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| Sgurr nan Gillean, Am Basteir and Sgurr a'Bhasteir from the start of the walk |
Chasing the good weather again - all week the forecast got worse, until Friday afternoon when a sudden break appeared over Skye... off we go.
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| Red Cuillin, Glen Sligachan and northern end of Black Cuillin Ridge over Allt Dearg Mor |
It was a beautiful day in our little corner of Skye - we parked up just along the Dunvegan Road, a few hundred yards from the Sligachan Hotel and took the path to Glenbrittle ... views abounded.
Bruach na Frithe, our Munro objective of the day - on the northern end of the Black Cuillin Ridge. It has the reputation as the easiest Munro on the ridge - we shall see...
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| Jim - footpath beside Allt Dearg Mor |
It was easy going - a good path, an obvious route, brilliant weather and mountains everywhere!
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| Sgurr nan Gillean, Am Basteir and Sgurr a'Bhasteir over waterfalls on Allt Dearg Mor |
The path followed Allt Dearg Mor for about 3km - a tumbling burn, cascading over rock and into beautiful blue pools. It wasn't quite the Fairy Pools, but we had the place to ourselves.
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| More waterfalls on Allt Dearg Mor |
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| Pinnacle Ridge, Sgurr nan Gillean,and Sgurr a'Bhasteir over Allt Dearg Mor |
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| Sgurr a'Bhasteir, Sgurr a'Fionn Choire and Bruach na Frithe from Coire na Circe (NG455278) |
The path turned towards the Black Cuillin and Fionn Coire, and very soon branched off left from the main Glenbrittle path at a prominent cairn - good spot for a first lunch.
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| Views to Black Cuillin - leaving the main path at the start of the ascent into Fionn Choire |
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| Jim - ascent into Fionn Choire |
There were cairns every 50 yards (or less!) - on one occasion we thought we were lost when we hadn't passed a cairn for a couple of minutes...
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| Looking back (north) towards Loch Sligachan and a distant Trotternish Ridge |
The path led us up and into Fionn Choire - the terrain increasingly rocky - and increasingly steep.
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| Jim - ascent into Fionn Choire |
We kept stopping to take it all in - ahead was Sgurr a'Fionn Choire, a Munro Top, to our left Sgurr a'Bhasteir, the very triangular and prominent hill that had been ahead of us since the start of the walk...
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| Jim - ascent into Fionn Choire - views to Sgurr a'Bhasteir, Sgurr a'Fionn Choire and Bruach na Frithe |
...to the right was Bruach na Frithe and it's North West Ridge - our descent route, should it not look too scary from the top!
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| Fionn Choire - views to Bruach na Frithe NW ridge (descent route) |
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| Looking back (north west) from Fionn Choire towards Loch Harport |
We could see other people on the ridge - the first other hill-walkers seen all day - it looked like they were having fun.
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| Scramblers on Sgurr a'Fionn Choire |
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| Ascent from Fionn Choire with views to Sgurr a'Fionn Choire |
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| Fionn Choire - views to Bruach na Frithe and its NW ridge (descent route) |
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| Jim - ascent from Fionn Choire with views to Sgurr a'Fionn Choire |
It really wasn't long before we were in Bealach nan Lice.
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| Sgurr a'Bhasteir from ascent into Bealach nan Lice |
Stunning - and somewhat awe inspiring...
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| Over Coire a'Bhasteir to Red Cuillin and Loch Sligachan from Sgurr a'Bhasteir south ridge |
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| Am Basteir and Basteir Tooth with Pinnacle Ridge beyond |
We took a left (north), along the easy south ridge of Sgurr a'Bhasteir - the views of Am Basteir and Pinnacle Ridge opening up with every step.
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| Jim - ascent of Sgurr a'Bhasteir |
The summit of Sgurr a'Bhasteir seemed like a pretty good place for a second lunch.
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| Pinnacle Ridge, Sgurr nan Gillean, Am Basteir and Basteir Tooth from Sgurr a'Bhasteir |
We settled in. The sun was warm and there wasn't a breath of wind... could have stayed there all day!
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| Over Glan Sligachan from Sgurr a'Bhasteir |
But that Skye gabbro was calling...
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| Am Basteir, Basteir Tooth and Sgurr a'Fionn Choire from Sgurr a'Bhasteir south ridge |
Back at Bealach nan Lice we had a bit of a mooch about - photographs were taken! Am Basteir and its attached Tooth loomed above us, black and imposing - and somewhat intimidating. Some research required as to routes for the future.
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| Jim - Sgurr a'Fionn Choire and Bruach na Frithe over Fionn Choire from Sgurr a'Bhasteir south ridge |
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| Am Basteir and Basteir Tooth from Bealach nan Lice |
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| Lookung south from Bealach nan Lice |
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| Am Basteir and Basteir Tooth from Bealach nan Lice |
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| Am Basteir and Sgurr nan Gillean from ascent of Sgurr a'Fionn Choire |
It was definitely hands on whilst scrambling up and over Sgurr a'Fionn Choire - nothing too hard and pretty good fun.
And the views...
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| Sgurr a'Bhasteir from ascent of Sgurr a'Fionn Choire |
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| Bruach na Frithe from ascent of Sgurr a'Fionn Choire |
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| Am Basteir and Sgurr nan Gillean from ascent of Sgurr a'Fionn Choire |
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| Over the Black Cuillin to Bla Bheinn from ascent of Sgurr a'Fionn Choire |
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| Ravens on Basteir Tooth from ascent of Sgurr a'Fionn Choire |
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| Scrambling about on Sgurr a'Fionn Choire |
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| Jim - Sgurr a'Fionn Choire |
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| Sgurr a'Bhasteir from Sgurr a'Fionn Choire (Munro Top 180, 935m) |
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| Bruach na Frithe from Sgurr a'Fionn Choire |
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| The Black Cuillin Ridge from Sgurr a'Fionn Choire |
We looked over to
Sgurr na Banachdaich - gave Rafie a wave...
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| Jim - Sgurr a'Fionn Choire with views to Bruach na Frithe |
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| Raasay, Loch Sligachan and Bastier Tooth from descent from Sgurr a'Fionn Choire |
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| Bruach na Frithe from descent from Sgurr a'Fionn Choire |
Back on the Ridge, it was an easy ascent to Bruach na Frithe - very soon we could see the trig point, the only one on The Black Cuillin.
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| Looking back to Sgurr a'Fionn Choire with Am Basteir beyond |
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| Jim - ascent of Bruach na Frithe |
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| Black Cuillin Ridge from ascent of Bruach na Frithe |
And beyond - the rest of the Ridge - just breathtaking.
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| Sgurr a'Bhasteir from ascent of Bruach na Frithe |
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| Looking back (NE) along the Cuillin Ridge from ascent of Bruach na Frithe |
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| Black Cuillin Ridge (WSW) from near summit of Bruach na Frithe |
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| Ascent to Bruach na Frithe summit |
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| Bruach na Frithe summit (Munro 200, 958m) - views ENE |
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| Bruach na Frithe summit (Munro 200, 958m) - views WSW |
We had the summit to ourselves. Time for a third lunch.
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| Jim - third lunch near Bruach na Frithe summit - views NW |
We really didn't want to go down yet.
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| Views west over Coire na Creiche and the Fairy Pools from Bruach na Frithe |
Bruach na Frithe's north west ridge looked good - that'll give us some more scrambling practice and keep us on the hill for a bit longer.
Off we go again.
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| Loch Harpool and beyond from Bruach na Frithe |
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| Black Cuillin - WSW from descent from Bruach na Frithe |
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| Descent on Bruach na Frithe north west ridge |
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| Climbers on Basteir Tooth from descent from Bruach na Frithe |
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| Climbers on Basteir Tooth from descent from Bruach na Frithe |
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| Views ENE from descent on Bruach na Frithe north west ridge |
We stuck to the ridge as much as possible. There were a couple of places where down climbing looked a bit iffy - but there was always a bypass route to our left (south west).
More good fun.
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| Descent on Bruach na Frithe north west ridge |
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| Roseroot - Bruach na Frithe |
Forgotten how much we enjoy scrambling.
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| Descent on Bruach na Frithe north west ridge |
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| Looking back to our descent route on Bruach na Frithe north west ridge |
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| Black Cuillin from Bruach na Frithe north west ridge |
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| Fionn Choire from Bruach na Frithe north west ridge |
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| Jim - descent on Bruach na Frithe north west ridge |
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| Looking back to our descent route on Bruach na Frithe north west ridge |
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| Jim - Black Cuillin from Bruach na Frithe north west ridge |
And just to cap it all off, a couple of White Tailed Eagles decided to take a close up look at us clambering about on the rocks. They soared and spiralled just above us, giving us a great windblown show - eventually taking themselves off over the hills to the east.
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| White Tailed Eagle above Bruach na Frithe north west ridge |
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| Descent on Bruach na Frithe north west ridge |
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| Rain shower to the north - descent on Bruach na Frithe north west ridge |
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| Looking back to our descent route on Bruach na Frithe north west ridge |
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| Jim - descent on Bruach na Frithe north west ridge |
It was over too soon - back on the grass, we descended gently into lower Fionn Choire and back towards the stalkers path.
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| Looking back to our descent route on Bruach na Frithe north west ridge |
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| Jim - descent into Coire na Circe |
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| Loch Sligachan and Red Cuillin over Coire na Circe |
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| Looking back at Bruach na Frithe north west ridge |
It was already teatime. Where had the day gone?
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| Looking back into Fionn Choire |
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| Jim - descending towards Sligachan |
We wended our way back towards Sligachan - tired (surprisingly tired) but elated.
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| Pinnacle Ridge, Sgurr nan Gillean,and Sgurr a'Bhasteir over Allt Dearg Mor |
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| Red Cuillin from descent towards Sligachan |
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| Sgurr nan Gillean, Am Basteir and Sgurr a'Bhasteir over waterfalls on Allt Dearg Mor |
Can't wait for the next one!
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| Jim - nearing Sligachan Hotel - views to Red Cuillin and Alltdearg House |
| Route: Layby
beside the A863, just W of Sligachan Hotel (NG484296), briefly SE along road
(to NG479297 sp Glenbrittle), SSW along access track to Alltdearg House,
taking rough path (sp "path"!) before reaching the house, SW along
this path beside Allt Dearg Mor to NG454278 and cross burn at cairn, continue
S along rough path ascending into Fionn Coire and up to Bealach nan Lice, N
around coire rim on scree and boulders to Sgurr a'Bhastier (898m, Sim),
return S to Bealach nan Lice, scramble to Sgurr a'Fionn Choire (Munro Top
180, 935m), descend to W (scramble) to rideg W of the Munro Top, continue on
rough path along ridge to Bruach na Frithe (Munro 200, 958m), descend via
Bruach na Frithe's NW ridge, mostly on ridge, but dropping to rough path to
the W when the scrambling becomes too difficult, when the ridge widens (NG
455259 approx) take the N pathless slopes to regain the outward route (at
NG457265 approx) and follow path back to start |
Statistics: Distance: 15.5km Ascent: 1000m Time: 7 hours 15 minutes
Map: OS Explorer 411 Skye - Cuillin Hills
Bruach na Frithe
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