Sgùrr Alasdair

Sgùrr Alasdair
Highest point
Elevation	992 m (3,255 ft)[1]
Prominence	992 m (3,255 ft) Ranked 5th in British Isles
Parent peak	none - HP Skye
Listing	Munro, Marilyn
Coordinates	57°12′25.39″N 6°13′24.55″W / 57.2070528°N 6.2234861°W / 57.2070528; -6.2234861
Naming
English translation	Alexander's peak
Language of name	Gaelic
Pronunciation	Scottish Gaelic: [s̪kurˠˈal̪ˠəs̪t̪ɪɾʲ]
Geography
Sgùrr Alasdair Skye, Scotland
Parent range	Cuillin
OS grid	NG450207
Topo map	OS Landranger 32
Climbing
First ascent	1873, Alexander Nicolson
Easiest route	Scramble

Sgùrr Alasdair is the highest peak of the Black Cuillin, and the highest peak on the Isle of Skye and in the Inner Hebrides, and indeed in all the Scottish islands, at 992 m (3,255 ft). Like the rest of the range it is composed of gabbro, a rock with excellent grip for mountaineering. It is named after Alexander Nicolson, who made the first recorded ascent in 1873.^[2] Prior to this the mountain had been locally known as Sgurr Biorach.^[3]

As with other hills of the Cuillin, a head for heights and scrambling ability are needed to attain the summit. The least technical route follows a feature known as the "Great Stone Chute", a scree gully that leads up from the corrie of Coire Lagan to a bealach just below the main ridge. From this col, a pleasant scramble (Grade 2 standard) up the well scratched east ridge leads to the narrow summit.^[4]

Other routes require scrambling ability or rock climbing; while there are rock climbs directly up the flanks, the only other way of reaching the summit via a ridge is the south-west ridge, a Grade 3 scramble that begins up a scratched chimney which can be accessed from the summit of Sgùrr Sgumain or from Coir' a' Ghrunnda; there is also a slightly easier route from the top of this chimney directly up a shallow gully on the south face. The summit of Sgùrr Alasdair can be attained by a short detour (from Sgùrr Theàrlaich) off the main ridge by climbers undertaking the full traverse of the Cuillin ridge, or by those following the circuit of Coire Lagan.

• Computer-generated virtual panoramas Sgùrr Alasdair Index
• 360 Virtual Tours 360 Routes.com