Skye – 24th to the 28th of May 2025

The much-anticipated trip to Skye promised to be a big adventure.  With tremendous support from the membership and accommodation secured at the Glen Brittle Memorial Hut at the foot of the Cuillin over the bank holiday weekend nothing could possibly dampen the enthusiasm for the occasion.

Dave C and Matthew D could not contain their excitement for the trip, heading north on Wednesday.  The intrepid pair punctuated their journey with a Thursday ascent of Tower Ridge, Ben Nevis and on Friday, ahead of the incoming damp weather, climbed Naismith’s Route on the Bhasteir Tooth from the Sligachan Campsite where they remained for one night before heading to Glen Brittle.

After more than a month of dry, stable, and unusually warm weather on Skye a significant change was expected on the day we were due to travel north.  The forecast incoming damp weather had a detrimental effect on the numbers attending as some of those who felt they would not achieve their specific aims decided to cut their losses and bail.  The remainder made it to the hut by Saturday evening.  Several had opted to break their northbound journey with a night at Crianlarich Hostel, others at the Alex MacIntire Memorial Hut, Ballachulish and one car of three drove the full distance on Saturday.

The hut was well equipped for our trip.  With only thirteen of us in the building there was plenty of fridge-space for cheese and other essentials.  The bedrooms and common rooms had ample storage for every kind of mountaineering equipment, guide book, map and clothing that would be put into use over the next few days.  Guide books in the hut library also proved to be helpful for planning routes which would take us to less familiar areas of the island. The drying room was good too.

Saturday evening passed quickly with much imagination given to a broad range of ideas.  Higher altitude routes would be unlikely. Four of us planned to check out the sea-cliff climbing on the north east coast and the other nine would walk around in the direction of Coir a Ghrunnda and explore the area.

On Sunday the westerly wind brought in showers but there were plenty of dry spells in between.  Emma W, Matthew D, Jenny G and Dave M headed to Flodigarry taking in the sightseeing tour of Skye while waving and smiling at the bank holiday traffic.  The weather was much better in the north and two very pleasant climbs were completed.  Matthew and Jenny climbed Newspaper Taxis *S and Emma with Dave did Buoy Racer *VS 4c.  After climbing, the circuit of Skye continued, heading initially west to near Ardmore Point where a friend Keith has a house and where Steve G with Bev were currently visiting.  Thanks to Keith for the hospitality and, as ever, to Bev and Steve for the wonderful fruit cake, Chelsea buns and ginger biscuits.  Lovely!

The main team of nine walked from Glen Brittle towards Coir a Ghrunnda.  The threat of a shower was always present, however, the main cloud base was higher up the ridge so the views were generally good.  Stream crossings prompted Phil and Virginie H to modify their route and headed further north into Coire Lagan and then onto Coire na Banachdich.  Dave C, Charley S, Elise P, Alex D, Martin P, Ewart P and Derek W continued with their initial plan.  When up at Loch Coir a Ghrunnda the main group hoped to make a brief excursion onto the ridge but the rapidly changing, blustery, localised conditions prevented any further upward advance.  The group retreated down and skirted around Sron na Ciche before heading north to explore Coire Lagan.

With everyone back into the hut the evening once more became busy.  This time with a coordinated team of sous chefs chopping, frying, grating and mixing assembled ingredients into a big team meal.  All somehow worked perfectly and the whole group sat together at the dining table where the planning for another day was loosely involved in the conversation.  Thanks for everyone’s help with the preparation and the clearing up during and afterwards.  The evening progressed in a predictable manner.  Cheese, biscuits, party poppers, piñata bashing, music, sport lingerie and all sorts of entertainment was enjoyed by all. 

Matthew and Dave C headed for home early the next morning due to work commitments.  Nothing to do with them being knackered.  The weather today, bank holiday Monday, was supposed to be slightly brighter with a higher cloud base.  It wasn’t.  Phil and Virginie walked around the Glen Brittle Forest, remaining at lower level and enjoying good weather for most of the day.  Alex took a drive around to the Sligachan Hotel and walked along the Skye Trail in Glen Sligachan which was well shetered from the wind and showers.

Ewart, Derek and Martin headed up to Window Buttress in Coire na Banachdich to see if an easy grade climb or scramble was possible.  Emma and Dave M followed to the same spot, however, on arrival at the buttress the heavens opened with hail and heavy rain so any thoughts of climbing were gone.  Derek, Ewart and Martin skirted around the buttress and continued by picking their way in a gentle scrambling meander up to the west ridge of Sgurr Dearg before descending the ridge.  Emma and Dave beat a hasty retreat back to the hut and swiftly changed into dry clothes before heading for the distillery.

Charley, Elise and Jenny had made an early and less risky decision to stick with the Isle of Skye tourist handbook.  The Fairy Pools path was explored to a point beyond the second waterfall where it’s no longer a six-lane highway and the number of tourists begin to dwindle.  Then onwards, in the car, to the Talisker Distillery at Carbost.  An enlightening tour was taken to get a better understanding of the local, lucrative industry and to fully appreciate the flavours of the wares on sale.  Armed with the new-found knowledge all three were qualified to advise Dave on which bottle of whisky to buy after he arrived with Emma.  And thanks to Jenny for letting me use your 10% discount.

In the evening there was much poring over guide books and maps.  The weather was expected to improve.  Again.  No piñata tonight but the chess board made an appearance as well as more cheese and biscuits.

It was the turn of Phil and Virginie to take the tourist route on Tuesday.  Doing battle with the traffic, waving and smiling along the way, they headed north up to the Old Man of Storr and onwards for a walk amongst the impressive geology at Quiraing.

Elise and Charley planned for a full-on event.  A drive past Broadford to scramble up Bla Bheinn via the southwest ridge and descent via the east.  Quite a route, generally dry with good views but the wind was buffeting and called for caution.  Their day was nicely rounded off with fish and chips when driving back to the hut.

Derek, Martin and Ewart walked and scrambled from the Sligachan Hotel up to Am Basteir to check the area out for a possible future venture.  This was another big day on the ridge with mixed conditions and took in Bruach na Frithe summit just for good measure.

Emma and Dave M went to Neist on the north west coast for more sea-cliff climbing.  Jenny and Alex met them there later.  The weather was bright and clear but there were heavy showers in the vicinity.  The opportunity was taken to look around the area in the morning and it was possible to climb after lunch.  Emma and Dave climbed The Green Lady Original Route (SMC guidebook) *HS 4a and then Robert the Bruce S 4b.  Alex with Jenny climbed South Crack *HS.

At the hut in the evening there was still more planning to do and more cheese and biscuits to eat.  Ewart, Derek and Martin had another possible day on Skye and would spend the next night in Ballachulish before heading home.  Their Wednesday was, in the end, relatively restful taking time by Loch Linnhe to practice crevasse rescue technique in preparation for their summer trip to Switzerland.

Phil and Virginie were staying at Glen Brittle for another three nights and intended to go up onto the ridge the following morning.  This, they achieved, summiting Sgurr na Banachdich via Coir an Eich although the cloud still covered the summits so unfortunately didn’t benefit from the best of the views.  Their next few days gave time to explore the ancient settlements at Rubha an Dunain at the end of the peninsula south of Glen Brittle and to summit Bla Bheinn as well as finish the cheese and biscuits. A marvellous achievement!

Before anyone left for home the hut was given a thoroughly good clean and everyone played their part.  The accommodation was in very good order when we arrived and it was great that such unhesitating effort was put in to make sure we maintained or even bettered the standard before leaving.

Emma and Dave drove directly home.  Nine hours of unbroken conversation and both survived.  Alex drove home soon after and Elise, Charley and Jenny followed on behind. 

The weather proved to be a challenge for this trip but everyone was able to adapt their plans and achieve a varied haul of perhaps initially unscripted, positive results.  The atmosphere in the hut was entirely upbeat and helpful with ideas being shared by all.  It was a pleasure being out on the hill, touring Skye, walking, climbing or in the hut sharing time with a good bunch of people.  Thanks to all for coming along and for being part of such a pleasant trip to such an extraordinary place.

Cheers!

Dave M