CREAG DHUBH, EAST RIDGE

HARD (GRADE 2 SCRAMBLE) ■ 4½ hours ■ 6.6km■ 1086m ascent

Start A896, near Kinlochewe, grid ref NH025610

Terrain Steep mountainside, shallow corrie, steep ridge, high mountain ridge

The classic ascent to the eastern peaks of the Beinn Eighe range. Scrambling or climbing experience is needed to negotiate the ‘Black Carls’, a series of tors on Sgurr nan Fhir Duibhe. From the roadside follow the path on the north side

of the Allt a’ Chuirn to the foot of Creag Dhubh’s east ridge. Climb the crest of the ridge to the summit, then turn southwest and scramble the narrowing ridge to the summit of Sgurr nan Fhir Duibhe. Make the awkward descent west along the main ridge and follow the exposed crest to Sgurr Ban. The main ridge turns south-west and you follow it direct to the summit of Spidean Coire nan Clach.