Sgùrr a' Mhadaidh

Sgùrr a' Mhadaidh stands on the Isle of Skye in the Scottish Highlands. It is one of the peaks in the Black Cuillin range, a chain of gabbro rock that gives climbers good grip. The mountain reaches 918 metres and is classed as a Munro. Its Gaelic name means ‘peak of the dog or fox’. The simplest way up follows the col of An Dorus, known as the Door, which opens from Glen Brittle. The mountain has four summits, but only the highest can be reached without ropes. The three lower tops demand rock-climbing skills and equipment. The Black Cuillin’s gabbro rock forms steep ridges and narrow gullies. Walkers who reach the top are rewarded with wide views over Skye’s jagged skyline. On the slopes below, the land drops toward Glen Brittle. Heather and grass cover the lower ground, while crags rise above. The route through An Dorus is a narrow gap between cliffs. From there the climb follows a clear ridge to the summit. The view from the top stretches across the Cuillin’s peaks and down to the sea.