Scottish Mountain Photo Gallery

Skye Cuillin: Sgurr na Banachdich, Sgurr Thormaid and Sgurr a Ghreadaidh via Coire a Ghreadaidh.

While you explore the Cuillin ridge on the edge of the Atlantic why not listen to "Edge of the World" (3.2MB mp3) by Scottish band Don't give up the day job!

GPS track of route: 9.8km, 1099m, 10hrs.

Telephoto shot from the Allt a Choire Ghreadaidh over Glen Brittle, Loch Brittle, Rubh an Dunain to the Rum Cuillin emerging from the early morning mist.

SW from Stob Gabhar to Loch Brittle, Rubh an Dunain, Soay and Rum.

The west ridge of Sgurr na Banachdich.

Panorama from summit of Sgurr na Banachdich (965m). To the NW in the middle distance is Sgurr Thormaid (926m) with the "Three teeth" on its NW ridge. Then the ridge curves up to the twin summits of Sgurr a Ghreadaidh (973m) (pron. Greeta). In the distance behind is the conical peak of Sgurr nan Gillean (964m) with its SW ridge descending to Sgurr Beag (764m) then the dark Sgurr na h-Uamha (736m). In the far distance to the ESE Bla Bheinn (Blaven) (928m) rises behind the long ridge of Druim nam Ramh which encloses the NE shore of Loch Coruisk. The conical peak of Sgurr na Stri (497m) lies beyond the outflow of the loch. Further to the SE the dark peak in the middle distance is Sgurr Coir an Lochain (729m) the last significant British peak to be climbed. Behind lies the slabs of the Dubhs ridge which rise at a steady angle to the summit of Sgurr Dubh Beag (733m). After a small steep drop which requires an abseil, the ridge continues at a similar angle to the long level summit ridge of Sgurr Dubh Mhor (944m). From the dark summit a steep drop leads to some pinnacles before rising to join the main ridge at the lighter cone of Sgurr Dubh an Da Bheinn (938m). Despite its name, this peak is lighter than the surrounding gabbro peaks because it is composed largely of peridotite which is even rougher than gabbro. Continuing westward, the north west ridge of Sgurr Mhic Choinnich spirals up to its fine summit (948m). The next summits are those of Sgurr Thearlaich (978m) and Sgurr Alasdair (992m) which are separated by the Great Stone Shoot. In the middle distance the dark SE ridge of An Stac (954m) continues up to the Inaccessible Pinnacle of Sgurr Dearg (986m). In the distance, the summit of Sgurr Sgumain (947m) can just be seen in the dip between An Stac and Sgurr Dearg. To the west (right) of the Cuillin, the Cuillin of Rum can be seen in the far distance with the island of Soay and the headland of Rubh an Dunain appearing behind the west ridge of Sgurr Dearg.

Summit of Sgurr na Banachdich looking to Rum.

The col between Sgurr na Banachdich and Sgurr Thormaid.

Summit of Sgurr Thormaid looking WSW to An Diallaid.

Descending the NE ridge of Sgurr Thormaid.

The NE ridge of Sgurr Thormaid is blocked by the Three Teeth. This is the first. There are perfectly good chicken paths on either side but it is much better fun to tackle them head on at about V.Diff. standard. Clach Glas and Blaven are in the distance.

Three teeth, Sgurr Thormaid.

SW ridge of Sgurr a Ghreadaidh.

SW ridge of Sgurr a Ghreadaidh, looking back over the Three Teeth, Sgurr Thormaid and Sgurr na Banachdich.

A long hot day with Greta Gabbro!

Coire a Ghreadaidh and An Diallaid from the SW ridge of Sgurr a Ghreadaidh.

SW ridge of Sgurr a Ghreadaidh.

SW ridge of Sgurr a Ghreadaidh looking towards the first summit..

A steep step on the SW ridge of Sgurr a Ghreadaidh overlooking Loch Coruisk. The best scrambling keeps to the crest.

A steep step on the SW ridge of Sgurr a Ghreadaidh. To keep to the crest we used a rope when we traversed into an exposed chimney near here. It had no bottom other than the floor of Coir'-uisg thousands of feet below.

SW ridge of Sgurr a Ghreadaidh

Perfectly good path down to the right....

The first summit of Sgurr a Ghreadaidh with the four tops of Sgurr a a Mhadaidh, Bidein Druim nan Ramh, Bruach na Frithe, Am Basteir and Sgurr nan Gillean behind.

Sgurr a Ghreadaidh.

Traversing the summit ridge of Sgurr a Ghreadaidh.

Looking back to the south summit of Sgurr a Ghreadaidh with Loch Coruisk a long way below.

The summit ridge of Sgurr a Ghreadaidh.

Loch Coruisk from the summit ridge of Sgurr a Ghreadaidh.

Looking back to the north summit of Sgurr a Ghreadaidh.

Ascending the north summit of Sgurr a Ghreadaidh, not many Munroists on the south summit.

The south summit of Sgurr a Ghreadaidh. The ridge behind shows from left to right, Sgurr Thearlaich, Sgurr Alasdair, An Stac, the Inaccessible Pinnacle of Sgurr Dearg and Sgurr na Banachdich.

Panorama from the north peak of Sgurr a Ghreadaidh.

Rum floating in the haze behind the west ridge of Sgurr Dearg and the SE ridge of Sgurr na Banachdich.

Sgurr Dubh Mhor, Sgurr Dubh an Da Bheinn, Sgurr nan Eag (924m), Sgurr Thearlaich, Sgurr Alasdair, Sgurr Sgumain, south summit of Sgurr a Ghreadaidh (foreground) and An Stac from the north peak of Sgurr a Ghreadaidh.

Descending from the north peak of Sgurr a Ghreadaidh past the "wart".

Sgurr Thuilm and the NW ridge of Sgurr a Mhadaidh from just above the col at An Dorus.

Descending the SW wall of An Dorus.

An Dorus.

Panorama from Coire an Doruis (the hanging coire above Coire a Ghreadaidh) showing Sgurr a Mhadaidh, the two notches of An Dorus and Eag Dubh, north peak of Sgurr a Ghreadaidh, Sgurr Eadar da Choire (foreground), Three Teeth, Sgurr Thormaid, Sgurr na Banachdich, An Diallaid and finally Sgurr nan Gobhar.

Allt a' Coire Ghreadaidh.

Allt a' Coire Ghreadaidh, perfect place for a swim.

Loch Brittle.

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Site editor: Douglas E Wilcox (D.E.Wilcox@clinmed.gla.ac.uk )
Created 25/12/03
Updated 30/12/03