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Put your skills to the test on the infamous Cuillin Ridge on this 4-day tour of Scotland’s greatest climbing spots like the Amphitheatre Arete and Sgurr a Mhadaidh! Scramble, abseil, rock climb, and take part in a spectacular overnight bivy, all with the majestic Black Cuillin Mountains as your backdrop. A seasoned guide will accompany you, making sure you experience the best that the Ridge has to offer!
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Meet your guides, and go over the course itinerary, equipment, and weather conditions. This is your chance to share your aspirations and goals for the trip. Head into the mountains to complete a classic scramble such as Amphitheatre Arete on Sron na Ciche. This will allow you to learn new techniques and develop efficient movement and ropework skills in preparation for the traverse.
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Enjoy a speedboat ride from Elgol across to the Loch Coruisk side of the Cuillin Ridge and catch a glimpse of seal colonies there! Ascend the slopes to the summit of Gars Bheinn, the true start of Cuillin Ridge. Alternatively, if you’re in the mood for more climbing, you can climb the immaculate Dubh Slabs, the longest rock climb in the UK! Continue along the ridge over munros and classic climbs including the TD gap, Collies Ledge and the famous Inaccessible Pinnacle. After a long and rewarding day, reach An Dorus Gap, your stop for the night. Relax and enjoy dinner surrounded by incredible views at sunset, before a good night’s sleep in your bivi bag.
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Day 3 starts early, with a sunrise summit of Sgurr a Mhadaidh. Today’s climbs are shorter, but just as demanding. Ascend the brilliant Am Basteir and go for a final scramble up on the summit of Sgurr nan Gillian. On your way back, take a dip in the beautiful, cool plunge pools before a well-earned stop at the Sligachan Hotel Bar for a drink.
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Adjust your traverse attempt forwards or backwards to take advantage of the best weather window. This dramatically increases your chances of a successful traverse. Alternatively, spend the day climbing, scrambling, sea cliff climbing, or even make an attempt on the famous Clach Glas-Bla Bheinn Traverse, maximizing your time on Skye before you head back home.
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57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.
We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, their guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Cuillin Ridge, Scotland please refer to Scotland’s guidance for travel and transport.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
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What you get on this adventure:
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- An experienced, local rock-climbing guide with extensive knowledge of the area
- Four days of rock climbing
- All technical climbing gear
- Speedboat transportation from Elgol to Cuillin Ridge
What’s not included:
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- Transportation to Cuillin RIdge
- Accommodations
- Food and snacks
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This tour is quite challenging, and you need to be in good physical condition to attempt it. You will spend four days on your feet, hiking, scrambling, and rock climbing, encountering some mentally and physically draining technical routes. Rock climbing is all about using good movement techniques rather than muscling up a cliff using brute strength. To ensure you have a fun day, your guide will choose routes that best suit your skill and fitness level.
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This tour requires prior climbing experience. Traversing Cuillin ridge requires a decent level of familiarity with technical scrambling, abseiling, rock climbing, and other techniques. For intermediate to advanced climbers, Cuillin Ridge has loads of routes to spend the day on. Your guide will discuss your objectives and customize the day to your goals. Let your guide plan the day so you can focus on developing your skills while climbing the classic routes or best-hidden gems the area has to offer.
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All technical climbing equipment will be provided by your guiding service. However, if you have your own gear, feel free to bring it. You’ll need:
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- Helmet
- Harness with a locking carabiner, belay device, and chalk bag
- Ropes
- Rock shoes (included in the price, but we recommend bringing your own if you have them)
- Climbing hardware (quickdraws, cam devices, stoppers, etc.)
Here’s a list of the equipment we suggest you bring:
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- Day pack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 40L bag)
- Water bottle
- Food you can eat on-the-go
- Toiletries (sunscreen, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
- Sunglasses
- Camera — optional
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
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Group sizes and prices:
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- These courses are not private. For the group courses, the max guest-to-guide ratio is 2:1.
- Cost is per person and it doesn’t decrease as the group grows.
Climbing days in Cuillin Ridge can be arranged for bigger groups. Contact us prior to booking.
Min. age requirements:
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- If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
- Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to climb on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.
If your group has climbers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
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To get to Elgol, Scotland, the starting point of your tour, most people fly into Inverness International Airport northeast of Elgol. From there, you should take a bus or a taxi to the city of Inverness. Afterwards, from Inverness, you can rent a car and take a 2,5-hour drive to Elgol. Alternatively, you can hop on a bus to Broadford, then take another bus to Elgol, which will take you around 4 hours total, or take a train ride to Kyle of Lochalsh and an hour-long train ride from there.
Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, whether that’s at the guide shop or a predetermined location. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ability of the group.
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