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Home   Glossary
Sgurr nan Gillean
Quick Facts
This is the summed total of all the climbing within a route and is a good indicator of the strenuousness of a route.
Total Ascent
955 m

An estimate of the time taken based on a derivation of Naismiths rules. Our calculation is based on the horizontal and ascent components of a climb, we do not make a reduction for descent.

Registered users can customise these walking times by specifying their own walking and ascending speeds. They can also add a fixed time period for stoppages.

Route Time
4 hrs
The horizontal distance of the route.
Route Distance
11.71 km
 

The UK is covered by 204 Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50,000 scale maps. Maps numbered 1 to 86 cover Scotland but for the highest mountains (Munros) only 23 maps are required. The name given roughly describes the area covered by the map.

You can click on the map name to purchase the map for £6.29 including postage which is one of the cheapest prices we have found.

OS Landranger Maps Required
  32   South Skye & Cuillin Hills
Only £6.29  (£11.69 Laminated) from  

A brief summary of this route.

Our summary will always contain one of easy, moderate or hard to indicate the severity of the route.

 Notes
A route for scramblers only with considerable exposure. You are recommended to purchase and study a higher scale map of the Black Cuillin of Skye before attempting an ascent.

Here we provide the nearest town to the start of the route where you will find basic services.

We then give directions from that location to the route start. Your approach route may differ.

 Travel Information

Head to: Sligachan

From Sligachan Hotel (A863) head W 200m to start of path.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 955 metres. Allow 4 hours to complete this 11.71 km route.

In winter months please check the local snow conditions at sais.gov.uk.

The hillphones service can inform you of stalking activities in the area.

Usually the shortest way to climb the mountain, making best use of tracks and paths to gain altitude. Route navigation requires map reading skills and an ability to navigate with a compass.

The information given here will enable you to annotate your map and plan your route. We do not give anecdotal descriptions on where to find the paths, worn by the feet of previous mountaineers.

Where the access routes are few or the ridge is narrow, paths are generally obvious. On open ground, following paths without using your compass may get you lost in poor visibility.

 Route Information
Waypoint Detail
  Start from A863 road 200m W of Sligachan Hotel
  NG48352970 Distance
Altitude
20 m
1
Cross S over Allt Dearg Mor and continue SSW to bridge over Allt Dearg-beag
NG47472786 Distance
2.26 km
Altitude
160 m
2
Cross river and follow path S on ascending the south side of Coire Riabhach
NG47762580 Distance
2.20 km
Altitude
440 m
3
Climb S onto east ridge of Sgurr nan Gillean
NG47652509 Distance
0.74 km
Altitude
670 m
4
Scramble W to gain the main ridge
NG47472500 Distance
0.20 km
Altitude
740 m
5
Continue NW to very exposed summit of Sgurr nan Gillean
NG47162531 Distance
0.43 km
Altitude
964 m
6
Return by same route
  NG48352970 Distance
5.89 km
Altitude
20 m

A selection of weather forecasts local to this route.

 Weather
North West Highlands
by MWIS (PDF format)
The Cullins
by Accuweather
West Highlands
by Met Office
Sgurr na Banachdich
by Metcheck
Images of Sgurr nan Gillean
Route Area Map
Legend  Munro  Corbett  Graham  English/Welsh Top  Accommodation

A selection of local accommodation options who advertise with Munromagic.com.

 Where to Stay
Results by distance from the route start.
4.2 km
Bla Bheinn
Crossal, Carbost, Isle of Skye
8.0 km
Ingleby
Carbost, Isle of Skye
10.2 km
Raven Cottage
Eynort, near Carbost, Isle of Skye
10.6 km
Phoenix House
Carbost, Isle of Skye
11.1 km
Shepherd's Cottage
Shepherd's Cottage, Eynort, Carbost, Isle of Skye
32.1 km
The Shed (self-catering studio)
Seabank 6 Bank St Plockton Ross-shire
43.6 km
Castle Cottage B and B
Lochcarron
46.6 km
Woodlands (self-catering)
by Shiel Bridge, Inverness-shire
51.8 km
Skiary
Skiary, Loch Hourn, By Invergarry, Highlands and Islands
55.0 km
Coulags Croft
Coulags, Strathcarron
55.0 km
Lochcarron Holiday Properties
Strathcarron, Ross Shire
56.4 km
Caolas Beag
2 Big Sand, Big Sand, Gairloch, Wester Ross
73.1 km
Walkers Lodge, Ledgowan Lodge Hotel
Achnasheen, Achnasheen
81.4 km
Tomich Hotel
Tommich, Cannich, Nr Beauly
81.9 km
Glenloy Lodge
Muirshearlich, by Banavie, Fort William
82.0 km
Seangan Croft Self Catering
Seangan Bridge Banavie Fort William Scotland
82.0 km
Easter Badbea B&B
Easter Badbea, Badbea, Dundonnell
82.3 km
Tomich Holidays
Guisachan Farm, Tomich, Cannich, By Beauly
83.3 km
Ashburn Guest House
Achintore Road, Fort William
83.3 km
Glenaladale House B&B
Achintore Road. Fort William
83.5 km
Stobhan
Fassifern Road, Fort William
83.8 km
Farr Cottage Lodge and Activity Centre
Corpach, Fort William
85.2 km
Badrallach B&B, Bothy, cottage & campsite.
Croft 9, Badrallach, Dundonnell, Rossshire
85.2 km
Glencaig self catering holiday cottage
No 6 Stronaba, Spean Bridge
85.6 km
Birchbrae Luxury Self Catering Lodges
Birchbrae, Onich, Fort William
85.9 km
Ardgarry Farm
Faichem, Invergarry, Inverness-shire
85.9 km
Westward
Cannich, Beauly, Inverness-shire
86.6 km
Dunedin Croft
Dunedin, Cannich, nr Inverness
86.9 km
Invergarry Lodge
Mandally Road, Invergarry
87.1 km
Seaview Cottage
Salen, Aros, Isle of Mull
87.7 km
Forest Way B&B and Bunkhouse
4 Lael, Lochbroom, Nr Ullapool
88.1 km
Spean Bridge Hotel
Spean Bridge, Inverness-shire
88.4 km
Inverour Guest House
Roybridge Road, Spean Bridge
89.0 km
Drynachan Bed and Breakfast
Invergarry, Inverness-shire
92.7 km
Dunhafen Bed and Breakfast
Glenspean Park, Roy Bridge, Inverness-Shire
93.2 km
STRATHASSYNT GUEST HOUSE
Loanfern, Ballachulish, NR. Glencoe, Highlands.
94.8 km
Àite Cruinnichidh
1 Achluachrach, By Roy Bridge, Near Fort William, Inverness-shire
94.9 km
Creagach self catering chalet Harris
Bedersaig, Isle of Harris
95.0 km
The Cnoc Hotel
Struy, by Beauly,
96.4 km
Birch Cottage
7 Station Road, Garve
96.6 km
Garve Cottages
RoseMount Cottage Garve Ross-shire
For information on camping visit
ScottishCamping.com who also produce
a map of scottish camp grounds.
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Fantastic, heated, 2-4 berth campervans for hire
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Rating & Reviews

 Rating & Reviews
Rated:
 from 5 votes
Click Stars to Vote
Your Rating
Written by Michael Ferrie on 09 Feb 2007:
For me, this has to be the most beautiful climb in Skye. The so-called 'tourist' route described here is not to be undertaken lightly but on the tiny summit the ground disappears in all directions giving the most amazing feeling of standing on top of the world. The alternative route to the top over Pinnacle ridge offers a fantastic and exhilirating alternative if you're prepared for a relatively easy abseil down the third pinnacle.
 
Written by John Walker on 24 May 2005:
I have to agree - "Tourist Route"!? It is an excellent route, full of challenges, which no-one without a good head for heights should attempt. Didn't see anyone in flip flops and cagoules, I can tell you. We veered right after the wee notchy scramble, and had to get out the rope... keep left on the ascent, following a quite distinct reddish rock vein, before trending right again approx. 40m in height before the summit, back on to the blocky crest. This is a great scramble, but I wouldn't fancy it on a windy day.
 
Written by Mark Smith-magee on 02 Aug 2004:
Found a brilliant map at 12,500 scale by the SMC [I think]. Even 1:25,000 maps are difficult to read owing to the extreme packing of contours. Route is excellent but the mountain scenery must not be underestimated. Ridge requires cool thinking and a head for heights, particular at the top where there is an extremely narrow step-over. If you like scrambling then you’ll love it! As always, route-finding is more tricky in descent. Remember ‘markers’ on your ascent and tick these off when going back. Save for a clear day. The Sligachan pub at the end of the walk is ‘the cherry on top!’
 
Written by David S Brown on 22 May 2002:
The tedious approach across boggy ground from Sligachan is quickly forgotten on entering Coire Riabach. Once the SE ridge is reached the real scrambling begins and best-route finding is time-consuming and completely absorbing. The ridge becomes ever steeper and narrower, until just before the summit gullies on either side almost meet and you step across this hiatus with 'blinkers on' (or crawl if the wind is strong!). The top is the size of a table, sit down and you can see no part of the supporting mountain: like floating on a magic carpet! The so-called "Tourist Route". Some tourist!!
 
Disclaimer. The details provided above are an aid to planning an expedition, but all distances, altitudes and bearings must be considered approximate. You must navigate with the appropriate map, a compass, your navigation skills and common sense, MunroMagic.com accept no responsibility for your interpretation of our route information.
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