Ian McNeish Borve

Borve, or Na Buirgh it's gaelic name, is the perfect spot for your Harris holiday.  It certainly is my preferred spot and staying at àilean is the cherry on the cake.  From àilean one has so many options for exploring the island.  Let me start with one of my favourite hill walks, Blaebhal.

Blaebhal rises behind the house to the south, the summit within three kilometres of the back door and around about an hour to get there.  It might not be the biggest on the island, but it's close proximity to the sea coupled with the fact it stands alone, makes it is the perfect spot for breathtaking views of mountains, islands and sea.

 

A stroll from the house at Borve onto Blaebhal provides a fascinating selection of sights and splashes of colour.  A rock band with clinging purple ling makes a lovely foreground for Lochan Lochtabhat snuggling under the northern flank of Bleabhal.

Depending on the season the area traversed is full of interesting flora and fauna; bog asphodel, cotton grass, orchids, tormentil and much more.  You might even spot a meadow brown butterfly, dragonfly and a whole variety of birdlife.

For those with an historic bent there is what remains of the stone age fort, Dun Buirgh, very accessible and no more than four hundred metres directly behind àilean.  Buirgh is from the Scandinavian word for 'fort' and Dun is gaelic for fort too but I suppose the name Buirgh became associated with the location over time.  Just a few metres beyond the top of the fort, directly east, is a prominent rock displaying neolithic or bronze age cup marks.  You can see some of them holding water in this picture. The route I generally use takes me past the north east end of Loch Lochtabhat.  Then it is steadily uphill and in no time one is at the saddle between the twin tops.

The panorama takes your breath away, well what is left of it after the last pull to the summit. The north horizon filled by the North Harris hills.  Taransay, the golden beaches of Losgaintir, then over Sgarasta Mhor, beyond the best wee golf course in the world to Ceapabhal and the Atlantic.  Swing round and the whole of the Uists lie before you and round again to Skye and the mainland.

You might be lucky and see a Golden eagle or a Sea eagle.  On one trip up the hill with Scott, we had two of the dogs with us, Border Terriers.  Whilst descended from the summit into Coire Bhleabhal, just below the smaller summit, Meabhal, the dogs were running ahead of us doing what terriers do.  We were taking in the view and anticipating lunch.  We were not alone in anticipating lunch.  Suddenly we became aware of a pair of golden eagles circling low over the dogs, no more than two hundred feet above us.  Instantly we realized the danger and quickly whistled the dogs in.  The eagles circled for a couple of minutes then slowly and gracefully swung away east along the northern flank of the hill, to seek out a another meal one supposes.

Then home for Stornoway black pudding and fresh eggs, home cooked, honestly.  We will catch up with the Butty Bus another day.

Ian McNeish

blogger, photographer, cyclist, walker and nature lover

More information on àilean can be found at www.harrisholiday.com, on facebook at Harris Holiday, email alison@harrisholiday.com or phone 07702 874724.