Scrambling is our a cross-over from hill-walking to climbing and the Black Cuillin is the home of scrambling in the UK with a lifetime of different routes. Almost all Cuillin outings involve a fair amount of scrambling. Our guides are experts in knowing the best routes to tackle and how to keep everyone safe.
Scrambling is a somewhat quaint and understated British word for technically easy climbing but this often takes place in very exposed positions. There are routes of all standards and these vary enormously in difficulty depending on weather conditions and individual client confidence.
Grade 1 routes have just a few small steps requiring hands for balance and very little by way of exposure or objective dangers; many folk will consider these routes as little more than a normal hill-walk. Examples of these include all of the 3 easiest Black Cuillin Munros, Bruach na Frithe, Sgurr na Banachdaich and Blabheinn.
Grade 2 routes have more sustained use of hands and can involve short steep steps and exposed edges. There is always a rope available if clients feel nervous in this terrain. Commonly climbed examples include the approach to the In. Pinn, Sgurr Alasdair from Sgurr Sgumain and Sgurr nan Gillean by the Tourist Route.
Grade 3 routes involve the most serious type of scrambling with fairly constant use of hands and often in highly exposed positions. The new guidebook extends scrambling routes with suffixes that indicate the rock climbing grade of the hardest move that is unavoidable. With your guide you can choose to take easier or harder variations to suit your comfort levels. Examples include all of the classic routes such as Pinnacle Ridge of Gillean, The Dubh Ridge and Clach Glas.
The movement and situations absorb the concentration to such an extent that time flies by and physical effort becomes a secondary thought.
“…The ridges provide continuous challenges and the only limitations are the climbers own ability or fitness.” Skye, The Cuillin introduction.
Sample 4-day itinerary.
Day 1- The Coire a’ Ghreadaidh (Gretta) Skyline, Grade 3, 6.5 hrs
Day 2- The Pinnacle Ridge of Sgurr nan Gillean Grade 3/Difficult, 8hrs
Day 3- Clach Glas & Blaven Grade 3, Difficult, 7hrs
Day 4- The Round of Coire Lagan via the Cioch Grade 3, Very Difficult, 10hrs
