Clisham – A Walk Report

Weather

There’s no such thing as bad weather in Scotland, only a bad jacket, is something my Dad used to say – and this is never more true than in the Hebrides. With the Atlantic blowing unhindered onto these picturesque islands the weather is prone to change. Even with the sun splitting the sky, we still packed waterproofs and spare layers just in case the weather closed in.

Preparation

We started our day with a big breakfast, mainly carbs and protein to make sure we had all the fuel we needed for a long day ahead. With hot temperatures and sunny skies, we also made sure to hydrate before our walk, pack plenty of water and get sun cream on. Due to Clisham’s height and position it’s likely that you’ll be under the sun for at least part of the day, even if it seems cloudy, so we definitely recommend getting some sun protection on. Floppy sunhats are, of course, encouraged.

Our group had a range of abilities ranging from never having gone hiking to far more experienced members. We also made sure to take boots with ankle support for the steep, rocky and at times technical ground on Clisham’s slopes, as well as wicking layers for when we worked up a sweat. Walking poles were also a great help on the way up and down, as they made the terrain a little easier on our knees.

Kit List

• Boots with ankle support
• Water (2L)
• Lunch
• Sun cream
• Extra layers
• Waterproofs
• First aid kit (Group kit)
• Group shelter (Group kit)
• Walking poles (Optional)

Full Hiking Gear Guide

Parking Location

Summit

Despite the copious opportunities to take in the surrounding mountainscapes, there’s a sense of anticipation as you reach the summit. A touch of light scrambling makes the summit itself a little sweeter, a touch more earned. When you reach the trig point, which conveniently has a wind break for those blustery days, you can pause to truly take in the surrounding landscape. We were lucky enough to catch it on a bluebird day, so could see all the way to Skye and even had hints of the mainland beyond! It’s a delight to take a moment, look back over all the ground you’ve covered and truly take in the rugged beauty of the Hebrides spread out beneath you.

Descent

As a group, we opted for a more gentle but sustained departure from the hill. Looking back down the route we’d come up it looked very manageable, especially for those of us with walking poles. However, with a slightly different outlook on Harris and a chance to overlook the scenic Loch Mhisteam, we opted to take a fresh route. This added some distance and time to our descent but made it far more enjoyable as we picked our way downwards. A little more bog down in the glen beneath as we picked our way between picturesque clear streams, and a mere 50 meter or so rise back onto the shoulder between Clisham and Tomnabhal, but then we were in fine standing for a leisurely wander back to the vehicle.

At the end, we felt tired, with those miles travelled and meters climbed coming back to take their toll, but seriously accomplished. Clisham seemed to look down approvingly behind us and we knew that we’d earned a bit of time in the shade to reflect on what we’d achieved.

After all, at the highest point of these islands, there’s no better spot to enjoy it from.