Sgùrr nan Gillean from Sligachan
The great peak above Sligachan, by the 'tourist route', a sustained and exposed scramble.
- Distance
- 12.3 km
- Ascent
- 980 m
- Time
- 4.5–6 h
- Grade
- Hard
- Route
- Out and back
- High point
- 966 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
Sgùrr nan Gillean from Sligachan is a hard 12.3 km out-and-back walk with 980 m of ascent, taking 4.5 to 6 hours. It starts at Sligachan (grid reference NG 485 298). It climbs Sgurr nan Gillean (966 m), a Munro. The start can be reached by public transport.
Sgùrr nan Gillean is the dramatic peak that towers over Sligachan. Its easiest route, misleadingly called the tourist route, follows the path across the moor into Coire nan Allt Geala and then a long, steep scramble up the south-east ridge.
The final section to the tiny summit is narrow and very exposed. Descent is by the same route, which is harder going down. 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
Across the moor
Follow the path from Sligachan across the moor into Coire nan Allt Geala.
-
2
The south-east ridge
Scramble up the steep ridge to the summit. Return the same way, with great care.
Summit
Questions about this walk
- How long does Sgùrr nan Gillean from Sligachan take?
- Most walkers take 4.5–6 hours for the 12.3 km route, which has 980 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. Boggy moor path; scree; a sustained grade 3 scramble on exposed gabbro.
- Which hill does it climb?
- Sgurr nan Gillean (966 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.
