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Dha Laithean anns an Eilean .... An Inn Pinn and three

PostPosted: Wed May 15, 2013 9:21 pm
by Collaciotach
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 :wink:

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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.

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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) :roll:

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 :D

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 :(

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An cuilthionn


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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"

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Ann a ceo


It was easy enough going but hellish wet getting by the time we reached the pinnacle !

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Inn Pinn


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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

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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 :crazy: tis a fair height your at :shock: . 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 :D , 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

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An abseil


Bha robh e fada agus bha mi sios ..luithead gu dearbh ..... soon back on the ground :D

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Sios an drasda


Sin agad e .. that is it the inn pinn done and a mighty fine experience she was :clap:

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 :shh:

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Mossach Mossach

Re: Dha Laithean anns an Eilean .... An Inn Pinn and three

PostPosted: Wed May 15, 2013 9:43 pm
by PeteR
And just when I thought I might have the bottle for this one.......... :lol:

Well done though on cracking the Inn Pinn Colla :clap: A fine effort, especially in that weather :shock: Not sure I'd have been heading up there in that :lol:

Re: Dha Laithean anns an Eilean .... An Inn Pinn and three

PostPosted: Wed May 15, 2013 10:32 pm
by mrssanta
oh well done you. what a pity it came in all foggy, but then you can't see the drops on either side so maybe it's a good thing!

Re: Dha Laithean anns an Eilean .... An Inn Pinn and three

PostPosted: Wed May 15, 2013 11:16 pm
by rockhopper
On the one hand, I guess I'm thinking I'd like great weather when I do eventually get here....then again, maybe some clag to hide the drops would be better :roll: That looked particularly challenging in the conditions - well done on managing it - cheers :)

Re: Dha Laithean anns an Eilean .... An Inn Pinn and three

PostPosted: Thu May 16, 2013 12:52 pm
by robertphillips
Well done mr c :clap: :clap: pity the weather was not better for you.

Re: Dha Laithean anns an Eilean .... An Inn Pinn and three

PostPosted: Thu May 16, 2013 1:19 pm
by Meatball
I enjoyed that!
Thanks for posting.

Re: Dha Laithean anns an Eilean .... An Inn Pinn and three

PostPosted: Thu May 16, 2013 2:34 pm
by dooterbang
I always thought you wiz bonkers :lol:

Very well done to do that in those conditions. Dry rock, sunshine and clear views for when i do it....and perhaps some diazepam :shock:

Re: Dha Laithean anns an Eilean .... An Inn Pinn and three

PostPosted: Thu May 16, 2013 4:10 pm
by basscadet
Aye, shame about the clag there.. wet rock doesn't breed confidence.. :wink:
Still jealous though.. must be good to have it under your belt :thumbup:
Only another fortnight or so until I have my own skye adventure :D However, I'm going with my dad, who is as mad as that guy you met without ropes.. :o I hope I survive! :lol:

Re: Dha Laithean anns an Eilean .... An Inn Pinn and three

PostPosted: Thu May 16, 2013 7:07 pm
by Collaciotach
PeteR wrote:And just when I thought I might have the bottle for this one.......... :lol:

Well done though on cracking the Inn Pinn Colla :clap: A fine effort, especially in that weather :shock: Not sure I'd have been heading up there in that :lol:


Cheers Pete

Re: Dha Laithean anns an Eilean .... An Inn Pinn and three

PostPosted: Thu May 16, 2013 7:09 pm
by Collaciotach
basscadet wrote:Aye, shame about the clag there.. wet rock doesn't breed confidence.. :wink:
Still jealous though.. must be good to have it under your belt :thumbup:
Only another fortnight or so until I have my own skye adventure :D However, I'm going with my dad, who is as mad as that guy you met without ropes.. :o I hope I survive! :lol:



Aye we was lucky with the Ghillie first class he was and ...make sure you survive :D

Re: Dha Laithean anns an Eilean .... An Inn Pinn and three

PostPosted: Thu May 16, 2013 7:11 pm
by Collaciotach
robertphillips wrote:Well done mr c :clap: :clap: pity the weather was not better for you.


Aye it was poor but hey ho :D .... that Corbett total is creeping up ,if your back this way let me know ,spare berth in the caravan at the house, if its required you just bring the malt :lol:

Re: Dha Laithean anns an Eilean .... An Inn Pinn and three

PostPosted: Thu May 16, 2013 7:13 pm
by Collaciotach
rockhopper wrote:On the one hand, I guess I'm thinking I'd like great weather when I do eventually get here....then again, maybe some clag to hide the drops would be better :roll: That looked particularly challenging in the conditions - well done on managing it - cheers :)


Nah RH would have liked to see the abyss :D ... get a good sense of it when your no seeing anything, its that void feeling haha

Re: Dha Laithean anns an Eilean .... An Inn Pinn and three

PostPosted: Thu May 16, 2013 7:15 pm
by Collaciotach
dooterbang wrote:I always thought you wiz bonkers :lol:

Very well done to do that in those conditions. Dry rock, sunshine and clear views for when i do it....and perhaps some diazepam :shock:


Aye always envisaged bright sunshine and warm breeze .... should have known better :D

Re: Dha Laithean anns an Eilean .... An Inn Pinn and three

PostPosted: Thu May 16, 2013 7:16 pm
by Collaciotach
Meatball wrote:I enjoyed that!
Thanks for posting.



Cheers MB whats the target for 200 ? :D

Re: Dha Laithean anns an Eilean .... An Inn Pinn and three

PostPosted: Thu May 16, 2013 7:17 pm
by Collaciotach
mrssanta wrote:oh well done you. what a pity it came in all foggy, but then you can't see the drops on either side so maybe it's a good thing!


Fog was fine it was the teaming rain and wind that made it interesting haha :D