Sgurr Dearg - Inaccessible Pinnacle

About Sgurr Dearg - Inaccessible Pinnacle

Dominating the central Cuillin, this peak is home to the notorious Inaccessible Pinnacle—a gabbro shark-fin that represents the only Munro requiring a technical rock climb. While the western flanks are steep scree, the summit experience is defined by the airy, rope-assisted ascent of the ridge’s most infamous and exposed obstacle.

Key Statistics

Find It

Did You Know?

• •Sgùrr Dearg translates from Gaelic as ‘Red Peak’, a name likely derived from the sun-catching red-tinted screes on its western slopes, which contrast sharply with the dark, jagged gabbro of the main Cuillin ridge.
• •The pinnacle was the last of the Munros to be conquered. It was first climbed in 1880 by brothers Charles and Lawrence Pilkington, who proved that the 'inaccessible' peak was actually a manageable, if terrifyingly exposed, rock climb.
• •From the narrow crest of the pinnacle, the view offers a dizzying perspective of the Cuillin horseshoe, looking south over the 'Bad Step' of Sgùrr Mhic Choinnich towards the Great Stone Shoot and the dark waters of Loch Coruisk far below.
• •To reach the true summit, walkers typically ascend the long East Ridge (graded a Moderate rock climb) and descend via a spectacular 20-metre abseil from the permanent anchors on the western end. Without these technical skills or a guide, you cannot technically reach the highest point.
• •It remains the only mountain in Scotland where your 'summit' photo might realistically feature more strangers' backsides than scenery, as groups frequently queue at the base of the pinnacle to await their turn on the rope.