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Skye – Cuillin Ridge Traverse Cuillins








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    The Route

    Traditionally the Cuillin Ridge traverse is done from South to, starting at Sgurr nan Eag. Moving north you first take on the TD gap or bypass it to climb Sgurr Alasdair. Sgurr Thearlaich brings excellent scrambling on very exposed slabs before the climb up Kings Chimney or bypassing around the famous ledge known as Collie’s or Hart’s ledge. The Inaccessible Pinnacle comes next followed by Sgurr na Banachdaich. Hopefully we will be going well and continue over Sgurr a Ghreadaidh, descend into An Dorus and climb up towards Sgurr a Mhadaidh for our overnight bivi. Starting as the sun rises on day two, we head over the four tops of Sgurr a Mhadaidh, onto Bidean Druim nan Ramh and An Casteal before the long uphill section to the summit of Bruach na Frithe. Nearly finished now with just the epic scrambling to climb Am Bastier and then the West Ridge of Sgurr nan Gillean, the final peak.

     

    Need some practice first?  Why not check out our Skye Munro’s course or our Skye Scrambling?

    Best Time To Go

    You will need two days of good weather to complete a traverse of the Cuillin Ridge. Whilst we cannot predict what the weather will be like at any specific point in time, experience suggests that the best time to attempt a traverse is between May and September.

    We can run a Cuillin Ridge traverse on dates to suit you. We reserve three days and choose the best two consecutive days for the traverse. Our normal start point is the Glenbrittle campsite and we finish at the Sligachan Hotel for a well earned pint!

    The weather plays a big part in any traverse and so the itinerary outlined below is just to give you an overview.

    5am – meet your Guide at the Glenbrittle campsite and head off towards Sgurr nan Eag for the start of your traverse. Traverse north on the ridge aiming to get just north of An Dorus for an overnight bivi.

    After an early breakfast we leave the bivi site and continue north heading for the summit of Sgurr nan Gillean. Once the traverse is complete we make our way down to the Sligachan Hotel.

    Spare day for weather.

    We can run a Cuillin Ridge traverse on dates to suit you between May and September. You will need three days and we will choose the best two for your traverse. Prices are as follows:

    1 Person: £800
    2 People: £900 (£450 each)

    Additional training days can be arranged at £250 per day (for up to 2 people), please let us know at the time of booking if you want to include training days.

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    Included in the price of this trip

    • Professional guiding with fully qualified and experienced guides.
    • Maximum guiding ratio of 1:2 to ensure safety and increase chances of success.
    • All technical equipment including ropes.
    • Stove and pan for cooking and boiling water.

    Not included

    • Travel to Skye.
    • Your accommodation before and after the traverse.
    • Meals and drinks before, after and whilst on the traverse.
    • Personal travel insurance (to cover you for cancellation, accident, health, emergency evacuation and loss, theft of or damage to baggage and personal effects etc).
    • Personal equipment (please see our clothing and equipment section).

    Essential Clothing & Equipment

    • Bivi Bag

      Bivi Bag – Ideally a lightweight Gore-Tex or other breathable fabric bivi bag

    • Boots

      A good pair of light-weight GoreTex lined walking boots which provide ankle support and are well broken-in. Boots are essential - Please do not bring trail shoes.

    • Buff

      Essential for helping to keep the sun off your neck at lower altitudes, protecting from dust and wind and as neck/face protection higher up.

    • Climbing Harness - Standard

      These are available to hire for a small fee – please enquire.

    • Climbing Helmet

      You only have one head - best to look after it. Make sure you can wear a beanie/woolly hat under your climbing helmet

    • Compass

      A silva compass for navigating with

    • Dry Bags

      A selection of rucksack liners and dry bags as required to keep your clothing, sleeping bag and equipment dry and organised.

    • Fleece or Soft Shell Layer

      This can be a fleece jumper or fleece jacket or a soft shell jacket.

    • Gilet

      This is an optional item but a good choice as an extra layer to keep your core warm. Any gilet you choose should be low volume (not bulky) down, primaloft or fleece.

    • Gloves

      A lightweight windproof pair of gloves for wearing on a daily basis as required.

    • Head Torch

      With spare batteries or the means to recharge.

    • Hiking Socks

      We recommend a good pair of proper hiking/trekking socks. A minimum of three pairs but ideally you should have a pair for each day.

    • HMS Karabiners

      These should be locking Karabiners – you will need a minimum of 2.

    • Insulated Jacket

      Can be down or synthetic.

    • Lightweight Walking Trousers

      To wear on a daily basis if not wearing shorts and for evening wear. Jeans or tracksuit bottoms are not suitable.

    • Long-Sleeved Thermal Top

      Essential base layer for colder days and nights. Pack at least 2 of these.

    • Map

      OS or BMC/Harveys map of the Cuillin Ridge. Harvey maps produce the best map for Skye. Please make sure it is in a clear weatherproof map case or weatherproofed.

    • Meals

      Please bring sufficient food to take on your traverse. you will need one breakfast, two days worth of lunch and snack food plus one evening meal and desert (optional). Dehydrated meals are best for breakfast and dinner.

    • Mid-Layer

      Lightweight microfleece or something similar is ideal as a mid-layer. You should bring two mid-layer tops – tops with zips allow ventilation and are often better than round neck tops.

    • Mug

      Essential for having a hot drink in the evening whilst on the bivi site

    • Personal First Aid Kit

      This should include suncream, lip balm, blister plasters (compeed), plasters, painkillers and any prescription medicines, insect repellant etc.

    • Rucksack 40lt

      A 30-40lt rucksack will be best for a Cuillin Ridge traverse. Make sure it is big enough for everything to fit inside.

    • Sleeping Bag - Lightweight

      This should be as lightweight as possible 1 or 2 seasons.

    • Sleeping Matt - Lightweight

      Insulation from the ground is essential on the overnight bivi. Bring a lightweight sleeping matt, either foam of inflatable.

    • Soft-Shell Jacket

      Make sure it is insulated and, importantly, windproof (not all soft-shell jackets are windproof).

    • Sun Hat

      To keep the sun off your head!

    • Sunglasses

      For general eye protection, wearing whilst trekking or on glaciers if applicable to your trip – for wearing on glaciers sunglasses need to be Category 4 and be close fitting or have side protection.

    • Water Bladder

      It is essential that you have the means to carry at least 2 litres of drinking water. The best solution is a bladder type water carrier such as a camelbak as this then allows you to drink whilst walking with no need to stop to get out a water bottle.

    • Water Bottle

      At higher altitudes your Camelbak may freeze and so it is a good idea to have a 1 litre Nalgene type bottle. Also great for events like the Cuillin ridge Traverse.

    • Waterproof Jacket

      Hard shell jacket ideally this will be waterproof and breathable (GoreTex or equivalent) and it will have a hood.

    • Waterproof Trousers

      Ideally they should be windproof and breathable (Gore Tex or equivalent) and with full or ¾ length side zips.

    • Woolly hat

      To keep your head warm - Ideally a hat that will cover your ears too and fit under a climbing helmet.

    Optional Clothing & Equipment

    • Mobile Phone

      You may want to use you phone as a camera. On our overseas trips signal is often limited or non-existent so making calls or sending texts may not be possible - see FAQs for trip specific info.

    • Small Stainless Steel Flask

      Useful for hot drinks during the day/night

    • Walking poles

      Not essential but extremely useful when carrying a load, descending and for any river crossings.

    • Watch

      For keeping track of time

    Paperwork

    • Booking Confirmation

      This will be sent to you aproximately 10 days before departure

    Carbon Footprint

    We are yet to determine the average CO2 emissions per person for our Cuillin Ridge Traverse.

    What are we doing about it

    Trekking and mountaineering trips such as this are low carbon in comparison to other forms of travel and activities. That said though, we are working hard to understand exactly what the carbon emissions are for all our products. By the end of 2024 we hope to have measured everything we do and have a good understanding of all the individual carbon footprints. This will then act as a starting point for us to take action to reduce our emissions to as low as reasonably practicable and drive towards net zero.

    FAQs

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    Bespoke experiences

    Can’t see what you are looking for? All our trips can be customised to meet your needs so, if you need bespoke dates, want to add extra days, or modify the itinerary then please just let us know – we will be happy to help.