Sgurr nan Gillean and Am Basteir: the Black Cuillin’s hair-raising finale

Sgurr nan Gillean and Am Basteir: the Black Cuillin’s hair-raising finale

We were facing a full day out in the Black Cuillin under sunny skies. Yes, that’s right. Beautiful sunshine in the Black Cuillin of Skye. I can’t believe I’m saying that. After two satisfying days on the ridge and another one to come, things were turning out well.

Read more

Sgurr na Banachdich to Sgurr a Ghreadaidh: touching cloth in the Black Cuillin

Sgurr na Banachdich to Sgurr a Ghreadaidh: touching cloth in the Black Cuillin

I had injured my leg and didn’t know if I had time to recover for the next day of scrambling. What should I do: an easy walk to test it out, or a long day out I’d been looking forward to for a long time? Luckily, our guide Dave had a cunning plan.

Read more

Sgurr Alasdair to Sgurr Mhic Choinnich: the secret of Collie’s Ledge

Sgurr Alasdair to Sgurr Mhic Choinnich: the secret of Collie’s Ledge

In last week’s post, I explained how we had hired a mountain guide to do Skye’s infamous Cuillin traverse, over 11 Munros with many technical sections. I had injured my knee backpacking the previous week, but I was determined to give it a try. Would I cope?

Read more

The Cuillin Traverse – to do or not to do?

The Cuillin Traverse – to do or not to do?

We’d hired a mountain guide to do the Cuillin traverse, a 12km ridge on Scotland’s Isle of Skye, which takes in 11 Munros and many subsidiary peaks. But with injuries in both legs and a knee that couldn’t bend more than 90 degrees it seemed inconceivable for me.

Read more

Beyond the Nevis watershed, part 1: the eastern Mamores

Beyond the Nevis watershed, part 1: the eastern Mamores

When I hiked the Ring of Steall last year, I saw an emerald valley to the east, accessible only by foot and surrounded by Munros. I imagined wild camping in that idyllic location, and picking off the mountains one by one. Barely a year later, my dream came to fruition.

Read more

The Ring of Steall: a Scottish hill walking classic

The Ring of Steall: a Scottish hill walking classic

A short distance south of Ben Nevis is a hidden sanctuary encircled by mountains. This hanging corrie has a single outlet which drains into Britain’s second highest waterfall. A full circuit of the ring of mountains involves 4 Munros and 7 peaks in total.

Read more

Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain, via the CMD Arête

Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain, via the CMD Arête

An estimated 160,000 people climbed Ben Nevis last year, but it has a not-so-secret route around the back that follows a stunning ridge, and if you’re lucky you’ll have it to yourself. It was the obvious choice for Edita’s first ascent of Britain’s highest peak.

Read more