Sgùrr Alasdair

Sgùrr Alasdair, at 992 metres, is the highest peak in the Cuillin and the highest point on the Isle of Skye — indeed the highest island summit anywhere in the UK — named after Sheriff Alexander Nicolson, who made the first recorded ascent.

The route starts from the Glen Brittle campsite, following a well-constructed path east past Loch an Fhir-bhallaich and into Coire Lagan, a dramatic cirque with a lochan at its centre surrounded by jagged peaks. From the eastern end of the lochan, a path leads to the foot of the Great Stone Chute — a huge, steep fan of scree and boulders stretching around 300 metres up to the col between Sgùrr Alasdair and Sgùrr Theàrlaich. This is a genuinely strenuous, energy-sapping ascent on loose ground, with the safest line generally on the sides rather than the centre. From the col, the final push to the summit is a short but exposed Grade 2 scramble, requiring the use of hands but no technical climbing.

The summit itself is tiny — even smaller than that of Sgùrr nan Gillean — with dramatic views across Coire Lagan to the Inaccessible Pinnacle and south over Coir' a' Ghrunnda.

The round trip from Glen Brittle is around 8 kilometres, but the nature of the terrain means most parties take six to eight hours.

The Great Stone Chute is notorious for dislodging rocks onto anyone below, so care and awareness of other parties is essential, and a helmet is a sensible precaution; the chute is easier — though still strenuous — to descend than ascend. This is serious mountain terrain throughout, requiring full scrambling competence, and should only be attempted in clear, dry conditions given how quickly Skye's weather can close in.

Parking at Glen Brittle is free but limited; there is no public transport to the start.