enjoying the view 
Final descent to the coast 
Steep descent to sea level 
Coast path 
Following the coast back south 
Airy step 
The last section is across stony foreshore
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at Tianavaig Bay, minor road at Camustianavaig, Skye
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NG 509389
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 57.372240,-6.145739
❌ No public transport within 1 mi
🚗 Layby – gets full
📝 Key info
▶ 7 km / 4 mi | ▲ 460 m | ⌛ 3-3.5 hr
Features: △ Ben Tianavaig (413 m, sub-2000′ Marilyn)
⬤ Tough | Clear hill path steadily ascends to summit. Descent mostly on faint paths (occasional pathless sections) with a few steep areas. Coastal return on a narrow path with one airy section, but no technical difficulties. Final few hundred metres may be submerged at high tide.
Download file for GPS➡️ Clockwise circuit: start – Ben Tianavaig via south ridge – continue on ridge north then east for 300m – descend south through An Ceam Dubh dry valley – start via coast path (finishing on pebbly foreshore)
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Sheep & lambs, exciting eagle flypast on descent.
Weather: 15°C at base, windy, plenty of sunshine.
May 2022
