What to See in Glenbrittle - Top Sights and Attractions

Mountain in Scotland. Sgùrr Dearg is a mountain in the Cuillin on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. It is topped by the Inaccessible Pinnacle, a fin of rock measuring 50 metres along its longest edge. The top of the Inaccessible Pinnacle, which at 985.8 m is the highest point of Sgùrr Dearg and the only Munro with a peak that can only be reached by rock climbing. This makes it the biggest hurdle for many Munro baggers.

First climbed by Charles and Lawrence Pilkington in 1880, the Pinnacle was never climbed by Sir Hugh Munro himself. Because of its status as the most difficult of the Munros it has now spawned a cottage industry for the local guides, who are frequently to be seen escorting parties of novice climbers. Unlike much of the Cuillin, the pinnacle is basalt not gabbro and thus is somewhat slippery in the wet.^[1]

Mountain in Scotland. Sgùrr MhicChoinnich is a mountain on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. It is in the Black Cuillin range of mountains and is classified as a Munro. Like all the other Black Cuillin mountains it is made predominantly of gabbro rock and has little vegetation. The mountain is named after the mountain guide, John MacKenzie.

The most common route to the summit involves climbing the An Stac scree slopes out of Coire Lagan to reach the bealach between Sgùrr MhicChoinnich and Sgùrr Dearg. From here an airy and challenging scramble up the peak's north ridge is required to attain the summit. The ascent is a challenging climb by the standards of British mountains, being an exposed scramble at Grade 2 standard. The south face of the mountain, by contrast, falls sheer to the bealach between Sgùrr MhicChoinnich and Sgùrr Thearlaich, and the easiest route up this face (King's Chimney) is a V. Diff rock climb. Moreover, this bealach cannot be reached from below without further rock climbing, and the north ridge of Sgùrr Thearlaich which leads down to the bealach contains an awkward rock step (a Moderate rock climb) which must be taken in descent. For those with the ability to reach this bealach, however, a remarkable terrace, Collie's Ledge, which is only a Grade 2 scramble, avoids King's Chimney entirely by traversing the western flank of the peak and joining up with the north ridge. This ledge is difficult to find, but when located, it is often used by mountaineers on the full traverse of the Cuillin ridge to gain the summit without having to climb King's Chimney.^[5]

Summit in Scotland. Sgùrr na Banachdaich is most difficult of the main Black Cuillin peaks to ascend. The simplest route ascends via Coire nan Eich from Glen Brittle. Knowledge of ropes are likely to be required until the summit is reached. In winter it is advised not to attempt unless well acquainted with ice climbing as well as the use of crampons and ice axes. It is strongly advised to hire a Sherpa from the local climbers watering hole the Old Inn, Carbost, available for a reasonable price. Even the most experienced of climbers get caught out by the Three Boys’ in winter. There is much steep ground and scree in winter and it is a place of deep snow and vast ice sheets.

Other routes require yet more scrambling ability, including the excellent ridge running out to Sgùrr nan Gobhar (Grade 1/2) which can be extremely treacherous in winter. In both directions, the main Cuillin ridge requires world class scrambling ability; the continuation southwards towards Sgùrr Dearg is rated Grade 2 grade 5 in winter, and the NE ridge towards Sgùrr Thormaid is a Grade 5 grade 7 in winter (Sherpa highly advisable).

Tenzing Norgay Conquered the peak in 1969 calling it “One of the most challenging yet rewarding climbs I’ve completed, a hoore of a climb!”^[6]

Summit in Scotland. Sgùrr a' Ghreadaidh is the highest summit on the northern half of the Black Cuillin ridge on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. Like the rest of the range it is composed of gabbro, a rock that provides good grip for mountaineering.

This is one of the harder main Black Cuillin peaks to ascend. The simplest route ascends via the col of An Dorus (the Door), most easily reached from Glen Brittle; however, the immediate exit from An Dorus is a Grade 3 scramble and there is sustained scrambling of a lower grade on the north ridge leading to the summit. The south ridge leading towards Sgùrr Thormaid is also Grade 3, with few opportunities to descend safely for some considerable distance. The mountain has two summits, separated by a knife-edged arete. At the time of the first ascent, John MacKenzie was aged just 14. He had earlier repeated the ascent of Sgùrr nan Gillean aged 10. Mackenzie became the first British mountain guide and perhaps the most prolific of the pioneers of mountaineering in the Cuillin.^[7]