Blà Bheinn

Blà Bheinn
Blaven
Highest point
Elevation 928 m (3,045 ft)[1]
Prominence 863 m (2,831 ft)
Ranked 19th in British Isles
Parent peak Sgurr Alasdair
Listing Munro, Marilyn
Coordinates 57°13′11.76″N 6°5′28.03″W / 57.2199333°N 6.0911194°W / 57.2199333; -6.0911194Coordinates: 57°13′11.76″N 6°5′28.03″W / 57.2199333°N 6.0911194°W / 57.2199333; -6.0911194
Naming
Translation Blue mountain (Norse/Gaelic)
Pronunciation Scottish Gaelic: [ˈplˠ̪aːveɲ]
Geography
Blà Bheinn

Location on Skye

Location Skye, Scotland
Parent range Cuillin (outlier)
OS grid NG530217
Topo map OS Landranger 32

Blà Bheinn (also known as Blaven), is a mountain on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. It is usually regarded as an outlier to the Black Cuillin. It is mainly composed of gabbro, a rock with excellent grip for mountaineers and scramblers. The name "Blà Bheinn" is thought to mean "blue mountain", from a combination of Norse and Gaelic. Whereas blå in Modern Norwegian means "blue", the Old Norse word blá could, however, also refer to the colours blue-black and black.[2]

The normal route of ascent for walkers is from the east. A path leaves the B8083 on the shores of Loch Slapin about 4 km after the village of Torrin. The path follows a burn, the Allt na Dunachie, into the corrie of Coire Uaigneich. From here a short steep route along the ridge leads to the summit. A small amount of scrambling is needed to reach the true top of the mountain.[3]

Alternative routes follow the south ridge, or come from the north having traversed the Clach Glas ridge which links to the Red Cuillin peaks.

The view from the summit is dominated by the Black Cuillin.

Blaven stands in the Strathaird Estate, owned and managed since 1994 by the John Muir Trust.

In Popular culture

Blaven is depicted in Mary Stewart's 1956 thriller novel Wildfire at Midnight.

References

  1. "Bla Bheinn". walkhighlands.co.uk. walkhighlands.co.uk. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  2. http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/bl%C3%A1r#Old_Norse
  3. Fabian, D.J. (1989). The islands of Scotland including Skye. Scottish Mountaineering Trust. ISBN 0-907521-23-1.

External links

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