CUILLIN MUNROS
The Cuillin Munros rightly deserve their reputation as some of the most serious and technical peaks in the UK, with ropes, harnesses, and helmets being necessary for most objectives along the ridge.
There are 12 Munros on Skye, of which 11 are on the main Cuillin Ridge. Of these, the Inaccessible Pinnacle (commonly known as the ‘In Pinn’) is the most challenging and involves two pitches of exciting rock climbing at Moderate standard, followed by an abseil. The rest are also significant mountaineering challenges – both as individual peaks and also to link multiple summits together for longer days out.
Read our popular UKClimbing.com article ‘The Skye Cuillin for Munro Baggers’.
DURATION
4 days
GROUP SIZE
1 instructor to 2 participants
COST £1400
DATES May-June
Experience required: Mountain walking experience, good hill fitness, and a head for heights essential – ideally with some recent scrambling experience. All instruction in the use of technical equipment is provided.
What will I get from the course?
Before the course, we will discuss what Munros you would like to do. Generally, we do 2-3 Munros each day, depending on fitness, ability, aspirations, and the weather. To do all the main Cuillin ridge Munros in this way normally takes 4 days.
Above is a sample itinerary - the order of the days is dependent on the weather and fitness.
While we don’t normally include Blà Bhein within the week as many hillwalkers prefer to do it unguided - a strong team with good weather may include this peak as well - perhaps via the excellent Clach Glas- Blà Bhein traverse.
When is the best time to go?
This course can run anytime May-Oct, but we recommend May to mid-June, and September each year. This is to:
a) get the most stable weather and avoid the ‘lambing snows’ that can occur in late April/early May;
b) avoid the worst of the midges in mid summer; and
c) avoid the peak tourist season.
Other information
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The following are popular choices close to the Cuillin:
1) www.theoldinnskye.co.uk – a homely inn with bunkhouse attached
2) www.sligachan.co.uk - camping, bunkhouse & hotel options
3) www.dunvegancastle.com/glenbrittle/campsite - camping below the Cuillin
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Vehicles: Skye is a big place – and a vehicle undoubtedly makes life easier to get around (fuel and electric charging points available in Broadford & Portree).
While transport is NOT provided as part of the course, lift sharing is encouraged to reduce pressure on local roads and carparks, and minimise carbon footprint.
Public Transport: There are trains from the South to Fort William and Kyle of Lochalsh, and vehicles can be hired in both locations.
Please let Summit Guides know if you need a pick up/drop off at the station in Kyle.
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Your instructor will meet you at 7pm at your accommodation on the night before your course starts, from where we will decide on a plan for the subsequent days.
Flexibility of start times ensures we use the best weather – so while a typical start may be 7-8.30am, it is not uncommon to start much earlier, particularly to get ahead of both incoming bad weather, or the crowds in the case of a day involving the Inaccessible Pinnacle.
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Trendall, Adrian. Skye’s Cuillin Ridge Traverse. (Cicerone Press) 2020.
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Complete your Skye Cuillin Ridge Munros
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