Location: Isle of Skye, Scotland
Price: £525 per person
Ratio: 1:2
Length: 5 days

Who is the course suitable for?
"It has been my good fortune to lie on the summit of the Matterhorn and look away across the sea of peaks to Mont Blanc, sixty miles distant; to sit at the old gite on the Weisshorn, and see the night chase the evening mists up the sides of the Dom and Taschorn, and to watch the sun rise and flush red over the grand dome of Mont Blanc; but I recall none of these things, beautiful and memorable as they were, so vividly to mind as that perfect night up in lonely Corrie Lagan" Ashley Abraham 1908

If you would like to take in some of the classic scrambles and summits on Skye, then this is the course for you. For Rob this is the place where as a young and impressionable teenager he did his first rock climb, the Inaccessible Pinnacle, in the company of a local guide. Rob has been back every year since and is keen to pass on the enthusiasm for the Cuillin that stems from that day.

What does the course cover?
We will take you on classic days out on a 1:2 ratio with options including The Inaccessible Pinnacle, Pinnacle Ridge, Clach Glass - Blaven Traverse, The Cioch, Sgur Alasdair and any of the other Munro summits or classic scrambles/rock climbs that you have your eye on. Because of the small ratios we can run the course to your requirements and provide full skills training in movement skills, abseiling, building belays, placing protection etc to suit your aspirations.  The course is great preparation if you are planning a full ridge traverse or your first summer Alpine trip.

A History of Mountaineering on Skye
The formation of the Cuillin started 70 million years ago with a series of volcanic eruptions. The prevalent rock is Gabbro, a rough volcanic rock that destroys finger tips and provides fantastic friction for climbers boots. Also present was Basalt which weathers more easily and is more fragile than the Gabbro. The Basalt is easy to spot as it often forms in columns and staircases, it will be slippy when wet and tends not to provide good belays. Read More

What about accommodation?
We do not include accommodation with this course. We often rent a cottage and all chip in together. Alternatively we recommend the Sligachan Hotel which has comfortable bunkhouse accommodation with open fire and self catering accommodation for £10 per night or Bed and Breakfast in the Hotel itself. The hotel is famous for its range of over 65 malt whiskies! More details can be found at www.sligachan.co.uk or you can call them on 01478 650204.