Sgùrr na Banachdich is the mid-point of the Cuillin Ridge, and is the only Munro in the Cuillin where hands are not needed to make the ascent. The views along the ridge and down to Loch Coruisk are sensational.
Bog Factor
Probably the easiest of the Cuillin Munros, this is still an extremely rugged and rocky walk with much steep, rough ground.
Parking by Glen Brittle Youth Hostel.
None to start.
NG409225
Park at Glen Brittle Youth Hostel; there is space on the left hand verge of the road both before and after the bridge. The walk starts on the excellent constructed path up the south side of the stream. It leads past a whole series of waterfalls and beautiful pools as the stream tumbles down a small gorge. After a kilometre there is one particularly dramatic series of falls; another couple of hundred metres on (more cascades can be heard) look out for a much fainter, muddy path going off to the right up the moor. Once picked up it is clear to follow and leads past a rounded boulder before continuing up the open moor.
As the path crests a rise the gradient eases and there is a view ahead of the whole walk. Ahead is the scree-filled corrie Coir' nan Eich, edged by the steep crag of An Diallaid to the left and the Sgùrr nan Gobhar ridge to the right. Sgùrr na Banachdich is the rather shapeless (from this angle) peak set right back beyond the corrie, with pointy Sgùrr Thormaid to its immediate left. The route eventually heads up the grassy ridge to the crags of An Diallaid.
The path fades away as the burn coming down from Coir' an Eich is reached. Cross the stream, and rather than contuing up the corrie, head up the steepening grassy slopes that form a ridge leading up to An Diallaid. It stays grassy longest if you aim for the left skyline. Some walkers head up the back of Coir' an Eich instead, zigzagging up steep scree slope, but the An Diallaid route is pleasanter and slightly less steep and loose. The grass turns to stones as the climb steepens, but there are traces of a path here. The views back over Glen Brittle are superb.
Soon the ridge levels off and becomes grassy again before another steeper pull up scree towards the prominent crag of An Diallaid; faint paths bypass the summit on the right. Continue across the shallow col between An Diallaid and the main bulk of the mountain. There's a sudden view from here across upper Coire a Ghreadaidh to twin summited Sgùrr a Ghreadaidh. The walk continues up the ill-defined ridge towards the summit - keep the big cliffs to your left.
The terrain here is a mix of rocks, low crags and stones but in clear weather a simple route can be found by weaving between the rocks - any obstacles can usually be passed to the right. Beyond this is a very broad rocky slope that leads up towards the summit. The main Cuillin ridge is reached suddenly, and the sheer drop down to Coir Uisg is a sensational contrast to the more gentle scree slopes you've ascended. Sgùrr na Banachdich (Smallpox peak) is a fantastic viewpoint. To the north the Cuillin ridge drops down over sharp Sgùrr Thormaid and its teeth before sweeping up again to the bulk of Sgùrr a Ghreadaidh, whilst Sgùrr nan Gillean is visible beyond.
East is the awesome void of Coir' Uisg with Loch Coruisk a jewel far below, and Bla Bheinn looking magnificent beyond.
To the south the narrow ridge sweeps on to Sgùrr Dearg; climbers can usually be seen making their way up and abseiling off the upper part of the Inaccessible Pinnacle. Beyond the In Pinn are the jagged teeth of Sgùrr Thearlach and Sgùrr Alasdair, the highest summit in the Hebrides. To their right is Glen Brittle and the Isles of Rum and Canna glittering in the sea.
The recommended return route is the same way. There is an alternative that is open only to scramblers, which is to descent the Sgùrr nan Gobhar ridge. This involves some fairly straightforward but slightly airy scrambling, with a steep scree run off the end of the ridge to the SW. Going this way would increase the walk to a Grade 5 outing.
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