Bruach na Frìthe and Am Bàsteir
The easiest Cuillin Munro, Bruach na Frìthe, and the hard scramble of Am Bàsteir.
- Distance
- 15.8 km
- Ascent
- 970 m
- Time
- 5.5–7 h
- Grade
- Hard
- Route
- Out and back
- High point
- 959 m
Drag along the profile to see where you are on the map.
Offline navigation is coming in the TRXO app. Hear when it launches.
Route mapped on from OpenStreetMap paths, with heights from EU-DEM terrain data; not yet checked on the ground by TRXO. Added to TRXO on . For planning only: always navigate with an up-to-date map such as OS Explorer or Harvey. How we make our routes.
About this walk
Bruach na Frìthe and Am Bàsteir is a hard 15.8 km out-and-back walk with 970 m of ascent, taking 5.5 to 7 hours. It starts at Sligachan (grid reference NG 485 298). It climbs 2 listed hills, the highest Bruach na Frithe at 959 m. The start can be reached by public transport.
Bruach na Frìthe is the most accessible Munro on the main Cuillin ridge: the route follows the path from Sligachan into Fionn Choire and up easy, stony slopes to the ridge and summit.
Am Bàsteir, 'the executioner', is a different matter: a narrow, exposed scramble along its east ridge, with an awkward step. Only continue if you are an experienced scrambler. This is a scrambling route on exposed rock, not a walk: you'll need a head for heights, experience of moving on steep ground, and calm conditions. Many people hire a guide. The Cuillin are made of gabbro and basalt, and compasses are unreliable on them. In mist, routes are very hard to find. Many people climb the Cuillin Munros with a guide.
Route
-
1
Fionn Choire
Follow the path up the Allt Dearg Mòr and into Fionn Choire.
-
2
Bruach na Frìthe
Climb to the ridge and the summit.
-
3
Am Bàsteir
Experienced scramblers only: follow the ridge east and scramble up Am Bàsteir, then return.
Summits
959 m
Other routes up these hills
Questions about this walk
- How long does Bruach na Frìthe and Am Bàsteir take?
- Most walkers take 5.5–7 hours for the 15.8 km route, which has 970 m of ascent. That allows for short stops; give yourself longer in winter, in poor weather or with a group.
- Where does the walk start, and where can I park?
- It starts at Sligachan (grid reference NG 485 298). Car park at Sligachan.
- Can I get there by public transport?
- Citylink coaches to Portree and Uig stop at Sligachan. Check times on Traveline Scotland.
- How hard is it?
- It's graded hard. Moor path; stony corrie; easy ridge to Bruach na Frìthe; an exposed scramble on Am Bàsteir.
- Which hills does it climb?
- Bruach na Frithe (959 m, Munro); Am Basteir (934 m, Munro).
- Can I take my dog?
- It isn't recommended for dogs.
Walked this? Tell the next walker
No reviews, condition reports, walkers' photos or trip reports for this walk yet. Yours would be the first.
