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Marilyn · Outer Hebrides
Tathabhal [Tahaval] [Tahabhal]
Tathabhal is the second of the chain of gneiss summits ringing the upper Glen Valtos basin in west Lewis, sitting just east of Mealaisbhal at 515m. The hill is a slabby, knobbly cone in true Uig style, with steep flanks dropping into Gleann Tathabhal on either side.
Quick facts
- Height
- 515m/ 1690ft
- Prominence
- 253 m
- Grid ref
- NB 04229 26346
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
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Standard route
Lewisian gneiss 45% · blanket bog 35% · rocky summit 20%
A pathless ascent from the head of Glen Valtos or directly off the B8011 near Carishader, picking a line up the steep west ridge over slab and tussock. Allow 4-5 hours on the round; combining with Mealaisbhal is the classic option.
Terrain
Gneiss slabs and boulder steps form the bulk of the ascent, with peaty moor at the base. The upper ridge is straightforward in clear weather but featureless and confusing in mist. No path.
In winter
Hard rime can plate the slabs in cold snaps making them slippery, though deep snow is rare. The biggest risk is sudden Atlantic squalls; choose a settled day and keep the descent line clear.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow9h 16m
- Edinburgh11h 25m
Ferry access
Ullapool → Stornoway (Lewis)
- Crossing time165 min
- Summer sailings2 sailings daily (Apr–Oct)
- Winter sailings1 sailing daily (Nov–Mar)
- Book ahead14 days
- Last ferry backCheck CalMac timetable
Allow 1–2 hours drive from Stornoway to reach the Harris hills. For South Harris hills, Uig → Tarbert may be more convenient.
Book on CalMac ↗OS maps: OS Landranger 13, OS Explorer 458
Mobile signal: Poor. No reliable signal; Lewis interior is a well-known coverage black spot.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:16
- Sunset
- 21:53
- Civil dawn
- 04:21
- Civil dusk
- 22:48
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Tathabhal [Tahaval] [Tahabhal] on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Tathabhal [Tahaval] [Tahabhal] — common questions
- Is Tathabhal [Tahaval] [Tahabhal] a hard climb?
- Tathabhal [Tahaval] [Tahabhal] is rated 2/5 (moderate) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Underfoot: Gneiss slabs and boulder steps form the bulk of the ascent, with peaty moor at the base.
- What is Tathabhal [Tahaval] [Tahabhal]'s prominence?
- 253m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Tathabhal [Tahaval] [Tahabhal] to the next higher ground. That drop is what qualifies it as a Marilyn — a hill with at least 150m of descent on every side.
- When is the best time to climb Tathabhal [Tahaval] [Tahabhal]?
- April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Tathabhal [Tahaval] [Tahabhal]. Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.
- Is Tathabhal [Tahaval] [Tahabhal] dog-friendly?
- Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.
- Is there mobile signal on Tathabhal [Tahaval] [Tahabhal]?
- Poor. No reliable signal; Lewis interior is a well-known coverage black spot.
- How do I get the ferry to Tathabhal [Tahaval] [Tahabhal]?
- Ullapool → Stornoway (Lewis). 2 sailings daily (Apr–Oct) in summer; 1 sailing daily (Nov–Mar) in winter. Book at least 14 days ahead. Allow 1–2 hours drive from Stornoway to reach the Harris hills. For South Harris hills, Uig → Tarbert may be more convenient.
- Is Tathabhal [Tahaval] [Tahabhal] safe in winter?
- Hard rime can plate the slabs in cold snaps making them slippery, though deep snow is rare. The biggest risk is sudden Atlantic squalls; choose a settled day and keep the descent line clear.
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