It works, and I’m seeing benefits of the training I do at home and in the gym, when I visit the wall, now I’m seeing progress on the overhanging arch that has beaten me for years (I’ve never been able to get across it in all the occasional visits I’ve made). In summer it is doubtless a classic, but in winter it has a near-mythical status where skill, fitness and good conditions must all align if one is to succeed. The traverse of the Cuillin Ridge has been described as the finest mountaineering adventure on the British Isles, containing 3,000m of ascent and descent and crossing 11 Munros (peaks over 3,000 feet). The ridge contains 11 Munros and 16 other summits, the highest being Sgurr Alasdair at 3,255 feet. I hadn’t really climbed for years, I guess it was a combination of factors really, my mates were good climbers and I wasn’t too bad, often struck with the issue of exposure, on some routes I  found myself hauling  up, physically and mentally, enjoyment didn’t seem to go hand in hand with the experience. The Cuillin Ridge on the Isle of Skye is the main event when it comes to scrambling in the UK. Batter over the 'In Pin' (I prefer to go up the east ridge and then abseil down the steep west side) and then around to Sgurr Mhic Choinnich, dumping your kit at the start of 'Hart's Ledge (2)'. Read the labels on your bivi food, some only have the same calorie content as a mars bar! If you give yourself 12 hours for the first day and 8-10 hours for the second then any faster is a bonus. Gordie descends the final Munro, Sgurr nan Gillean. It then takes around 3 hours to do the northern section getting you back to your kit at midday, from here it is 6 hours for the middle section and so to your bivi site in Coire an Banachdich (you would have dropped this off the day before). Hmmm, he mentions Severe exactly twice (once as a general guide to ability for the traverse, and once for the pitch up the short side, which seems consistent with currently accepted practice?). murmurs a parched Dougald. That's a mistake. Wild has the fastest known time for the Cuillin Ridge traverse on the Isle of Skye, completing the crossing in 2:59:22 in 2013. This is a written account with a video of phtos and film clips. But a last minute change of plan left me with a free day and saw me driving up to Glenbrittle for an early start to run the Cuillin ridge. It is ideal if you plan to do a full traverse of the 12km ridge, including 11 Munro summits, or if you want to do shorter sections of the ridge. Pictured above: Running in the Isle of Skye (April 2018), with the famous Cuillin ridge looming in the distance. Skye's Cuillin Ridge Traverse. Once you return to this point, down the extra water you carried from the burn and crack on over Bruch na Frithe and onto the middle section of the ridge. The full traverse of the Cuillin ridge from south to north is regarded as one of the UK’s top mountaineering objectives. A guided four-day course aimed at people who want to get onto the Black Cuillin Ridge. If doing it north to south leaving the car around 6am will get you on the ridge for 9am. Most people fail on the ridge because of dehydration, and it does not have to be warm and sunny. Stash plenty of evening food so you can munch to your hearts content all night. Sure, if you're a fit hill runner and a competent climber with a good head for heights, have some prior knowledge and good weather, bingo the ridge is yours! From the summit descend SW to the coastal path and follow this to the Glen Brittle campsite. View Dubh Ridge - Skye Cuillin in a larger map Getting To The Start from Glen Brittle For a direct approach you have two alternative options available in order to cross the main ridge. The terrain steepened and the scrambling began. Both attain a similar altitude ( 2928 feet and 2806 feet respectively). Last winter Will Rowland pulled off an incredible traverse of the Black and Red Cuillin in a two day journey starting and finishing at Sligachan. In summer it is doubtless a classic, but in winter it has a near-mythical status where skill, fitness and good conditions must all align if one is to succeed. Descending towards Sgurr Thormaid© George McEwan Technically fit! Scottish runner breaks speed record for Cuillin Ridge. So I'm with the SMC here in seeing Hart as a significant and very capable contributer (for this, amongst other things) who deserves his due when Collie generally receives his. The pack needs to be close fitting but offer freedom of movement so you can lift your head up and won't be restricted even with a helmet on. I feel shrivelled like a prune. A curious article with some inconsistencies e.g. Only the most Northerly section is visible from Sligachan, where I was staying but what is visible makes no false promise of an easy journey, the Cuillin you see is the hardest ridge traverse anywhere in the UK. You need to do this yourself, as I am not going to drop a full training programme on your lap. All in all 15 plus miles. Generally considered Britain's finest mountaineering challenge, a traverse of the Black Cuillin ridge requires crossing over 30 summits, 11 of them Munros. Pitch out of the Gap on the North face at around 'Severe' (fairly thin). Not me! After a failed attempt on the Skye’s Cuillin Ridge traverse in 2019, Caroline returned this year to have another go. Then one day a friend discussed the Cullin Ridge on the Isle of Skye. ), I agree. The Krab I had left to abseil at the end of march was still there! Also, it misses out most of the best rock pitches on the route. From here we would then make a traverse of the Cuillin Ridge, the UK’s longest and finest Alpine excursion, before returning to the mainland via a further 30 miles of open water paddling. go up the evening before, and bivvy for a few hours until first light using a v lightweight sleeping bag that can be compressed into the bottom of your smallish sack. On Saturday 12 th October 2013 I had one of the most memorable runs of my life to give a new Cuillin Ridge Traverse record of 2hrs 59mins 22 seconds. The technical standard of the climbing on the ridge is never more than Very Difficult, but since most of the ridge is sustained and exposed scrambling with extensive sections of Moderate and Difficult climbing, it is certainly wise to be able to lead Severe so that most parts of the ridge can then be comfortably soloed. Your email address will not be published. My record is a little more mediocre although I did manage 6th at the Glencoe skyline race last year. Edita made … With acres of perfect slabs in a stunning island location, the Dubh Ridge isn't only one of the longest rock climbs in the UK, but also has to be among the most enjoyable at any grade. This report describes our adventures in doing this brilliant route by means of … The Cuillin Ridge on Skye is hoime to 11 Munros. Though the peaks on the Cuillin Ridge may not have the stature of some Munros they are a formidable challenge and include in their midst the infamous Inaccessible Pinnacle. Ames proposed Vine Maple Valley, but Russell thought Maple Ridge to be a better name. It involves 4000m or ascent and descent. Bag the summit then double back to your kit and follow Harts Ledge to the start of the 'North Ridge (mod)' of Sgurr Thearlaich. A very impressive time even by today's standards. I knew the route well having been up and down twice to exactly the same spot last year. I ran the Brussels 20k recently in 69 minutes (respectable on a hilly course) and yesterday I was down the track doing 300m reps to try and gain some much-needed speed on the flat – you couldn’t get much further from running the Cuillin ridge! Scrambling is often regarded as less serious than 'proper' climbing. Map: The best map is currently Harvey's Skye, The Cuillin, though if you can find a second hand copy of the SMT map The Black Cuillin, that is worth buying too. He holds the Mountain Instructor Certificate and is an extremely experienced climber, mountaineer and hill walker. The Cuillin Ridge is essentially to blame. Jon Jones is an instructor at Glenmore Lodge, Scotland. Snow fields were in evidence high up on the mountains so I had plotted a route that kept me out of the worst of it. Taking the Cuillin Ridge Light approach, she managed to complete the route in a day. Looking North from the summit of Sgurr Alasdair. Going to the gym to jump on the treadmill once a week is not going to do it. Remember you need the calories down your neck. Both attain a similar altitude ( 2928 feet and 2806 feet respectively). Firstly you have a less strenuous start and secondly you can abseil many of the technical sections. For this experience to be comfortable, you want it to be dry. The Cuillin ridge is a 12km long ridge of continuous interest to the mountaineer, with eleven of its summits being Munros (Scottish hills over 3000ft/914m). As there is so much ascent and descent involved it can get hugely demoralising and time seems to quickly fall by if you are on a technical section that requires rope work. The Cuillin Ridge Light is the best ridge in the UK for mere mortals. Instructor/Guides Bealach Mhic Coinnich via Coire Lagan or Bealach Coir’ An Lochain via Coir’ A Ghrunnda. 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