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SCOTLAND

Photos of Sgùrr Alasdair and Eas Mòr (Circular Walk from Glen Brittle)

Skye's Black Cuillin from Glen Brittle, with Sgùrr Alasdair in the background to the rightSkye's Cuillin mountains, with green and yellow fields across the foreground

At 992 metres, Sgùrr Alasdair is the UK's highest peak away from the mainland, and for prominence, the fifth highest in the UK. By the time I arrived on the Isle of Skye, I'd climbed the highest peaks on all but three of the 20+ Hebridean islands I'd visited. I didn't planned to climb them all, but when I realised I'd climbed so many, they all became a target.

My one attempt that ended in failure was Ceann Uachdarach - on the island of Vallay - a peak that's only 3.8% of Sgùrr Alasdair's height. You read that right: Ceann Uachdarach is only 38 metres high. Appearances can be deceiving though - the only time my hat's blown off on a summit was on Berneray's 93m-high Beinn Shleibhe. So was Vallay's highest point impossibly steep or rocky? Nope. The street I lived on at the time was steeper and higher, and Vallay's highest point is reached by grassy and gentle slopes. The island can only be accessed on foot or wheeled transport when the tide is low, so did the tide catch me out? Nope.

The peak's slopes were patrolled by a bunch of bulls and cows. Despite Highland Cow's friendly reputation, as there were calves, I didn't want to risk getting stuck on the island if I was cornered. And seeing them on the brow of the hill made them look more threatening...

A small selection of the Highland cows. Would you?Highland cows on green grass around a gravel track

I had doubts about climbing Sgùrr Alasdair. Tiredness had hit me, and I'd read its scree climb and scramble to the peak could be tough. There were three nearby appealing and easier walks in my 50 Walks book, and the Mountain Weather Information Service only gave a 40% chance of cloud-free summits above 900m, with probable rain showers.

The reason I decided not to leave Alasdair for another year? It's Gaelic for "Alexander" (my name).

Hiking to Sgùrr Alasdair

My walk started at Glen Brittle's campsite, and when the track forked further on, heading away from the coast and towards the mountains.

Approaching Sgùrr Alasdair from Coire Lagan - looking good for a cloud-free summitSgùrr Alasdair with a glimpse of the Great Stone Chute

Climbing the Great Stone Chute (see photo below) on all fours, the clouds lowered and visibility reduced.

I heard the rattle of rocks from someone climbing below (who I couldn't see due to cloud) and caused a mini avalanche. Hoping I hadn't knocked the lower climber out, I waited for them to catch up. It was an Australian guy who hadn't planned to climb Sgùrr Alasdair, but decided it'd be fun to follow me after seeing my backpack's yellow rain cover. Despite enjoying many solo walks in the Outer Hebrides (during two months there), it was great to have company!

Climbing Sgùrr Alasdair's Great Stone Chute (which was steeper than it looks here; I was on all fours for a big chunk of it) - not looking good for a cloud-free summitA misty scree slope (known as the Great Stone Chute) on Sgùrr Alasdair Reaching the top of the Great Stone ChuteSgùrr Alasdair rocks in mist

Although visibility was poor, it cleared enough to see across to Sgùrr Derg, home of the infamous Inaccessible Peak (it's actual name on the Ordnance Survey map). Two walkers were descending that scree slope. Can you spot both?

Spot the two walkers descending Sgùrr Derg's scree slope, which this photo makes look impossibly steepTwo miniscule-looking climbers descending Sgùrr Derg's steep scree slope Rounding an overhang near the top of the Great Stone Chute, before heading rightRocky overhang on Sgùrr Alasdair Looking down the Great Stone Chute, hidden by cloudGreat Stone Chute hidden in cloud, with mountain rocks rising either side

After climbing the Great Stone Chute, we rounded the summit and headed up the eastern ridge to what we hoped was the summit. Despite being wet in parts, the gabbro rock Sgùrr Alasdair is made of is grippy, and I found the scramble (rated Grade 2) to be straightforward. The lack of visibility probably helped keep vertigo away, and I'd forgotten I started the day feeling tired.

Sgùrr Alasdair's Summit (Hopefully)

I haven't looked at any summit photos to verify whether that misty point in the background was the correct spotSgùrr Alasdair's rocky summit hidden by cloud

We waited below the summit for a while, hoping for views, as the weather forecast predicted the cloud level would rise later in the afternoon. But despite an area providing shelter from the wind it was getting cold up there, so we headed to the summit before descending.

Hopefully Sgùrr Alasdair's summit. That trendy look came from rolling my waterproof trousers up to avoid damaging them on the scree slope (despite the forecast, it didn't rain)Alex on Sgùrr Alasdair's summit (hopefully)

Descending to Coire Lagan

Descending, including my friend for the day for scale if you can spot them in that mistTop of cloud-hidden Great Stone Chute, with steep rocks rising either side Descending the Great Stone Chute, Loch Brittle was still hidden behind cloud (the small loch is unnamed) The weather cleared slightly, but the summit remained undercover for the rest of the dayBlack gabbro rocks beneath Sgùrr Alasdair's summit in cloud A waterfall flowing from the small loch beside Sgùrr AlasdairWaterfall over rocks on Sgùrr Alasdair's slope

Eas Mòr Waterfall Photos

After descending Sgùrr Alasdair and reaching Coire Lagan, I was excited about seeing the waterfall, Eas Mòr. A literal translation of Eas Mòr is "waterfall big," so I'm technically wrong heading this section as "Eas Mòr Waterfall."

Eas Mòr is reached by heading right when the track from Coire Lagan forks. No photos had prepared me for how beautiful the location is, so you may have to indulge me for sharing too many photos of the waterfall.

The verdant slopes, trees and ferns were a complete contrast to the dark grey rock of the Black Cuillin.

Eas Mòr, backed by Sgùrr nan GobharEas Mòr with green ferns and trees backed by Sgùrr nan Gobhar Eas Mòr again

My favourite position to view the waterfall was head-on, with the symmetry created by background mountains.

Eas Mòr, with Sgùrr nan Gobhar to the left, and Sgùrr Dearg's summit hidden in cloud to the rightEas Mòr waterfall, backed by near-symmetrical Cuillin mountains

I'd taken a tin of spaghetti but forgotten my spork, so drank straight from the tin. The view made it more than worthwhile, and climbing Sgùrr Alasdair was so much fun I didn't care about the lack of view from the summit.

From there, an obvious track led back to the road and the car park near Glen Brittle campsite. I couldn't resist looking back...

Just one more look at Eas Mòr

Back at Glen Brittle

If you've wondered why Sgùrr features so often in the names of the Cuillin Mountains, according to The Gaelic origins of place names in Britain, it's a very appropriate word, meaning "rocky peak, sharp steep hill."

I ended the day relaxing on the beach beside the River Brittle.

The River Brittle flows into Loch BrittlePebbly beach at sunset, with river flowing into Loch Brittle I wore old shoes in anticipation of what the scree might do, and my choice was justifiedWalking shoes torn by scree

Useful Links

None of my walks on this website are intended to be a substitute for a map, compass and experience in mountainous locations.

Recommended stuff:
OS Explorer Map (411) Skye (Amazon.co.uk)
Walking the Isle of Skye (Amazon.co.uk)
The Hebrides: 50 Walking and Backpacking Routes (Amazon.co.uk)

It's worth noting the rock in this area has a high iron content, so compasses may give faulty readings.

isleofskye.com Guide to The Cuillin

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Related Books

(Amazon.co.uk links)

The Hebrides: 50 Walking and Backpacking Routes book Walking the Isle of Skye book

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