📌 Loch Euphort, North Uist
★★★★
Eaval is the highest hill on North Uist: a prominent lump amidst an inhospitable world of water and bog. Though only 347 metres tall, the flatness and character of the surrounding landscape affords it one of the most unusual panoramas you’re ever likely to witness. A maze of lochans surrounding the hill and lack of nearby roads means that – unless you have a boat – reaching the base is only really practical from a couple of directions. The tried and tested route is by a boggy path from Loch Euphort; even this crosses a set of stepping stones which are prone to being submerged after heavy rain or at very high tides. But the reward on a clear day is well worth sodden boots.
📷 Chronological photo guide
Roadends sculpture at the start, Eaval beyond 
Loch Nighe 
Loch Euphort 
Loch Euphort 
Approaching the stepping stones over the Loch Obasaraigh outflow; Eaval beyond 
Stepping stones 
Skirting Loch Obasaraigh, Burabhal in the distance 
Eaval 
View back around the loch 
Loch Surtavat from the start of the climb 
Most of the ascent has a faint path 
Summit in view 
Looking northeast from near the summit 
Vole near the summit 
Eaval summit shelter 
Loch Euphort from the summit 
Looking south from the summit
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at minor road end, south side of Loch Euphort, North Uist
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NF 890631
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 57.550816,-7.200295
🚌 Very infrequent bus to start
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
▶ 11 km / 7 mi | ▲ 380 m | ⌛ 4-5 hr
Features: 💧 Loch Obasaraigh; △ Eaval (347 m, sub-2000′ Marilyn)
⬤ Tough | Path for most of the route, sometimes boggy (lots of jumping required!) or faint. Final ascent of Eaval has pathless sections. Stepping stones may be submerged after heavy rain or at very high tides.
Download file for GPS➡️ Out-and-back walk: start – stepping stones over Loch Obasaraigh outflow – southeast end of Loch Obasaraigh – Eaval by east ridge – return by outward route
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Vole on Eaval, grey heron, a few sheep, hairy caterpillars, spittlebugs.
Weather: Early sunny patches soon fading, with some light rain on descent from Eaval. Cloud descending to cap the summit after we’d left it. Light winds, temperature in mid teens.
July 2019
