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Adventures / Adventure School

Introduction to Mountaineering on the Isle of Skye

Learn essential climbing skills in the spectacular Cuillin Mountains and tackle the renowned Inaccessible Pinnacle

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Trip Ref #10163

Adventures / Adventure School

Introduction to Mountaineering on the Isle of Skye

Learn essential climbing skills in the spectacular Cuillin Mountains and tackle the renowned Inaccessible Pinnacle

DURATION
3 nights
LOCATION
United Kingdom
ANNUAL LEAVE
2 days off work
SEASON
April-Oct
GROUP SIZE
Up to 8 people
MEETING POINT
Inverness Train Station
ACCOMMODATION
Guesthouse
DIFFICULTY
Challenging

Be prepared. This is a real challenge with some full-on sections, but the view from the top is worth it.

Have a go at climbing the 'Inaccesible Pinnacle', Scotland's most notorious munro, and abseil off the top

Learn key mountaineering skills with a guide to climber ratio of 1:2 providing all the flexibilty you need to tackle the climbs

Hike through the indescribable beauty of the Isle of Skye, the most stunning island of the Inner Hebrides

Included

Guides

Local, certified mountain guides (1:2 ratio)

Accommodation

3 nights in a guesthouse

Meals

Proper breakfasts to fuel you up the mountain

Equipment

All the technical equipment needed including helmet, harness and ropes

Not Included

Some meals as described

Travel to and from the start point

Personal expenses

Travel insurance

The Area

Logistics

Starts

Inverness Train Station

15:00 on Day 1

Ends

Inverness Train Station

20:00 on Day 4

Transfers

Your host will pick you up on arrival and drop you off at Inverness Train Station. If you choose to fly there are regular buses into town from the airport, or it's a 20 minute taxi ride. There is also a left luggage facility at the station if you would like to explore Inverness before you are picked up.

You are also welcome to make your own way to Skye and meet the group at the hotel where free parking is available.

Travel options

Regular trains and flights run to Inverness from across the UK. You can also drive directly to Skye if you wish.

What about all the carbon?

We mitigate 4x the carbon generated by all our customer flights annually through our partnership with Cool Earth.

Day 1

Guesthouse · Twin or triple share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 2 – Day 3

Guesthouse · Twin or triple share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 4

Departure day

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

What is the food like?

For breakfast expect a typical Scottish buffet breakfast. You will be able to sort packed lunches out before heading out each day and dinner will be in the town where you can find a good cosy pub and local ales. Most dietary requirements can be accomodated, including vegetarian and vegan diets.

What is the accommodation like?

Broadford, Skye

You'll be staying in a small locally owned guesthouse in Broadford, likely either the Dunollie Bespoke Hotel or Broadford House B&B. As Skye can be very busy in the summer season, the exact accommodation will be confirmed closer to the time of departure. You will stay in a twin-share rooms.

Upgrades

For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room can be booked for an extra charge. Prices start from £45 per person per night, but can be as high as £200 for last minute requests. Please request this when booking.

Day 1

Plan, prepare and get ready

Your Scottish climbing adventure begins. Meet your guide in Inverness and wind your way through the hills and over the impressive Skye Bridge to the island and your overnight spot in Broadford. All that’s left to do now is settle in, grab some dinner with your fellow adventurers and get ready for the challenging days ahead.

Day 2

Fairy Pools and into the Cuillin Range

Hiking

6hrs · 10km · 800m up

You'll head off early this morning and start by hiking past the famous Fairy Pools before getting into the Cuillin Mountains and up close with the craggy peaks that will be your focus for the weekend. After a couple of hours hiking you'll do an easy scramble where you'll get kitted up and start to learn the basics - how to belay and how to abseil. Taking on The Spur is a great introduction to climbing in Skye.

Day 3

The ridges of the Black Cuillin

Hiking

8hrs · 9km · 1100m up

Another early morning, this time for a bit of a tougher day. Armed with your new-found skills, you'll step up the terrain and tackle something a little more technical today. You might head to Clach Glas Blabheinn Travese, a classic Skye scramble along a fantastic airy ridge with a couple of harder pitches of rock climbing, or you may end up doing a climb of the Dubh Slabs and abseil from Sgurr Dubh Beag and walk down.

Day 4

The Inaccessible Pinnacle

The big one. This is what your previous days learning have all been about - your chance to attempt to scale the sheer flanks of the Inaccessible Pinnacle, a holy grail for mountaineers. The second highest summit in the Skye Cuillin, rising from the summit of Sgurr Dearg, this is no mean feat. It is the only munro that can only be summitted by a technical climb - for those that make it to the top, the fabulous view of the spurs, summits, crags and corries emerging from the cloud make it all worthwhile. You'll hike back down and to the van to make your way back to Inverness with a pocketful of memories and some stories to tell.

Please Note

All our adventures take place in wild places. Things can go wrong in wild places. Your perfectly planned itinerary may change a bit (or a lot) if the weather turns, someone gets hurt, or a volcano erupts. Usually though, changes make it all the better.

15% Off Outdoor Gear

In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 15% discount on us to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock, Runner's Need, and Cycle Surgery.

What's included?

  • Climbing harness
  • Climbing helmet
  • Belay device and carabineer
  • Ropes and all other climbing gear

Your host will also carry essential group equipment such as a first aid kit and group shelter.

Please bring your own helmet and harness if you have them.

What do I need to bring?

  • Rucksack (we recommend 40 litres) with liner
  • Waterproof hiking boots (not shoes)
  • Thermal base layer
  • Fleece top – not cotton
  • Polyester, fleece or woollen trouser and tops (no jeans)
  • Heavy-duty waterproof jacket and trousers
  • Hat without bobble so helmet can fit
  • Thick waterproof ski gloves and warm liners/2 pairs of good gloves
  • Neck buff plus spare
  • Head torch
  • Flask or water bottle
  • Energy snacks
  • Whistle
  • Sunglasses and sun cream
  • Towel
  • Emergency survival bag (6’ by 3’ orange poly bag available from any outdoor store)
  • Walking poles (if you like to use them for hiking sections)
  • Approach shoes (these will be useful if you have them already, if not your hiking boots alone will do)

A good level of fitness is recommended - you'll be out for up to 9 hours in a mountain environment moving over challenging terrain and ascending considerable heights each day. You do not need any previous climbing experience but you should have a head for heights. This is a challenging trip but the reward of bagging a techincal munro and views all across Skye will be worth the effort!

You will have a mountain guide for every two climbers (2:1 ratio) - this gives the flexibilty to the group to break up into smaller groups if needed and allows everyone to go at their own pace as they learn the skills.

In short, no. As the mountain weather on Skye is very unpredictable your guides will be making constant decisions regarding which routes to take and which climbs to tackle. As you will have a guide to climber ration of 1:2 there will be plenty of flexiblity to tackle different routes based on abilty and fitness. Your guide will make the ultimate decision based on safety considerations - if you don't manage to climb the Inaccessible Pinnacle you will still be leaving the island with a load of new skills and knowledge.

Sure can! Over 50% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

The Cuillin Hills on the Isle of Skye are among the steepest mountains in the UK and include 15 peaks above 3,000 feet (900 metres). There are two main ridges; the magnificent Black Cuillins and the Red Cuillins around Loch Coruisk to the south. The weather can easily offer all four seasons in one day so you should be prepared as such. Your guides will be assessing the weather constantly and will pick routes based around wind and wet weather predictions. Weather is important in the Cuillin with wet rock taking twice as long to cross as dry rock so this will be factored into the plan for the day.

We’ve teamed up with the guys at World Nomads to offer insurance designed for adventurous travellers across 140 countries that includes overseas medical, evacuation, baggage and a range of adventure sports and activities. To get yours sorted, click here.

We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book the trip, just to cover you for any last minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!

All of our group adventures are especially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded.

"I cannot recommend this highly enough! The people on the trip were amazing. Easily the best trip I've ever been on!" Charlotte, 2019, Trustpilot.

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Transferrable Deposits

Cancel up to 31 days before departure and we'll transfer your deposit into credit for a future booking.

Free Date Changes

Free date changes up to 31 days before departure.

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