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The Devil's Ridge at the End of The Cuillins

The Devil's Ridge at the End of The Cuillins


Postby Quadbarrel » Tue Oct 21, 2014 9:07 pm

Route description: Southern Cuillin and Coire Ghrunnda

Munros included on this walk: Sgùrr Alasdair, Sgùrr Dubh Mòr, Sgùrr nan Eag

Date walked: 15/10/2014

Time taken: 10 hours

Distance: 20 km

Ascent: 2000m

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Out on the Cuillins for the second time this week, but arrived at Glen Brittle some 3 hours later than on Monday, so after a lie-in until 7:30 8) , we headed off up towards Coir' a' Ghrunnda.

1.JPG
Glen Brittle beach


We were planning a very ambitious route, heading up to Loch Coir' a' Ghrunnda, along the ridge to Gars-bhienn via Sgurr nan Eag, then back along to Sgurr Dubh Mor and Sgurr Alasdair, for a quick descent down the Stone Chute and back to the campsite.


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So we headed off up the path to Coire Lagan, then turned off and went across Allt Coire Lagan and round Sron na Ciche, straight into the morning sun! :crazy: We then headed up the path into Coir' a' Ghrunnda, which was a lot harder than Dad was expecting!

2.JPG
Looking up, Sgurr Dubh an Da Bhienn peeking out

3.JPG
Soay behind on one of the harder scrambles


Headed up past Loch Coir' a' Ghrunnda, which was very low, and onto the slopes of Sgurr nan Eag

4.JPG
Across Loch Coir' a' Ghrunnda to Sgurr Alasdair


Reached the ridge, which wasn't obvious exactly when, then headed up in the frost to the first summit of the day, Sgurr nan Eag

5.JPG
Sgurr Alasdair behind with Sgurr Thearlaich on the right of the Great Stone Chute

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The Red Cuillins and Bla Bhienn, across Loch Coruisk

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Gars-bhienn looks a long way away


Headed down the south slope of Sgurr nan Eag

8.JPG
My truly fabulous and amazing artistic shot of Dad


Contact me for prices and conditions :wink:

9.JPG
Dad's alright attempt at his artistic shot


Headed up to Sgurr a' Choire Bhig

10.JPG
The buttress of Gars-bhienn behind


The ridge turned into more of an arête, which surprised us both. It reminded me somewhat of The Devil's Ridge in the Mamores that we did in August.

It's a real shame that Gars-bhienn doesn't have a title of any sort, so many people don't do this ridge. Even the guide books and websites for the Cuillins don't describe this section of the ridge, and if you have time to spare, we'd definitely recommend you make the trip out to the true end of the ridge.

Anyhoo, we reached the summit with fair ease. It was amazing to be able to look back at the entire ridge, knowing that you're right at the end.

11.JPG
Our 3 munros of the day - Sgurr nan Eag, Alasdair and Dubh Mor. Oh, and there's Dad...

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The same view, except with ME (:D :D :D) in it, as well as the far end of the ridge

13.JPG
Both of us


Had some lunch (jam sandwiches 8) ) and then headed back along the ridge.

14.JPG
Sorry about the smudge

15.JPG
Note the huge, fairly new rockfall at the bottom left, the lowest of the rock we could see was away down at the floor of An Garbh-Choire


It was back over the summit of Sgurr nan Eag, and then over towards Sgurr Dubh an Da Bhienn.

16.JPG
Loch Coir' a' Ghrunnda in the sunlight

17.JPG
Sgurr Dubh an Da Bhienn


It was now for the second of our out-and-back excursions, this one to Sgurr Dubh Mor. It was starting to get on in the day, so descending down to the north side of the ridge (very loose scree), we could see frost and ice forming already :o . The scramble up to Sgurr Dubh Mor is fairly hard, we had Steven Fallon screenshotted but didn't really need it, then we reached the summit plateau (compared to what we'd just done). Headed along to the far away summit, because I'd read apparently it's the true summit, so we did the photos there.

18.JPG
It is a very airy summit, to say the least!

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There wasn't anywhere to put the camera...


Headed back the same way onto Sgurr Dubh an Da Bhienn (feel like a rapper every time I say that 8) ), then headed down into Bealach Coire an Lochain. From here we used Steven Fallon's advice to avoid the TD gap and head round the screes below Sgurr Alasdair.

20.JPG
Me on our route. Caisteal a' Garbh-Choire in the middle looks giant from Loch Coir' a' Ghrunnda


Headed round, and it was up a tough chimney to the summit of Skye, for a record 3rd time (it was already mine, beat twice for Ben Lomond for Dad).

21.JPG

22.JPG
The Mini In Pinn on top of the big one!


Descended in the setting sun down the Stone Chute (it's dark in the shadows!) and into Coire Lagan.

23.JPG
Dad's artistic shot no. 2 (okay it's quite good...)


Met some walkers coming down from Sgurr Mhic Choinnich, so headed down to the campsite with them, where we met the girls, who'd been at Oronsay for the day :D

24.JPG
Sgurr Alasdair top right, which we were at the top of 1 1/4 hours ago
Last edited by Quadbarrel on Wed Oct 22, 2014 9:50 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: The Devil's Ridge at the End of The Cuillins

Postby kev_russ » Tue Oct 21, 2014 9:13 pm

Stunning :clap:
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Re: The Devil's Ridge at the End of The Cuillins

Postby dooterbang » Tue Oct 21, 2014 9:14 pm

Fantastic day for it - nice one :)

Some stunning photos!
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Re: The Devil's Ridge at the End of The Cuillins

Postby mgmt! » Tue Oct 21, 2014 9:55 pm

well done guys, fabulous pictures of what look like a great day, next time youve got to include the td gap climb, it really is an enjoyable climb once youve got to the top of it.
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Re: The Devil's Ridge at the End of The Cuillins

Postby spiderwebb » Tue Oct 21, 2014 10:20 pm

Great report, still to do one of these, loved your sense of humour re dads pics, yours are the best, dont tell him I said that just in case I meet him halfway along something narrow :lol: :lol:
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Re: The Devil's Ridge at the End of The Cuillins

Postby rockhopper » Tue Oct 21, 2014 10:44 pm

Magic :thumbup: Days in the Cuillin don't come much better than this - well done both - cheers :)
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Re: The Devil's Ridge at the End of The Cuillins

Postby celt54321 » Tue Oct 21, 2014 11:02 pm

fantastic really enjoyed the pics :clap:
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Re: The Devil's Ridge at the End of The Cuillins

Postby MunroMadMen » Wed Oct 22, 2014 9:29 am

Superb report with some awesome pics, looks like you certainly got the weather..... deffo need to get this on the bucket list.

Looks like you both had an awesome day

:)
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Re: The Devil's Ridge at the End of The Cuillins

Postby SAVAGEALICE » Wed Oct 22, 2014 8:41 pm

Awesome! looks like another great day. Still to do Eag and Dubh Mor. Defo fancy heading out to the end of the ridge out to Gars-bhienn. looks a cracking viewpoint :D Great photos :clap:
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Re: The Devil's Ridge at the End of The Cuillins

Postby Alteknacker » Wed Oct 22, 2014 9:34 pm

I can only echo what Rockhopper says. Truly a perfect day in the most perfect place on the planet. And really excellent pics. :clap: :clap: :clap:
(but you should have tried the TD Gap - it's fun!)
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