Sgùrr Mhic Choinnich

Sgùrr MhicChoinnich is a steep, rocky peak in the Black Cuillin range on the Isle of Skye. It stands among the other gabbro mountains that give the range its jagged outline. The mountain was first climbed in 1887 by a party led by Charles Pilkington with guides John MacKenzie and James Heelis. Horace Walker joined them on that ascent. All the Cuillin summits are bare of trees and most vegetation. The climb is serious scrambling rather than a walk. The usual route goes up scree slopes called An Stac from Coire Lagan to the col between Sgùrr MhicChoinnich and Sgùrr Dearg. From there a narrow, exposed north ridge leads to the top at Grade 2 difficulty. The south face drops almost vertically to another col, and the only easy way up that side is King’s Chimney, a V Diff rock climb. Experienced mountaineers who reach the col can find Collie’s Ledge, a narrow terrace on the western flank. This ledge avoids King’s Chimney and joins the north ridge above the awkward ground. The ledge is hard to locate but is often used by teams doing the full Cuillin ridge traverse. From the summit there are views across Coire Lagan and the other Cuillin peaks.