Sgurr nan Gillean

About Sgurr nan Gillean

Dominating the skyline above Sligachan, this is arguably the most iconic of the Cuillin peaks. Its sharp, triangular silhouette masks a complex, gabbro-heavy mountain that demands respect and steady hands. Whether tackled via the 'Tourist Route' or the airy Pinnacle Ridge, the ascent to this formidable Munro involves sustained, high-quality scrambling.

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Did You Know?

• •The name translates from Scottish Gaelic as the 'Peak of the Young Men'. While some local folklore suggests a tragic origin involving a group of youths lost in the mist, it more likely refers to the young hunters or gillies who frequented the lower slopes of the Black Cuillin.
• •The first recorded ascent was made in 1836 by Professor James Forbes and local forester Duncan Macintyre. At the time, it was widely believed to be the highest point on the Isle of Skye, a title that actually belongs to Sgùrr Alasdair.
• •Reaching the summit by any route involves technical scrambling. The 'Tourist Route' via the southeast ridge is famously misnamed; while it is the easiest way up, it still requires navigating a narrow, exposed gabbro crest and a Grade 2 scramble that should not be underestimated.
• •The summit itself is exceptionally small, consisting of a few shattered blocks of rock. From this precarious perch, the views are unparalleled, looking directly across the dark abyss of Lota Corrie to the jagged peaks of the Main Ridge and the isolated outlier of Blà Bheinn across Glen Sligachan.
• •Like much of the Cuillin, the mountain is composed of gabbro—a coarse-grained volcanic rock with a texture like sandpaper. It offers superb friction for boots, but its sharpness is notorious for shredding skin and clothing over the course of a day.
• •The Gendarme, a prominent rock tower on the Pinnacle Ridge, fell into the corrie below during the winter of 1986/87. This did nothing to make the route any easier for the average walker, though it did slightly reduce the mountain's overall weight.