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An t Eilean Sgitheanach / Isle of Skye
My arrival over an drochaid ura and into an t Ath Leathann (Broadford) on a fine Thursday evening reminded me that my mothers sinnsear originated in An t Eilean Sgithainich, they were Caimbeulaich but we will no blame them for that
- Sinnsear ? :D
A more notable people were Clan Mac GiIll eain
Sorley MacLean was born on 26 October 1911 on the island of Raasay, off Skye. His father, Malcolm MacLean, a tailor, his mother Christina’s family were the Nicolsons of Skye, they had seven children, of whom Sorley was the second eldest son. Both families were notable for their knowledge and practice of Gaelic song and music.
In 1939 Somhairle wrote "An Cuilthionn" .... the Cuillin
'Mur b'e thusa bhiodh an Cuilthionn
'na mhùr eagarra gorm
ag crioslachadh le bhalla-crìche
na tha 'nam chrìdhe borb.
- An Cuilthionn
Such was the sealladh on my arrival in Gleann Breadail ......named it is thought from the Norse "broad valley" and I was looking forward to climbing these mountains.
I pitched the tent in the campsite and caught up with two old caraidean, we had a guide hired for the two days and going by the evening sun the weather would be grand in the morning for our attempt at Sgurr Dearg (Inn Pinn)
After a quiet and dry night it was an early start to meet Dave Fowler our Ghille for the day and a fine fella he turned out to be very skilful and good craic
Uill bha robh i dona air thoiseach ..... Well an t side ? .... fine at first ,but you could see the front moving in from the SW
- An cuilthionn
- Eilean Eige is Rum / bad weather approaching
By the time we reached the druim at 11am the wind had picked up and the rain began with a fair amount of sleet in it , what the Gaidheal would call "latha mossach"
- Ann a ceo
It was easy enough going but hellish wet getting by the time we reached the pinnacle !
- Inn Pinn
- A rhibhist
We were lucky as not to wait to long for the ascent the sleet was on ,wind "gle laidir" and boy it was cold ,Dave set up his ropes and up we went
- Suas anns a ceo
It did not take hellish long on the first pitch but you could not feel the fingers which made you wonder if you had a grip at all
tis a fair height your at
. When waiting for my mates to move up the second pitch a fella appeared on the rock behind me ,no rope ! then casually had the craic with me, i enquired if he was descended from goats ....... as i clung onto rock with frozen corragan
, he either had no fear of heights or was just plain daft !
No time for photos here was too wet ,cold and windy but we made it to the top in one piece tethered on then i was first for the abseil
- An abseil
Bha robh e fada agus bha mi sios ..luithead gu dearbh ..... soon back on the ground
- Sios an drasda
Sin agad e .. that is it the inn pinn done and a mighty fine experience she was
We discussed doing Sgurr MhicCoinnich ach the guide advised against due to the wind and rain so we set off to Sgurr na Banachdich and soon made the mullach without seeing anything but it sure warmed us back up.
The way down was a scramble with plenty rope work over slabs and precipices.The rain and visibility complicated it by making it really slippy and the guide lost the path so complex was the ground ! ..... but a fine operator and we always felt well within the comfort zone with him and very sabhailte (safe)
We arrived back at camp wet through but happy to have cracked it on our first day and hoped the weather would be better a maireach
- Mossach Mossach
