Sgurr Dubh Beag

Sitting on the legendary Dubh Ridge, this steep gabbro peak offers one of the most dramatic scrambles in the Cuillin. Rising sharply above the dark waters of Loch Coruisk, its rough rock provides incredible grip, though climbers must navigate a daunting vertical drop from its summit to continue toward the higher Sgurr Dubh Mòr.

• •The name is Gaelic for 'Small Black Peak'. This refers to the dark, volcanic gabbro that forms this section of the Cuillin, which turns an imposing, ink-black colour when wet.
• •The peak is a primary landmark on the Dubh Ridge, widely considered the finest mountain scramble in the British Isles. The route is unique for starting at sea level by Loch Coruisk and offering nearly 1,000 metres of continuous, high-quality rock climbing and scrambling.
• •Reaching the summit is only half the battle; the descent towards the main Cuillin ridge involves a 12-metre vertical step. Most parties use a fixed anchor to abseil down this section, as the down-climb is exposed and technically difficult.
• •The summit offers a spectacular, vertiginous view directly down the slabs into the 'Cauldron' of Loch Coruisk, framed by the jagged silhouettes of Sgùrr nan Gillean and Am Basteir to the north.
• •The 'Beag' (small) in its name is technically accurate compared to the neighbouring 944-metre Sgùrr Dubh Mòr, though the label feels like a slight when you are dangling off its western face on a rope.