Sgurr a' Bhasteir

Rising steeply above the Sligachan glen, this rugged northern outpost of the Black Cuillin offers a spectacular vantage point without the technical difficulties of its neighbours. Its rocky crest provides a front-row seat to the formidable Bhasteir Tooth and the jagged skyline of the northern ridge, making the ascent deeply rewarding.

• •Derived from the Scottish Gaelic Sgùrr a' Bhasteir, the name translates as the ‘Peak of the Executioner’. This grim title is shared with its more famous neighbour, Am Basteir, though why the executioner is associated with this specific corner of the Cuillin remains a matter of local folklore.
• •The summit provides a spectacular view of the Bhasteir Tooth and the three pinnacles of Sgùrr nan Gillean, offering a perspective on the technical climbing routes of the northern Cuillin that few other accessible points can match.
• •While classified as a Tump, its position on the edge of the Main Ridge means it shares the same grippy gabbro rock as its higher neighbours, making for secure footing even on steeper sections.
• •It stands exactly 14.3 metres short of the 3,000ft mark; on the Isle of Skye, those few metres are often the difference between a crowded summit and having the entire ridge to yourself.
• •The usual approach from Sligachan involves a steady climb into the dramatic bowl of Coire a' Bhasteir, passing directly beneath the shadow of the great northern cliffs of the main ridge.
• •Standing on the summit gives an unmatched perspective of the Lot Corrie below, a place so remote and enclosed by rock walls that it feels entirely disconnected from the rest of the island.
• •It is the only place in the Cuillin where you can look down on the Bhasteir Tooth and feel superior, right up until you realise you still have to walk back down the same way.