NATIONAL CLIMBING CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM(overall difficulty; technical / scrambling portion only; see posts for length of our outings). by Adrian Trendall. Easier lines exist on scree to the left (Section 1) Skye’s Cuillin Ridge has been described as ‘the holy grail of British scrambling’ Cuillin Ridge in a continuous style. Then it’s a straight forward out and back excursion to the summit of Sgurr nan Eag, the first of our Skye Munros. Challenge yourself on a mountain scramble day on and up Cairngorm via the Fiacaill ridge in the National Park and beyond. Fiacaill Ridge Scramble on Cairngorm. Booking is simple, you can either phone us, email us or use our online shopping cart below. 2 Day Full Cuillin Ridge Traverse 1:1 £750 / 1:2 £810. And consider yourself to fall into our silver and preferably gold category of fitness. Length; 11km, Height Gain; 1200m, Scrambling Grade; 3, The round of Coire a’Ghreadaidh takes further up Glen Brittle again. Cuillin Ridge Traverse, Hike and scramble on the Isle of Skye, Scotland (3 days) Join Paul, an AMI/MIA-certified mountain guide, for a fun and exhilarating two day scrambling expedition across the famed Cuillin Ridge on Scotland's Isle of Skye. Grade III: Requires a day to do the technical portion; any technical difficulty. Subsequent weathering and erosion has left the Cuillin Bowl split, Once we have received your booking (either through the online shopping cart, email or phone). This ridge provides the crux for the day (although easier than the In Pinn of the previous day) and leads via the south top to the main summit of Sgurr a’Ghreadaidh. All technical equipment is provided, so you will only need your normal hill walking kit. The accommodation also has free Wi Fi Broadband internet access. Scrambling Cuillin Traverse: Taking the Easier Route . All our guides are qualified Mountaineering Instructors and all are highly experience in these mountains. We also arrange your accommodation, getting good nights sleep and having restful evenings are crucial. A guided traverse of the Cuillin Ridge is normally undertaken over two days and is an extremely serious and taxing scramble/climb. In the book ‘Scotland’ by Chris Townsend he wrote: ‘The Cuillin Ridge offers climbers and scramblers a lieftime’s worth of exploration. Dave was excellent to work with and I would highly recommend him. Across ten sections, it explains step by step how to tackle the ridge, as well as providing easier climbing alternatives (Cuillin Ridge Light) for the harder climbing sections. Climbing this allows us to warm up nicely and get our heads into gear for an ascent of ‘the Pinn’. From the Bealach easier ground takes us to the foot for Sgurr Mhic Choinnich where we will again head on an out and back excursion to the summit. This self-catering accommodation will be our base for the duration of The Skye Cuillin Munros. Skye Trail - Aimed at more adventurous walkers, this 80-mile route takes in part of the Trotternish Ridge and passes benrath the Cuillin. The Skye Cuillin Ridge Summits trek is 4 intensive days of walking and scrambling on the 11 Skye Munros found on The Black Cuillin Ridge. The scrambling then begins as we drop back down to the Bealach a Garbh-choire and find our way up the formidable Sgurr Dubh Mor, our second munro. This provides an entertaining scramble finishing on the ‘table top’ summit of Sgurr nan Gillean, descending from this involves some more scrambling and an abseil before we meet Am Bastier. The Cuillin is a cirque formed by a huge extinct volcano that erupted about 70 million years ago. Self Catering in Portree - £899 Currently we only offer this accommodation type on this trek. The dates of our scheduled treks can be seen below. Final Payment: £699 due a month before your trip departs. Where rock climbing begins in earnest. There is no rush at all though, because you can leave anytime before 12 noon, giving you chance to have a well deserved lie in! The Cuillin ridge rises straight from the sea and takes in 11 Munros (individual Scottish mountains of over 3,000ft). This time head up alongside the stream that runs out of the Coire. There is also a conservatory overlooking the large walled garden with a view to the Skye Cuillin Munros. The coire looks impossible to reach with rock slabs, scree and waterfalls guarding its entrance. We are hoping to publish our calendar for 2021 in the spring of 2020. The Cuillin Ridge Light is the best ridge in the UK for mere mortals. The waiting list is there so that if anyone drops out of the trek we will contact you and let you know, so you can take their place on the trek instead. Once we’ve returned to An Dorus a track takes us back to the van. There are sections of Severe climbing and grade 3 scrambling to overcome. A loose affiliation of families and friends who like to get out into the mountains and, ideally, to the tops of them. Excellent accommodation in walking distance from Portree. The Black Cuillin are the most spectacular and challenging … Monday 12th July 2021 to Saturday 17th July 2021. Class 4. The Cuillin and Minginish. Its called the Black Cuillin due to the colour of the igneous rocks which form the top peaks. 5.0-5.7. That said there are some superb grade 3 Scrambles. When the gully walls of the Stone Shoot close in, cross it, and scramble up a steep gully (mainly on the left) direct to the Bealach. Over two volumes, this guide covers everything needed to prepare for and complete a successful traverse over this spectacular ridge. Introduction to the Skye Cuillin Ridge Summits. The route involves descending from the main ridge for some distance then climbing a weakness in the cliffs that run down form the Tooth. Your guide will check your kit and talk to you about what to expect in the coming days. Rock-scramble along crests and ridges, with some 'moderate' climbing. The Cuillin ridge runs along the Black Cuillin mountain peaks on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. Low to mid-5th class and/or steep snow and ice. If you are booking as a solo traveller and happy to share a twin room with another solo traveller of the same sex the price is £899. The character of the day changes from here on out. A Munro is a Scottish Mountain with a summit height of at least 914m. However, a weakness on the left allows us to breach this barrier and gain the highest of the great Cuillin Coires. Skye’s Cuillin Ridge is the Holy Grail of British scrambling. A fall could be fatal. * The Cuillin Ridge involves lots and lots of scrambling terrain at gra… For example: Pinnacle Ridge in the Lake District, Parts of the Cuillin Ridge on Skye, and Dolmen Ridge in Ogwen Wales. Situated in the wilds of Loch Courisk on the far side of the Skye Ridge, this amazing outing is claimed to be one of the longest routes in the UK boasting nearly 1 km of climbing. Quote. Skye's Cuillin Ridge Traverse. Skye Mountain Guides is a mountain guiding company based at the foot of the Black Cuillin mountains on the Isle of Skye. Please note the itinerary below is subject to change. Are you ready for the challenge? We're … Not likely to encounter these grades in this blog. Qualified and Friendly Mountaineering Instructors. Mixed terrain. If you are keen to book early and secure a trek on a date to suit you please do feel free to get in contact with us. Comprised mainly of hard, rough gabbro rock and smoother basalt the ridge was sculpted into its current form by glacial activity and subsequent weathering over the millennia, which created the unique jagged character of the Ridge. Please note we do have a limited amount of single rooms available for those happy to pay a single supplement. Without great expectations of actually pulling it off Jos and Pip took a crack at a 1-day traverse of the fabled Cuillin traverse on our last day on Skye. A superbly written and well put together guide book for the Cuillin Ridge and other popular Cuillin Scrambles. We will then confirm with you that your accommodation option and room type, single, twin or double, is available. With over 3000m ascent spread over 10km on the ridge itself, and some of the most spectacular mountain scenery anywhere in the UK, the Cuillin Ridge Traverse truly is an incredible achievement for those who choose to undertake the challenge. The Cuillin Ridge Traverse is the most famous mountaineering expedition in Britain. Grade I: Normally requires several hours; can be of any technical difficulty. Staff Adventures: The Cuillin Ridge. Scrambling; hands are used for balance; a rope might be carried. Reference: The Mountaineers (2010), Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills. Today it is time to pack up and make your way home from your exhilarating holiday on The Skye Cuillin Ridge. Further scrambling takes us onto the summit itself, the highest of all the Skye Cuillin Ridge Summits and our last one for today. Gordon Stainforth, author of ‘The Cuillin’ Descending from Sgurr nan Eag towards Caisteal a’ Garbh-choire. Simple climbing, often with exposure. In the evening you will get a chance to meet the rest of your group as well as at least one of your guides. As you’ll be predominantly walking (although with a rope) on tight rope edges, in possibly rain, wind and drizzle. A rope is often used. Bag all 11 Munros on the Cuillin Ridge, including the famed 'Inaccessible Pinnacle'. "Scramblegs" [scramble-legs] – The abseil marks a shift from the carefree slab padding of the lower ridge to the more serious and exposed feel here on in. Thistle Trekking want to give you the highest chance of succeeding in this challenge. Mid 5th class and/or very steep snow and ice. All that remains is to descend Coire a’ Bhastier back to the Sligachan to celebrate. A committed recreational climber can reach this level. Your guide will rearrange your days to make sure that they provide the most appropriate order in regards to the weather and the group. 5.8-5.9. YOSEMITE DECIMAL SYSTEM (YDS)(climbing difficulty). All deposits can be paid by cheque, bank transfer or debit/credit card. The price of this trip is £899 per person (based on two sharing). This gains height steadily until we see Coire a’ Ghrunnda up ahead. We also off the option of private bookings for groups. Click hereto find out more. Improve your rock-scrambling skills on some of Scotland's airy routes. The Black Cuillin Ridge was formed 60,000,000 years ago and is all that remains of an eroded magma chamber of a huge volcano. All that remains is for a ride down the An Stac screes and we can head out of the now familiar Coire Lagan. The reward is an intensely satisfying blend of hard physical and mental work mixed with some of the best scenery in the world. To have every chance of success, we require you to have experience in hill walking and scrambling. A short way up we’ll leave the main path on a faint track which will take us into Coire an Eich with its scree. Next, we will gain the south ridge of Sgurr a’Ghreadaidh. Cuillin Ridge Traverses are arranged on a private guiding basis, so on dates that suit you; The price includes 3 days put aside for a suitable weather window; We will only guide teams of 2 who know each other, otherwise it needs to be on a 1:1 basis Grade VI: A multiday excursion with difficult free climbing and/or aid climbing. There are 282 Munros in Scotland, and many agree that these 11 are perhaps the hardest. As it’s a fine line between a Scramble and a Rock Climb. Classic Grade 3 scramblers include Pinnacle Ridge in the Lake District and Skye's spectacular Cuillin Ridge. From this summit more scrambling leads to An Dorus, a narrow notch in the ridge from which we make another out and back excursion to summit of our final Munro for the day, Sgurr a’Mhadaidh. Trotternish Ridge A long ridge following a spine made up of cliff-edges, hills and weird rock formations. We will be staying here for the duration of the Skye Cuillin Ridge Summits trek and so do relax and make yourself at home. We will then send you a full booking form and information about paying your deposit for your trek. Scrambling skills required. 1 Qualified Mountain Instructor per 3 customers, Safety equipment for the scrambling and climbing. Describing the Cuillin Ridge as a scramble would be like billing K2 as an exciting mountaineering route – true, but fatally understated. And often terrifying in the wet…In truth a grade 3 can be open to debate. Grading Explanation Chart 4th and easy 5th class; some exposure. Currently we only offer this accommodation type on this trek. Working our way up this leads to our first munro of the day; Sgurr na Banachdich. A break and a bight to eat later we will head up screes to gain the ridge. ... Becky and Brennen made the journey all the way up to the Isle of Skye with Bob from Contour Outdoor to walk, scramble and explore the incredible landscape that Scotland has to offer. To book this trip we will require a £200 deposit per person with the rest to be paid a month before your trip. Some of the best views of the ridge as a whole can be found on this narrow summit. ‘Doing the Dubhs‘ is a paraphrase born from the Isle of Skye that translates roughly as ‘having one of the best days possible in UK hills’. A Munro is a Scottish Mountain with a summit height of at least 914m. Most of us are located in BC, Canada. You still ascend the Munros, climb the Inaccessible Pinnacle, do a few abseils and… Detailed maps and photographs with optional routes that can be taken. Stretching over 12km in length and demanding 3500m+ of ascent, it deserves a title as one of the best Alpine ridgelines in Europe. We can offer guided Munros such as the Inaccessible Pinnacle, Classic scrambles on Skye as well as Cuillin Ridge Traverses. The well-equipped and modern kitchen has a casual eating area and is complete with a fridge, freezer, dishwasher and microwave. All our Skye Cuillin Ridge Summits Courses come with self catering accommodation included. This two-volume guidebook provides detailed coverage of the iconic Cuillin Ridge, a 12km traverse on the Isle of Skye. You will be taken to that site when you press the book now button. Cuillin Ridge Traverse Booked a Cuillin ridge Traverse with West Coast Mountain guides. From there we head across the Alt Dearg Mor and gradually work our way via Coire Riabhach to the south east ridge of Sgurr nan Gillean. As well as Sgurr Mhic Choinnich, named after one of Skye’s pioneering climbers. Sustained climbing; possibly loose rock; route finding challenges; typically descended via an easier route. Class 3. The scramble to the top via the East Ridge (I realise title is wrong on the video!) Please get in touch if you'd like to book privately. The Guided Cuillin Ridge Traverse involves maximum effort, a high level of stamina and definitely not for the faint hearted. A traverse of the ridge can only be completed by the application of considerable skill and a huge amount of effort; and involves significant amounts of scrambling and rock climbing. Located on the outskirts of Portree, it is within walking distance to local shops, pubs and restaurants. From hear you’ll get your first views of the full ridge in all its glory. Length; 14km, Height Gain; 1350m, Scrambling Grade; 3. The second volume focuses on the traverse itself and is the perfect booklet to carry while attempting to complete this renowned scramble. AD (fairly difficult). Due to their technical nature, these Skye Munros require a large amounts of scrambling. We will have self-catering accommodation arranged for you, so all you need to do is arrive and settle in. Discover (and save!) 566-567). 8th Edition (pp. your own Pins on Pinterest Where most weekend climbers become comfortable; employs the specific skills of rock climbing. Completing all The Skye Cuillin Ridge Summits is a huge achievement and for many it is the very pinnacle of their mountaineering accomplishments. Length; 12km, Height Gain; 1450m, Scrambling Grade; 2, A classic of Skye, this day you’ll ascend the infamous Inaccessible Pinnacle, considered the hardest of all the Munros. The very special brand of ridge scrambling found here can have few equals in the whole world. ALPINE GRADES(Reference: David Jones, Rogers Pass Alpine Guide, p. 28). After enjoying this fine position a final short section of scrambling takes us to the great stone shoot from which we make our way back to Glen Brittle. In volume one there is a wealth of useful information about strategy, gear, training, navigation and logistics. Descend from the Bealach for several 100 feet with a couple of short down climbs into a boulder strewn basin. We start at the Mountain Rescue hut in Glenbrittle and head up past a spectacular waterfall to the western spur of Sgurr Dearg. Connected by many narrow twisting ridges, navigation is also extremely complex. PD (little difficulty). Click for more details. If you are a solo traveller and would like a single room to yourself there is a £30 per night single supplement (£150 in total). Adrian Trendall, author of new Cicerone guide Skye's Cuillin Ridge Traverse, explains how to smooth the hardest edges off the ridge, making it a more realistic prospect for iffy weather or less able climbers. The Skye Cuillin Ridge Summits trek is 4 intensive days of walking and scrambling on the 11 Skye Munros found on The Black Cuillin Ridge. No other ridge in the United Kingdom offers more exposed and continuous scrambling than the Skye Cuillin Ridge. Climbing The Inaccessible Pinnacle, considered the hardest of all the Munros. Since I was soloing I had little choice but to go up the scramble route from Lota coire. Climbing involves the use of a rope, belaying, and protection (natural or artificial) to protect the leader from a long fall. You will be provided with a full kit list, as a guide you will need: a small rucksack (around 25 litres), walking boots, waterproof trousers, waterproof jacket, hat, gloves, a spare fleece and walking trousers (not jeans or denim), a water bottle, a camera, sun cream, sun glasses and a sun hat. We treat this as a rock climb and you will be well looked after with ropes, harnesses and helmets to make sure you can enjoy this spectacular place. Chance to summit all 11 Skye Munros on The Cuillin Ridge. This day starts and finishes in Sligachan. There is also a separate utility area providing washing and drying facilities. Some days may be lengthened while others shortened in order to create the highest chance of success. Mountain Scrambling involves climbing steep and exposed mountain ridges like Fiacaill ridge with the minimum of protection. Jan 3, 2016 - This Pin was discovered by Claire Fennell. It uses cunning and knowledge to take the easiest line, hard climbs are bypassed and the bar of necessary experience and skills is lowered. The book in brief: It’s a two-volume guide book with all the information required to complete the main ridge traverse on Skye’s Black Cuillin. If there are no dates on this calendar to suit you please let us know, sometimes we can add extra dates if there is enough demand for an extra trip to be added. Grade 1 scramble- "This grade of scramble will be fairly straightforward for most experienced hillwalkers. Grade IV: Requires a full day for the technical portion; the hardest pitch is usually no less than 5.7 (YDS; see below). We offer a variety of days out, or courses, for those groups or individuals who want professional private guiding or those who want to adapt to more difficult terrain on the Cuillin Ridge. Nestled on the shores of Portree Bay is a substantial Georgian House dating from the 1830’s. If a trek is full but you would like to be added to the waiting list, please do let us know. An abseil off the In Pinn takes us back to the summit of Sgurr Dearg to continue our day by descending to the Bealach Coire Lagan. Walking up the westerly slope of … D (Difficult). Route finding challenges. Today we begin Skye Cuillin Ridge Summits by heading into the southernmost section of the ridge. Once we have received back both your booking form and deposit we will let you know and your place on the trip will be secure. Typically, natural protection can be easily found. Realistic and never underestimating the ridge and a true reflection of the climbing grades for some of the rock climbs. These are some of the most exhilarating activity days that we run. TD (very difficult) and ED (extremely difficult). Skye's Black Cuillin Ridge - North Sgurr nan Gillean is the finest peak on Skye, Bruache na Frithe is the easiest, Am Bhasteir lies between them. Grade V: Requires a day and a half; the hardest pitch is at least 5.8. tourist route, for dad to see the tricky bit. We descend from here back to the Bealach (or via more scrambling and an abseil from behind the tooth) before a short and easy ascent takes us to the top of our final Skye Munro, Bruach na Frithe. More in keeping with the character of other high Cuillin ridges, a sharper arete led us up out of the next col, a thrilling scramble with slabs …