Sgùrr na Ciste Duibhe

Sgùrr na Ciste Duibhe is a mountain in the Northwest Highlands, one of the Five Sisters of Kintail. It stands on the northern side of Glen Shiel, 27 kilometres southeast of Kyle of Lochalsh. The peak reaches 1,027 metres and is classed as a Munro. Its Gaelic name means ‘peak of the black chest or coffin’, though the exact origin is unclear. The mountain has a subsidiary top called Sgùrr nan Spainteach, named after the Battle of Glen Shiel in 1719. Bonnie Prince Charlie once hid on its slopes in 1746, where a large boulder marks the spot. The summit has slipped down by 5–10 metres due to the Glen Shiel Fault. The south face of Sgùrr na Ciste Duibhe is one of Scotland’s steepest grassy mountainsides, dropping nearly 1,000 metres in 1.5 kilometres. Its northern flank falls into Coire Domhain, a deep corrie, while a ridge links to the adjoining Munro of Sgùrr na Carnach. The east ridge leads to Bealach an Lapain before climbing to Sàileag. The mountain’s steep slopes contain dangerous fissures and the eponymous ‘black chest’. A long cavity scar from a prehistoric collapse forms part of the Pass of Glen Shiel. A walk to the summit begins at a parking place on the A87 in Glen Shiel. The ascent follows a steep hillside to Bealach an Lapain, then continues along the eastern ridge. The route can be extended to include the Five Sisters ridge, finishing eight kilometres away on the shores of Loch Duich. The summit is marked by a large cairn and offers extensive views. Mist and snow make route-finding difficult, especially near the ‘bad step’ and ‘Red Top’ outcrops.