Sgurr Dearg (inaccessible pinnacle) Route Information

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Sgurr Dearg (inaccessible pinnacle)

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

1040 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

3.5 hrs

The horizontal distance of the route.

Route Distance

7 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

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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

Easy climb till you get to the pinnacle then very difficult.

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: Carbost

From Carbost (B8009) travel SE to junction at (NG390310), then SE through Glen Brittle to Glen Brittle Hut.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 1,040 metres. Allow 3.5 hours to complete this 7 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 at Glen Brittle Hut
		NG41162158	Distance	Altitude 15 m

1	Follow path ESE to beyond waterfall
		NG42112137	Distance 0.99 km	Altitude 200 m

2	Ascend E onto west ridge
		NG42982135	Distance 0.92 km	Altitude 380 m

3	Ascend E up ridge to top
		NG44132141	Distance 1.24 km	Altitude 905 m

4	Head E on gentle slope, turning NE to reach the pinnacle
		NG44382159	Distance 0.35 km	Altitude 972 m

5	The summit, the Inaccessible Pinnacle, is a very exposed scramble and abseil!
		NG44392159	Distance	Altitude 986 m

6	Reverse route to return
		NG41162158	Distance 3.50 km	Altitude 15 m

A selection of weather forecasts local to this route.

Weather

North West Highlands
by MWIS (PDF format)

West Highlands
by Met Office

Sgurr Mhic Choinnich
by Metcheck

Images of Sgurr Dearg (inaccessible pinnacle)

The ascent of Sgurr Dearg, the Inaccessible Pinnacle.

Image by Bill Wales

The InPin from near the summit of Sgurr Dearg. This photo gives a true account of the east ridge climb... easy and well protected. At least 5 climbers can be seen on the ridge.

Image by David Harbottle

The western ridge of Sgurr Dearg from Glen Brittle, with Sgurr Mhic Choinnich and Sgurr Alasdair to the right.

Image by Craig Robinson

Sgurr Dearg's south aspect, with the In Pin and An Stac prominent, and the screes below, seen from part-way up the Great Stone Shoot on Sgurr Alasdair.

Image by David S Brown

Route Area Map

Legend

Munro

Corbett

Graham

English/Welsh Top

Accommodation

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Where to Stay

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sponsored accommodation listings for this area.

Rating & Reviews

Rating & Reviews

Rated:

from 3 votes

Click Stars to Vote
Your Rating

Written by Peter Lang on 01 May 2007:

26/4/07 guided by Mike Lates of Skye Guides - highly recommend. Group of 5 all roped up together ascended in 10 minutes up E ridge then abseiled off. Good path to Sgurr Dearg and some preparatory scrambling to prepare for ascent of In. Pinn. Not as steep as thought and even crux move was easier than mikes description in his living room. A scramble in truest terms using my knees/shins where required - blinkers on oblivious to exposure as focused on rock,feet and person in front until at summit block. Lightning strike has changed highest point on top - now block use to abseil off - 1.5ft lower.

Written by Stewart Wotherspoon on 02 Aug 2005:

Climbed on 25th June 2005. The weather on this day broke allowing a spectacular day on the hills. We walked to the Pinnacle from Glen Brittle which offered great Views. The Pinnacle itself was slightly daunting to look at but we benefited from the expertise offered from Cullin Guides during the Pinnacle itself. This was a memorable if somewhat exposed day on the hills.

Written by Malcolm Grey on 05 Aug 2003:

Even just as an up & down the Inn Pinn makes this a superb day. For the ultimate in UK scrambling days do it as the last part of a circuit of Corrie Laggan after Sgurr Sgumain, Alasdair, Thearlaich & Mhic Coinnich. That really is a stonker!

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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