📌 Black Cuillin, Isle of Skye
★★★★★
The Cuillin Ridge strikes fear into many a hillwalker: one look at the range from Sligachan and it’s obvious why so many people hire a guide. However, Sgurr na Banachdaich is technically no more difficult than most mainland Munros, with no scrambling on the ascent route described here. Descending via Sgurr nan Gobhar is great fun if you fancy putting your hands to work a bit. Otherwise, return by the ascent route. The views are sensational from the start – and just keep improving.
📷 Chronological photo guide
Waterfall on the Allt a’ Choire Ghreadaidh 
Choire Ghreadaidh 
Sgùrr Thuilm 
View northwest towards Loch Harport from the ascent 
Looking west, South Uist in the distance 
Sgùrr a’ Ghreadaidh from An Diallaid 
Sgùrr na Banachdaich from An Diallaid 
Sgùrr na Banachdaich summit, looking south 
Druim nan Ramh 
Druim nan Ramh & Loch Coruisk 
Sgùrr a’ Ghreadaidh 
Loch Brittle 
Sgùrr nan Gobhar 
Isle of Rùm from Sgùrr nan Gobhar 
Sgùrr nan Gobhar 
Typical scramble on Sgùrr nan Gobhar 
Looking back along the Sgùrr nan Gobhar ridge 
The descent off Sgùrr nan Gobhar 
View back to the main Cuillin Ridge from the scree run off Sgùrr nan Gobhar 
Looking back up the scree slope 
Sgùrr nan Gobhar from below 
View back to Sgùrr nan Gobhar from near the finish
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish on minor road at SYHA Glenbrittle, Skye
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NG 409225
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 57.219713,-6.292845
❌ No public transport within 1 mi
🚗 Layby (gets full)
📝 Key info
▶ 7 km / 4 mi | ▲ 970 m | ⌛ 6-7 hr
Features: △ Sgurr na Banachdaich (965 m, Munro); △ Sgurr nan Gobhar (630 m)
⬤ Tough | Well-made path along burn at first, fainter and occasionally wet across to Coir’ an Eich. Steep ascent on grass then small scree runs to An Diallaid, then choice of rough paths on bare rock to Munro summit. On descent, Sgurr nan Gobhar ridge involves several short but fairly straightforward scrambles – each slightly more difficult than the last, but never serious. Steep scree run off Sgurr nan Gobhar, then pathless moorland to regain outward route near start.
Download file for GPS➡️ Clockwise lollipop circuit: start – Allt a’ Choire Ghreadaidh to Allt-Coir’ an Eich – Coir’ an Eich – An Diallaid – Sgurr na Banachdaich – Sgurr nan Gobhar – descent via southwest slope – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Sheep lower down; unidentified bird of prey above Coire na Banachdich.
Weather: Nearly unbroken, warm sunshine, with the odd low cloud floating in Coire na Banachdich. Light, cooling northerly wind.
August 2015
