The Great Outdoors – August 2019

I HAD A REVELATION below Bidein

Druim nan Ramh in the Cuillin: one of

those moments when a significant piece

in your mental map of complex mountain

terrain suddenly clicks into place.

Bidein Druim nan Ramh isn’t a Munro

or even a Top, but it’s a tough triple-peaked

mountain and a critical section on the

Cuillin Ridge traverse. Standing below the

basalt staircase on the West Ridge of Bidein’s

West Peak, my gaze drifted out over the

flanks of the Central Peak towards distant

Sgurr na Stri, but got no further than a faint

path on a horizontal grassy ledge system

leading to... I wasn’t actually sure where.

I followed scree-shattered ramps to

gain the narrow, grassy ledges and after

some delicate scrambling emerged at

the foot of the Central Peak, looking

straight down the Druim nan Ramh ridge.

The spectacular view towards the Druim

Pinnacle and along the ridge’s rocky crest

took me completely by surprise.

Despite separating Harta Corrie and

Coir-uisg for more than 4.5km and visible

from every Cuillin peak, this gabbro spur is

frequently overlooked; visible but invisible.

It’s only when you view it end-on that

you realise what a massive and significant

feature it is, despite being one of the least-

CAPTURING THE

54 The Great Outdoors August 2019

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