THREE ROUTES
FROM THE BOOK
1) SGURR MHICCHOINNICH –
NORTH-WEST RIDGE
It is fitting that this peak is one of the
finest in the Cuillin. It is named after
John Mackenzie of Sconser, Britain’s first
professional mountain guide who was
part of the first ascent party in 1887.
It isn’t the hardest Munro, but it is by
far the most sustained. Some may find a
short ‘confidence’ rope reassuring.
After a long and sometimes tiring
ascent into Upper Coire Làgan, the
An Stac screes are ascended to reach
Bealach Coire Lagan. A traverse round
the corrie lip leads to the steep frontal
prow where need care is needed to get
the best line. From there the route gains
and follows a spectacular ridge to the
summit and views of Sgurr Thearlaich,
one of the critical sections of a Cuillin
Ridge traverse.2) ROUND OF COIRE A’ GHREADAIDH
One of the finest corrie rounds in the
Cuillin offers the opportunity to climb
three Munros (Sgurr a’ Mhadaidh,
Sgurr a’ Ghreadaidh and Sgurr na
Banachdaich) and two Munro Tops
(Sgurr a’ Ghreadaidh South Top and Sgurr
Thormaid) in a single outing,
with the option of including two lesser
peaks – Sgurr Thuilm and Sgurr nan
Gobhar en route.
It’s a roller coaster of a ride taking
in the tricky wall out of An Dorus,
the awkward ascent of Ghreadaidh’s
South Top and a steep descent of Sgurr
Thormaid’s South Ridge where care
is required. Ghreadaidh’s long South
Ridge can be descended at a reasonable
grade below the sharp ridge crest.
Again, some may find a short ‘confidence’
rope reassuring.3) BEINN NA CRÒ
This superb granite cone overlooks the
north end of Loch Slapin between Belig
and Beinn Dearg Mor. Slapin offers the
best approach, although it can also be
climbed from near Strollamus, north of
Broadford on the A87.
It isn’t a very high hill, just 572m/
1877ft, and it’s only a hill walk; but it’s
extremely steep and something of a
lung-burster. But the effort is well worth
it. The summit ridge is dramatic, the
mountain’s sides fall dramatically away
on both sides, and the view from the top
is breathtaking. Despite its lowly height
it’s one of Skye’s most prominent hills
when viewed from the Applecross coast
to the North-east.[above] Descending the magnificent South Ridge of Sgurr a’ Ghreadaidh towards Sgurr Thormaid
and Sgurr na Banachdaich on the Round of Coire a’ Ghreadaidh [below] Looking north from the
North Ridge of Beinn na Cro towards Dun Cana on the Isle of Raasay and the mainland
The Great Outdoors August 2019 57