THE BLACK CUILLIN RIDGE on SKYE

Our President Colin Beechey and Mike Porter recently completed what is widely regarded as Britain’s Finest Mountaineering challenge just before the Queen’s Jubilee Bank Holiday last year.

After two years of preparation and several weather related postponements, the two intrepid club seniors with a combined age of 125 years, managed a continuous traverse in just over sixteen hours (Gars Bheinn to Sgurr nan Gillian) with an overnight bivouac. They enjoyed cool dry weather while the rest of Britain had more unsettled conditions. 

 It may only be 12km on the map but the journey includes 22 peaks, clocks up over 4000m of up/down with lots of exposed scrambling, abseiling and four rock climbs up to severe grade, including the Thearlaich-Dubh Gap, Kings Chimney, Inaccessible Pinnacle and the Basteir Tooth by Naismith’s route.

A Zimmer Frame ascent of  Sgurr du Mor via the Dubh Slabs is planned for next year!

Mike

Bivy site

5am Wake up view

"WHAT...no PJs"

Sgurr nan Gillian Finish

MTB from Ladybower

Having bought "The Good Mountain Biking Guide" I was damn well going to use it!

The route was picked for the having the most annotation, indicating the arduous/ rewarding riding for our day!

Saturday was a no-goer really...as we realised that carrying the guidebook may have been a better option that trying the 'guess' the route..which created an arduous adventure!

After studying the route on Sunday, we headed off from Fairholmes Visitor Centre, Ladybower. The route contained some challenging and very demanding uphill sections (in the guidebook the climb from Shatton to Shatton Edge is described as "a monster"!), giving way to some excellent technical downhill trails notably along Derwent Edge (called in the guidebook "A top obstacle strewn descent) and to quarryrock-rumble trails down Pin Dale. A fine day...though must get the fitness up for next time!

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/fullscreen/95525767/

Sorry about the picture...Phil got in the way! ;)