On Top of the Cuillin

Several years ago, I wrote a piece for the club newsletter, describing a day in Skye with Andrew, Gerry and Wesley. We climbed up the Sgumain Stone Chute and on to Sgurr Sgumain. The plan was to reach Sgurr Alistair (Andrew knew an easy route over !) but the conditions were awful - we never saw more than 10 metres all day and everything was dripping wet - so we gave up, despite being only 170 metres from the summit of Sgurr Alistair,  and descended to Coir a  Ghrunnda. Clearly unfinished business.

So last Sunday, I returned with Cris, Sarah and Graham Paterson. The plan was to do Sgurr nan Eag, Sgurr Dubh Mor and Sgurr Alistair. It meant that I missed the club walk on the Five Sisters of Kintail which is one of my favourite walks but that is Munro-bagging for you. We set off from the Glen Brittle camp-site at 8am and traversed round to Coir a Ghrunnda. Then, instead of the usual path, hugging the cliffs on the left, we followed a route up through the boiler-plate slabs and ended up south of the lochan. Then it was up a huge stone-filled gully on to the ridge and out to Sgurr nan Eag. One down, two to go !

Back along the ridge, cross over to the east side of the Caisteal, up to Sgurr Dubh an da Bheinn and out to Sgurr Dubh Mor. The scrambling was getting serious now - a succession of narrow exposed ledges and steep stony gullies but we all made it to the summit. Two down, one to go !

Return to Da Bheinn by the same route, then contour round Coir a Ghrunnda, keeping right up next to the cliff so as not to lose height. A stop for lunch and a welcome rest. Up yet more stone fields,  a dark, wet chimney, several more narrow ledges (dont even want to think about the drops !) and scrambles. Then the slope eased off a little and we were in a steep, stony gully which led us straight to the tiny summit of Sgurr Alistair. No real cairn (not enough room) - just an insignificant little pile of stones.  Then scramble along a narrow exposed ridge  down to the top of the Great Stone Chute. Sarah and Graham went off for a look at the TD Gap. Cris and I just sat down, glad of a rest. Sarah found Mike Pescod of Abacus Mountaineering at the TD Gap with a large group who were doing the Ridge Traverse. I gather she told him we were Nevis Hillwalkers - not clear whether he was impressed or horrified to find us in such a place .

Then it was down the Great Stone Chute. All I can say about this, is that I might recommend it, some day,  to someone whom I really don't like. But it got us to Coire Lagan and into tourist territory.

Clearly, a fantastic day out - maybe even better than the Five Sisters.

Lochan a Coir a Grunnda

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Sgurr nan Eag Summit

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