Blà Bheinn (Blaven)
"Blue Mountain"
Rising to 928 metres on the Isle of Skye, Blà Bheinn — often called Blaven — is a mountain of striking beauty and legend. Its Gaelic name means “Blue Mountain”, a title inspired by the way its dark gabbro slopes catch the light, glowing blue‑grey against the sea and sky.
Unlike the jagged Black Cuillin nearby, Blà Bheinn stands slightly apart, a sentinel overlooking Loch Slapin. This separation gives it a commanding presence, often described as one of Scotland’s most dramatic viewpoints. From its summit, the panorama sweeps across the Cuillin Ridge, the Small Isles, and out to the mainland Highlands.
Local tradition ties Blà Bheinn to the mystical aura of the Cuillin. Some tales say the mountain was blessed by the faeries, its blue glow marking it as a liminal place between worlds. Others believe its name reflects the moods of the island itself — shifting from storm‑dark to sky‑blue, a living spirit of Skye’s ever‑changing weather.
For climbers, Blà Bheinn is both a challenge and a reward: steep, rocky, and exhilarating, yet offering one of the most unforgettable views in Scotland. For storytellers, it is a mountain of mystery, where stone and sky merge into legend.
Route details with 360° virtual tour, map, 3D model and GPX download of the route to the summit of this mountain in Scotland.
Munro – Blà Bheinn – Altitude: 928 metres
Route Length: 5.5 miles Total Ascent: 3000 ft Surface: Rough/Rocky/Crags/Scree
Difficulty: Moderate to Hard/Some grade 1 scrambling
Average Walking Time: 4:00 h
Route starts at the Blà Bheinn Car Park, B8083, Isle of Skye IV49 9AU.
Google maps directions to the route start can be found HERE
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Blà Bheinn
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3D Model of Blà Bheinn
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The Cuillin Guardian
By David Clark
By Clachan Bhreige’s ancient ring,
Where stones in moonlight hum and sing,
A band of faeries crossed the lea,
Their cloaks of wind, their eyes of sea.
They whispered, “Cuillin gates will rise,
Where shadows touch the turning skies.
A watcher’s needed, strong and true,
Of mortal heart and faerie hue.”
Young Eilidh stepped within the light
That circled round the stones that night.
“Name now the sentinel to take thee reign”
She breathed the word: “Blà Bheinn… Blue Mountain.”
The earth then heaved, the night grew bright,
A peak rose shining, born of light.
Storm-dark in danger, calm in peace,
A faerie-forged, eternal fleece.
And still when veils grow thin again,
Soft voices stir on Blà Bheinn’s glen;
The mountain stands, a watchful flame,
The Cuillin’s guardian, born of name.
