Blà Bheinn
Blà Bheinn or Blàbheinn,[2] also known as Blaven, is a mountain on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. It is usually regarded as an outlier of the Black Cuillin range. It is a Munro with a height of 929 metres (3,048 ft). North of the summit is the ridge of Clach Glas, which leads to the peaks of Garbh-bheinn (808 m) and Sgùrr nan Each (720 m). It is mainly composed of gabbro, a rock with excellent grip for mountaineers and scramblers.
| Blà Bheinn | |
|---|---|
| Blaven | |
From the east | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 929 m (3,048 ft)[1] |
| Prominence | 862 m (2,828 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 |
| Naming | |
| English translation | blue mountain[citation needed] |
| Language of name | Norse/Gaelic |
| Pronunciation | Scottish Gaelic: [ˈpl̪ˠaːveɲ] |
| Geography | |
Blà Bheinn Location on Skye | |
| Location | Skye, Scotland |
| Parent range | Cuillin (outlier) |
| OS grid | NG530217 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 32 |
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.[citation needed]
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.
Blaven stands in the Strathaird Estate, owned and managed since 1994 by the John Muir Trust.
- Blàbheinn from the east
- The mountain from three sides
Bheinn indicates that the preceding word is feminine. My research indicates this must be ‘Bladach’ (wide mouthed woman); my view of the mountain confirms this interpretation! Ergo: Bladachbhein!
In popular culture edit
Blaven is depicted in Mary Stewart's 1956 thriller novel Wildfire at Midnight.
References edit
- ^ "Blà Bheinn (Blaven)". Hill Bagging - the online version of the Database of British and Irish Hills (DoBIH). 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
- ^ "Bla Bheinn/Blaven". Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba: Gaelic Place-Names of Scotland.
- ^ Fabian, D.J. (1989). The islands of Scotland including Skye. Scottish Mountaineering Trust. ISBN 0-907521-23-1.
External links edit
- Blaven.com
- John Muir Trust 3 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine