Isle of Skye
EXPOSED SUMMIT SCRAMBLE
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From the car park follow the road up towards the café and take quick advantage of the coffee and small convenience shop there. The path goes up left of the toilet block, briefly following the coastline, then branches left uphill to join alongside a burn. After 130m, cross a joining burn and continue ahead uphill to cross another burn, passing between a loch and a boulder field. Keep ahead on the path into Coire Lagan with another path joining from the left at about the 390m contour.
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This is one of the most beautiful little corries on Skye, or even in
Scotland, its blue crystal pool set within a skyline of soaring pinnacles and sweeping rocky slopes. If you only got this far and turned around, it would be a worthwhile trip. The path enters the corrie along its south-facing flank, winding between large boulders and over rock slabs, following the outflow of the lochan. Some mild scrambling through a small gully brings you out to its shore. This is the perfect place for a break while you contemplate the Great Stone Chute on the opposite side of the corrie.
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Pass around the northern edge of the lochan to reach the foot of the Great Stone Chute.
Though it is very loose, there is an obvious worn path up through the mass of rock. Don’t be tempted to skirt to the edges – sometimes, what looks like bedrock is actually a massive boulder which can shift alarmingly under your weight. Wind your way slowly and carefully up the lower, wider fan of rock to the steeper, narrower section higher up, always being mindful of anyone above or below you. This is slow, arduous going but after some time, and with a considerable sense of triumph, arrive at a small bealach between Sgurr Alasdair and Sgurr Thearlaich.
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After the slog of the scree slope comes a challenge of a quite different nature: a short but extremely airy scramble to a summit not much more than a metre across. Turn to your right and ascend a slope of thankfully grippy gabbro, then veer left up to the summit. Nothing here is too technical or taxing except the exposure, which is extreme. Once up here, take the time to savour the view which is spectacular in all directions, then descend the same way. This is real slippery palms, wobbly legs time, as it’s impossible to descend without looking down.
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Descending the Great Stone Chute however is thankfully much easier. If there’s no one below you, and it’s safe to do so, it can even be taken at a run. Regardless, the relentless downslide of the rock will have you back in the corrie in less than half the time it took to get up it. The view here, over the sea to Rum and Eigg, is glorious and should be savoured before retracing your steps to Glenbrittle.