Rum Cuillin traverse

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This sustained mountain walk with basic scrambling covers the 5 major summits on Rum, including 2 Corbetts and a Graham. The Rum Cuillin offer arguably one of the most exciting hill days out in the Scottish Islands. The scrambling is simple and unexposed, with good holds and grippy rock, but the route is very long and committing with only 1 water point, and 2 potential escape routes, after the dam. On a clear day you are rewarded by breathtaking views across the Hebrides.

Terrain

Extremely long and rocky mountain traverse. Scrambling is straightforward if easiest line is found. Return walk is boggy.

Public Transport

Ferry to Rum from Mallaig; no transport on the island. Kinloch Castle is 700m from the pier.

Start

Kinloch Castle. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

Users' reports

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Walk Description

Stage 1

From Kinloch Castle, walk a short distance north until the junction with the bridge leading to the community hall. Turn left and walk 150 ms to a metal gate on your left. This track leads down past the old castle garden walls to the Hydro Power house built by eccentric Edwardian millionaire George Bullough. Following the Allt Slugan a'Choilich to the edge of the woodland, continue SW up the hillside, keeping the stream on your left.

Stage 2

Past a small sluice gate and through a deer fence, you reach the lip of the coire, from where Barkeval can be seen straight ahead. Continue until you reach a very small dam, which can be used to cross the stream. This is the last water point until the Bealach an Oir. From here go up south, contouring slightly east to reach the Cnapan Breaca. Ascend a series of easy rocky platforms to the SSW to reach the boulder strewn plateau of Bealach Baic-mheall.

Stage 3

Cross the shattered rocks of the bealach SE to meet a vague path left up through green banks. The path becomes steeper and more vague. There are several ways to reach an easy chimney, just before the summit of Hallival. On the way you pass many Manx Sheerwater burrows. Rum hosts approx 1/3 of the world's population in nesting season.

Stage 4

On the summit, move south for an awkward descent on large slabs and broken scree. A path of loose gravel comes and goes amongst the crags. Descend slowly and carefully to a broad bealach marked with a spot height of 599. From here it's possible to climb up to a thin grassy ridge line, used by Eagles to feed on unsuspecting Sheerwater chicks. At the end of this, you meet the wall of Askival's Pinnacle. There is a clear path to the left (east) avoiding most of the scrambling - the path is occasionally airy but not technical. Move up slowly through boulders, following a faint path to a flattened sandy area, and then the summit cairn. Just before this is a 'jug' move and a sidestep, but these are not technical or exposed, just a little tricky.

Stage 5

The descent is long and tiring. Head west first on crags and then dropping to the left onto a steep gravel and scree path. This rejoins the westerly nose of the hill at various points to eventually reach the Bealach an Oir (the pass of gold). From here it is possible to descend 50ms or so into Glen Dibidul to replenish water from the streamhead, or alternately bivi for the night, or walk down to Dibidil bothy. On the other side of the bealach, a deer path contours SW but is best ignored. Instead go straight up steeply on grassy slopes until a flattened area is reached. This leads almost directly west until the ascent thins to become more of a ridge line.

Stage 6

Go right (north) past a large 'fan' of rock, and climb carefully through boulders and loose slabs to find a large angled slab, before topping out. Detour along the narrow summit ridge to reach the western summit of Trallval (Trollabhal on 1:50k maps), to look over to Harris Bay, before returning to the eastern summit. Avoiding somewhat hazardous slabs to the SSW, descend steeply SSE on a vague, winding track, through a small gully and more rockfall to meet a path through loose scree to the Bealach an Fhuarain (Pass of the Springs) under Ainshaval. From here, it is possible from here to drop down west towards Loch Fiachanais (escape route 2). From here, go SSW on a clear path (right of the ridge line), then cutting left (south) zig zag up steeply through alternating scree and grass slopes to attain a flattened spur part way up the ridge, with a sharp ridge crest rising on your right.

Stage 7

Follow a long, clear path now to the left (south) of the ridge, to reach loose scree, approx 50ms from the summit cairn. From the top, the end of the ridge is in sight! Descend south on a thinning nose to a small bealach, before joining a clear path on the right (west) of a ridge above the 'nameless coire'. The path peters out, but the ridgeline can easily be rejoined to reach a top at 759m. Walk round simply from here to reach the last hill of the day - Sgùrr nan Gillean.

Stage 8

The direct descent to Dibidil bothy is best avoided, so head due south following cairns steeply over grass and scree to a set of very steep crags, which can be bypassed through a long gully, or on their west side. From the foot of these crags, a number of small streams can provide much needed refreshment, before you walk across country to join the Papadil path east to the Dibidil bothy, which is an open shelter maintained by volunteers from the Mountain Bothy Association; please help by carrying out any rubbish you find here, and always follow the bothy code when visiting.

Stage 9

To return to Kinloch, head NE from the bothy door to ford the river (carefully, people have perished here) and join the coastal path back to the village. This takes 2-3 hours, and is about 9kms on very soggy track, but has excellent views over to Eigg and Skye.

Route: David Lintern

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Rum Cuillin traverse

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Public Transport

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