Ben Tianavaig – Portree's Own Hill and a Pub Lunch
About 3.5 miles on foot.
Ben Tianavaig is Portree's own hill, 413 metres high, rising straight out of the sea south-east of the town, about 8 km away by road.
From its foot at Camustianavaig it's a steep, rough climb to a summit with superb views over the Sound of Raasay, and a good spot for eagles. Lunch is in Portree at the Isles Inn, a pub with an open coal fire on Somerled Square. It suits fit walkers who want a real hill in a morning.
- Time
- Two and a half to three hours on the hill: 5.5 km there and back, about 420 metres of climbing.
- The path
- A rough, steep hill path from the roadside; the parking and picnic tables are by the road.
- Where to start
- Free, by the picnic tables in front of the stony beach at Camustianavaig, room for about eight cars.
- Set off
- Set off by 11am from November to February, to be down well before dark.
- When to go
- The hill is open ground all year, for dry, clear days; the Isles Inn serves food every day except Christmas Day.
- Dogs
- On a lead: this is crofting ground with sheep.
- Children
- Unfenced cliff edges for much of the way: only for older children used to hills, and hold hands near the edge.
- Before you set out
- Ben Tianavaig, 413 metres: 5.5 km there and back on unmarked hill paths with unprotected cliff edges for much of the way; down the way you came. Not in cloud or high wind.
The walk
Camustianavaig is reached by a narrow road. Park free by the picnic tables in front of the stony beach, where there's room for about eight cars. The path starts about 50 metres along the road, by the red post box.
It's 5.5 kilometres there and back with about 420 metres of climbing on rough, unmarked hill paths, so allow two and a half to three hours. Much of the way runs near unfenced cliff edges: keep well back, and don't go up in cloud or a strong wind. Come down the way you went up.
From November to February, start up from the bay by 11am to be down well before dark. Keep a dog on a lead, as sheep graze the crofts. There are no toilets.
If it rains
In rain, low cloud or a strong wind, leave the hill: walk the stony shore at Camustianavaig instead, and have a long lunch by the fire.
Afterwards
12 min by car
The Isles Inn
Lunch
Then it's 12 minutes' drive into Portree for lunch at the Isles Inn on Somerled Square, a pub with an open coal fire to thaw out beside after the hill. It serves traditional pub food every day from noon, and stays open until 11pm. Dogs are welcome. It takes no table bookings unless you're staying, so just walk in. It's shut on Christmas Day.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
For further reading, before you go.