Skye's Black Cuillin ridge Munros (south)

Getting to Glenbrittle

• At Sligachan on the A87, the A863 heads west towards Carbost. Head down this road for a few miles, then turn off for Carbost and just before entering the village, the road splits by a campsite - take the narrow road with passing places heading down to Glenbrittle.
• Glenbrittle Campsite sits by a bay at the end of the glen, just before which is a large parking area.

Sgurr nan Eag

• From the campsite at the end of Glenbrittle, walk through the campsite, past the toilets, over the fence, then up a path. Cross a track that heads south-west, then continue on the path uphill for ½km.
• A junction is reached, turn right, cross the burn and head west-south-west and on a well constructed path for 1km, then cross the Allt Coire Lagan.
• Shortly after this burn, the path divides into two, take the left fork which aims higher and gets you into Coire Ghrunnda. The path has been recently extended and carries on into the coire and hits some scree. Over some large boulders then occasional easy scrambles to reach Loch Coir a'Ghrunnda.
• Cross the outflow and start to walk around the south side of the loch.
• Just after an inlet with some sand, turn and aim directly up Sgurr na Eag. Apart from some minor easy scrambling, there are no difficulties reaching the large cairn on top of some boulders.

Sgurr Dubh Mor

• Return for a bit, then get onto the crest of Sgurr na Eag's west ridge. The scambling becomes slightly more technical, but still fairly easy.
• Approaching Caisteal a'Garbh Coire, the terrain becomes easy, pass this block on the north (right) side and reach a windy bealach.
• From here, some sustained but easy and enjoyable scrambling will take you up to Sgurr na da Bheinn. Various routes options present themselves, but generally keep just to the Coire Ghrunnda side of the crest.
• To reach Sgurr Dubh Mor head initially in the direction of the peak (east), but look for a path on loose scree on your left (north). Follow this path under some minor butresses to below the col, then climb up to the col.
• Cross to the other side of the col, then follow a ledge on your left (see photo). Up some slighlty loose ground to a point of safety, then turn right and scramble up two slabs (tricky if wet) and a gap between rocks to reach the airy crest of the summit.

Sgurr Alasdair

• Return to Sgurr na da Bheinn the same way, or, if you prefer something slightly harder, stick to the crest.
• Head north-west, and reach Bealach Coir' an Lochain via boulders and no difficulties.
• Sticking to the ridge beyond this point involves an abseil into and climb out of the Thearlaich Dubh Gap (or 'TD Gap' as it is affectionately known).
• The Thearlaich Dubh Gap is however easily avoided by following a faint path below Sgurr Alasdair's south-facing butresses to a small cave (see photo). After reaching the cave, turn right and head over some loose ground below and to the right of the crest to reach the bottom of an awkward looking dark chimney (there are two chimneys, it's the larger one on the right). The scramble up it is not as bad as it looks !
• Once up out of this chimney continue up with extreme care on exceptionally loose ground to Sgurr Alasdair's summit. This is a fantastic place to stop for a while and take in the views.

Sgurr Mhic Choinnich

• From Sgurr Alasdair's summit, easy scrambling leads down to the top of the Great Stone Shoot.
• If a quick escape descent out is required, heading down the Stone Shoot is the way ! Much of the fine scree has been pushed to the bottom of the slope, so take care with your ankles particluarly at the start of the descent route.
• Next up is Sgurr Thearlaich - from the top of the Shoot, walk south-south-east down on a path on the screes until you see a gap on Sgurr Thearlaich's rock. Clamber up this then scramble directly up to Sgurr Thearlaich's summit.
• Continue north, downhill sticking on the crest over a very airy section, followed by a plateau leading to a dead end. Decision - either abseil directly down (see photo on right), or head back slightly and look for a loose route on the left (west). The latter requires a bit of route finding and careful footwork on the loose rock.
• Scramble over to Bealach Mhic Choinnich. The direct route to Sgurr Mhic Choinnich aims directly up King's Chimney, however that's a roped climb !
• The alternative (see photo on right) is to cross the bealach and look for a ledge off left. This is Collie's Ledge, which is exposed but fairly easy and continues around the west side of Sgurr Mhic Choinnich to reach the north side of the summit, from where it's a fairly easy scramble, with one slight bad step. There is a small memorial plaque on the summit.

Sgurr Dearg and the Inaccessible Pinnacle

• Return to the top of Collie's Ledge, then continue scrambling down to the top of An Stac Screes. The route is fairly obvious with easy scrambling most of the way.
• If you've got a good head for heights, you could aim directly up An Stac, however, if you'd like a breather before the exposure on the In-Pinn, just keep to the top of the screes and below the rock of An Stac. Climb up on loose stone and boulders to reach the base of the Inaccessible Pinnacle.
• You may have to wait a while before it's your turn to start up on the Inaccessible Pinnacle's edge, the most difficult of Munro peaks ! The scramble up is not really that difficult, it's just the exposure that's frightening.
• The easiest way up is the east ridge - start this near the bottom of the rock (see photo above), then get onto the crest. Scramble directly up to the summit boulder, with only one modertly difficult move on the way.
• The easiest way down is to abseil off the west side. Plonk yourself onto the safety of Sgurr Dearg and watch the other climbers do what you've just done.

Sgurr na Banachdich

• From here on the progress becomes gradually more straightforward.
• Leave Sgurr Dearg and head down easy loose scree to Bealach Coire na Banachdich. To reach Sgurr na Banachdich via fine scrambling, stick to the crest. However, a slightly easier, but less enjoyable route is just off left on some vague sections of path.
• Higher up the crest narrows and a first top, then the main summit are reached.

Sgurr a'Ghreadaidh

• Leave Sgurr na Banachdich and head over an obvious route initially north-west, then downhill turning right (north-east) on loose scree. A bit of easy scrambling at the col, with a good view over to Blaven.
• Scramble directly up to the summit of Sgurr Thomaid, then careful on loose ground on the other side.
• Keep to the right (south) side of the 3 teeth and reach a col ith some stone circles to shelter out of the wind.
• Scramble uphill towards Sgurr a'Ghreadaidh, concentration is required as although the scrambling is straightforward, it is relentless to the first top.
• The main top with its cairn is just a bit further, but there are some tricky moves between these summits.
• From the first top, keep mainly to the crest, then just before the main summit, drop a bit to the left, contour just below it and come back on it to reach the cairn.

Sgurr a'Mhadaidh

• Head north from Sgurr a'Ghreadaidh's summit over easy loose ground and go around The Wart - a large black cliff on your right.
• Easy ground takes you down to a slight difficulty on a dyke, easily overcome with care.
• Pass an impressive cleft on your left, then keeping more or less to the crest continue down to An Dorus. There is some scrambling here, face the rock and descend down to the col.
• Cross the col, one little move being required, then head up easy loose ground to Sgurr a'Mhadaidh's small airy summit.

Down to Glenbrittle Youth Hostel

• Return to An Dorus, then head down on scree into Coire An Doruis. A faint path develops, crosses the burn near where it swings south-west and Coire a'Ghreadaidh is entered.
• Further down the Allt Coire a'Ghreadaidh needs crossing, but careful as the rock can be slippy.
• Pick up the recently re-constructed path and follow it down to the youth hostel, stopping to admire the waterfalls on the way.