What is a Munro?

A Munro is a Scottish mountain with a height over 3,000 ft (914.4 m). They are named after Sir Hugh Munro who produced the first compilation of such hills, known as Munro's Tables, in 1891. The Cuillin Munros are the hardest to attain and linking them is even harder with many narrow ridges to scramble and concentration required on every step. The Inaccessible Pinnacle is well known as the most serious of them all and justly deserving of its name on many days of the year.

Please read about the Black Cuillin and how Skye Guides approach their job for a broader idea of what to expect on the summer page

Cuillin Munros

5-DAY COURSE

Given good conditions the 12 Cuillin Munros break down into 5 logical days averaging about 8 hours in length. In total 22,000feet (7000m) are ascended and descended in the 5 days. This schedule requires a very high level of fitness and ability in all members of the party as well as a majority of dry rock. Clearly the ideal scenario can easily break down with a single day of very poor weather and we prioritise getting clients to the top of the most difficult peaks through the week. Occasionally it is possible, with a fit party, to catch up on the schedule in very good weather. We are willing to put in an extra long day if poor weather is forecast for following days or if a previous day has been curtailed.

A week of ideal conditions and battle fit clients breaks down as follows:

Day 1 South end to Alasdair (8 hours)
Day 2 In Pinn & Mhic Choinnich (8 hours)
Day 3 Mid section 3 Munros (6.5 hours)
Day 4 North end 3 Munros (8 hours)
Day 5 Bla bheinn (5 hours)

The Inaccessible Pinnacle

The most frequent enquiry for guiding on Skye is undoubtedly the alluringly named Inaccessible Pinnacle. It is a soaring blade of rock that sits like a dorsal fin atop Sgurr Dearg and overtopping the mountain by some 8m. Descent is by abseil and ropes are used by the vast majority to add security to an ascent of the long, narrow East Ridge. An important part of any attempt is the training and assessment of clients in the brief period available before reaching the foot of the Pinnacle.

Its mountain top position dictates that it catches the most extreme weather and there are days when it is too dangerous to justify an ascent.

In fine dry weather the climbing is technically easy but it is a complicated matter to safeguard a slip and requires all members of the party to concentrate 100%. Larger parties will often be split into two or more groups with one waiting while the other makes the ascent. A safer but technically far harder ascent can be made of the short West Ridge in dry weather but rain on the polished rock makes an ascent impossible.

Most days lie between the extremes of good and bad weather. In these situations Skye Guides will advise clients as to whether an attempt is sensible. There are major factors apart from the weather that will affect this decision:-

A single client can be very closely supervised and kept safe and warm enough to justify an attempt. The larger the guided party the less likely that an attempt will be advised. This is because of immediate safety factors but also the serious danger of hypothermia to anyone left waiting if the party needs to be split.

Clients who are familiar with ropes and karabiners allow the guide to place protection so may be guided in more adverse weather than the non-climber. As well as being an unwelcome complication for non-climbers there is a real danger of misunderstandings creating dangerous situations.

Ultimately the guide is paid to safeguard the wellbeing of all party members. Our policy is also to give a product that is suitable for all members of the party. Achieving ambitions has to come behind these two principles

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