Sgùrr Mhic Chòinnich

Sgùrr Mhic Chòinnich, at 948 metres, is a wedge-shaped fortress of black gabbro above Coire Lagan, named after the Victorian mountain guide John MacKenzie, and rated among the most difficult of the Cuillin Munros for hillwalkers to reach.

The route starts from opposite the Glen Brittle Memorial Hut, following the well-constructed path into Coire Lagan past the lochan. From here the route climbs the An Stac screes — an unstable, energy-sapping slope where every two steps up brings one step back — to reach the ridge at Bealach Coire Lagan. Turning right, the ridge is followed across flatter ground before a short descent to the low point of the corrie headwall, from where the scrambling begins in earnest, weaving up blocks and grooves that build to a short, very steep, and exposed crux around two-thirds of the way up. Beyond this the remaining scrambling to the small, dramatic summit is sustained but without further major obstacles.

There is a vertical drop on the ridge immediately beyond the summit, so descent for hillwalkers means reversing the entire route of ascent — the alternative, Collie's Ledge (also called Hart's Ledge), is a narrow, highly exposed traverse around the mountain's western face used only by very experienced scramblers continuing the full ridge traverse, and is not a walking option.

The round trip from Glen Brittle is around 9 kilometres, but given the technical difficulty most parties allow six to eight hours.

This is one of the harder Cuillin Munros for non-climbers — the exposed crux move partway up the ridge has serious consequences if misjudged, the rock can be slippery basalt in places, and reversing the entire route on tired legs at the end of the day should not be underestimated. Many walkers choose to hire a qualified guide for this peak, particularly if attempting it alongside the Inaccessible Pinnacle in the same outing.

Parking opposite the Glen Brittle Memorial Hut is free; there is no public transport to the start.