Scottish Mountain Photo Gallery

Skye Cuillin: Sgurr Thuilm and Sgurr a' Mhadaidh 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 to Sgurr a'Mhadaidh (pron. Vatee) by its fine NW ridge, 9.9km, 1050m, 7hrs30mins.

Allt a' Coire Ghreadaidh. This pool is just a few yards from the road and a great place for an evening swim.

Coire a' Ghreadaidh skyline from left, Sgurr Thuilm (881m), Sgurr a' Mhadaidh west top (918m), An Dorus (notch), Sgurr a' Ghreadaidh (973m), An Diallaid (712m), Sgurr na Banachdich (965m), the skyline of Coir' an Eich ending in Sgurr nan Gobhar (630m).

Sgurr a' Mhadaidh, Sgurra' Ghreadaidh and An Diallaid.

Crossing the Allt a' Coire Ghreadaidh.

Sgurr Thuilm and the NW ridge of Sgurr a' Mhadaidh.

Glen Brittle from the slopes of Sgurr Thuilm. We had intended to climb the low lying Black Slab of Sgurr Thuilm but it was running with water oozing from the slopes above and we retreated.

Sgurr a'Mhadaidh, An Dorus and Sgurr a' Ghreadaidh from the slopes of Sgurr Thuilm.

Sgurr Thormaid, Sgurr na Banachdich, An Diallaid and Sgurr nan Gobhar from the slopes of Sgurr Thuilm.

Summit of Sgurr Thuilm, (Clach Glas (786m) and Bla Bheinn (928m) in the distance), 4 tops of Sgurr a' Mhadaidh, An Dorus, Sgurr a Ghreadaidh, (Sgurr Thearlaich (978m), Sgurr Alasdair (992m), Sgurr Sgumain (947m), An Stac (954m) and the Inaccessible Pinnacle of Sgurr Dearg (986m) in the distance) and the Three Teeth of Sgurr Thormaid.

The NW ridge of Sgurr a' Mhadaidh and Sgurr a' Ghreadaidh from Sgurr Thuilm.

Panorama from Sgurr Thuilm. From left (NE) NW ridge of Bruach na Frithe with distant Sgurr Mhairi (Glamaig) (775m) and Sgurr a' Bhasteir (898m) behind, Bruach na Frithe (958m) with the peaks of the Bhastier Tooth (916m) and Am Basteir (934m) just showing to its right, the snow flecked cone of Sgurr nan Gillean (964m), Sgurr na Bhairnich (860m), below it in the near distance the cone of Sgurr an Fheadain (688m), split by its Waterpipe Gully, (in the distance the flat light brown Sgurr Beag (764m), back on the main ridge, the ramparts of An Caisteal (830m). In the far distance the dark cones of Belig (702m) and Garbh-bheinn (806m) flank the nearer flat top of Sgurr na h-Uamha (736m). On the main ridge again, the pinnacles of Bidein Druim nan Ramh (869m) rise up before falling away to Bealach na Glaic Moire. In the distance Clach Glas (786m) rises to Bla Bheinn (928m). The main ridge rises again over the four tops of Sgurr a' Mhadaidh (918m) falling to An Dorus then rising past the notch of Eag Dubh to the Wart and the summit of Sgurr a' Ghreadaidh (973m). In the distance, Sgurr Thearlaich (978m), Sgurr Alasdair (992m), Sgurr Sgumain (947m), An Stac (954m) and the Inaccessible Pinnacle of Sgurr Dearg (986m) lie behind the col between Sgurr a' Ghreadaidh and Sgurr Thormaid (926m). Sgurr na Banachdich (965m) falls away to An Diallaid (in the foreground) and Sgurr na Gabhar. Rum Rubh an Dunain and Canna lie beyond Loch Brittle. The coast continues to Loch Eynort and Loch Harport. In the far distance the highest point is the Storr (719m) with its Old Man pinnacle (535m) just visible to the right. The island of Raasay is separated from Skye by the Sound of Raasay and finally Loch Sligachan probes deep inland towards the Cuillin.

Sgurr Thearlaich (978m), Sgurr Alasdair (992m), Sgurr Sgumain (947m), An Stac (954m) and the Inaccessible Pinnacle of Sgurr Dearg (986m) lie behind the col between Sgurr a' Ghreadaidh and Sgurr Thormaid (926m) and Sgurr na Banachdich (965m).

View from Sgurr Thuilm: Clach Glas (786m) and Bla Bheinn (928m) flanked by Bidein Druim nan Ramh (869m) and the east (first) top of Sgurr a' Mhadaidh.

View from Sgurr Thuilm: the NW ridge of Sgurr a' Mhadaidh (918m) and Sgurr a' Ghreadaidh (973m).

Sgurr a' Ghreadaidh (973m) from the SE ridge of Sgurr Thuilm (881m).

NW ridge of Sgurr a' Mhadaidh (918m). The best route keeps to the crest of the ridge to the left of the dark groove. Various chicken runs veer to the right towards and into the groove.

Sensational exposure from the ridge down into Coir' a' Mhadaidh on the right of the photo.

NW ridge of Sgurr a' Mhadaidh (918m). The best route keeps to the crest of the ridge to the left of the dark groove. Various chicken runs veer to the right towards and into the groove.

NW ridge of Sgurr a' Mhadaidh (918m). The block Jennifer and Alick are climbing is to the left of the two points of rock in the picture above.

Bruach na Frithe (958m), Sgurr a' Fionn Choire (935m), Am Basteir (934m), Sgurr nan Gillean (964m), Sgurr na Bhairnich (860m), Bidein Druim nan Ramh (869m) and the east (first) top of Sgurr a' Mhadaidh.

Bruach na Frithe (958m), Sgurr a' Fionn Choire (935m), Am Basteir (934m), Sgurr nan Gillean (964m), Bidein Druim nan Ramh (869m) and the first, second and third tops of Sgurr a Mhadaidh. In the distance: Belig (702m), Garbh-bheinn (806m) Sgurr nan Each (720m), Clach Glas (786m), Bla Bheinn (928m), Loch Coruisk with Sgurr na Stri (497m) behind, next lie 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). Sgurr nan Eag (924m) lies behind the col which continues to Sgurr Thearlaich (978m), Sgurr Alasdair (992m) and Sgurr Sgumain (947m). In the foreground the 4th top of Sgurr a' Mhadaidh 918m rises in front of the twin tops of Sgurr a' Ghreadaidh (973m).

Panorama from the 4th top of Sgurr a' Mhadaidh.

Above photo courtesy and © Greg Morss.

Loch Coruisk from the 4th top of Sgurr a' Mhadaidh.

Panorama from the 4th top of Sgurr a' Mhadaidh. Sgurr Thuilm to the NW is the prominent summit on the left of the picture.

Descending into An Dorus from the SW ridge of Sgurr a' Mhadaidh. The best scrambling is on the crest but easier "paths" lie lower down to the NW of the crest..

Looking down into Coire an Doruis and Coire a' Ghreadaidh from An |Dorus

The scree slopes running down from An Dorus. This slope is a very popular way for Munroists to access the main ridge. However, as regular visitors to this site know, the SMPG staff do not climb scree and only ever seen descending such routes.

Allt a' Coire Ghreadaidh tumbling down headwall of Coire an Doruis.

The lip of Coire an Doruis.

The NW ridge of Sgurr a' Mhadaidh.

Allt a' Coire Ghreadaidh tumbling down from the hanging Coire an Doruis into Coire a' Ghreadaidh.

An Diallaid

Glen Brittle.

Looking into Coire na Creiche from the highpoint of the road from Glen Brittle to Glen Drynoch. From the left, Sgurr a' Bhasteir (898m), Am Basteir (934m), Bhastier Tooth (916m), Bruach na Frithe (958m), An Caisteal (830m), Bidein Druim nan Ramh (869m) with Sgurr an Fheadain (688m) below, the four tops of Sgurr a' Mhadaidh (918m), Sgurr Thuilm with its constant gradient west ridge and Sgurr na Banachdich (965m) behind.

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Site editor: Douglas Wilcox (D.E.Wilcox@clinmed.gla.ac.uk )
Created 30/12/03
Updated 21/03/04