Complete a Cuillin Ridge Traverse in 2 days

Traverse the full 13 km of the Rugged Black Cuillin Ridge

Exciting & demanding mountain challenge
Scrambling, roped climbing & abseiling
Instruction & guiding included
Overnight bivi on the Skye Mountains
£900 for 1 person, £495 each for 2 people

[wprevpro_usebadge tid=”1″]

Got any questions? Try our FAQs

Traverse the Cuillin Ridge on the Isle of Skye

Complete an alpine-style traverse different from any other mountain route in the UK on The Black Cuillin Ridge, Isle of Skye.

Complete a Black Cuillin Traverse

If you’re looking for a step up in mountain scrambling, join West Coast Mountain Guides for a privately guided traverse of this challenging route in the Cuillin mountain range. The Cuillin Ridge, Skye offers fit and confident mountaineers the opportunity to experience technical scrambling, roped climbing and abseiling. Our exciting programme allows you to benefit from professional scrambling and climbing instruction, as well as witnessing some of the most spectacular views of the Inner Hebrides.

West Coast Mountain Guides generally delivers this programme as a 2-day traverse, which includes bivouacking overnight on the Isle of Skye mountains. This is a private guiding experience, arranged at a time to suit you. Full details of the programme are below, but it is important that you are confident embarking on a high ridge scramble in exposed conditions, sometimes without a rope. This is an ideal opportunity for experienced rock scramblers to achieve a full ridge traverse under the supervision and instruction of professionally accredited mountain guides.

Read Full Details

Customer Reviews

[wprevpro_usetemplate tid=”3″]

Full Description

Overview

The Cuillin Ridge, Scotland provides a unique challenge to ambitious mountaineers. The ridge itself is around 13 km long with a 7 km approach and descent, and never dips below 726 metres. Along the length of the ridge there are some 20 peaks of 914 metres (3,000 and traversing the ridge in a single outing involves around 3,000 metres of ascent.

The traverse along the Cuillin ridgeline is designed for very fit hill walkers with experience of scrambling. You will be undertaking 2 days of demanding physical activity, and should expect to spend 13 hours on the move on day 1, and 9 hours on day 2. In addition to technical scrambling – some without a rope – there will also be opportunities for simple rock climbing and abseiling. All activity is undertaken under the direction and instruction of your qualified mountain guide.

Fitness is also key as you will be required to carry all overnight kit as well as a sleeping bag, waterproofs and gloves, hat and spare clothing, food and water and a rope. A typical traverse rucksack should weigh no more than 9 kgs (20lb). This reduces as water (2 litres) and food is consumed and we can provide advice on kit on booking.

As this is a privately guided activity, you can choose the dates that suit you. However, due to the need for 2 days of good weather in order to complete the traverse, ideal conditions are usually found between the beginning of May and the end of September.

Note: A traverse of the main ridge over two days with a bivouac is only attempted with individuals or pairs who know each other, on a private guiding basis in order to achieve the greatest chance of success.

There are 11 peaks on the ridge that have Munro status, however the primary aim of this challenge is not to bag Munros. If this is your goal, we suggest that you consider our Skye Cuillin Munros programme.

Experience needed

You do not need experience of roped climbing; however you should have experience of scrambling and be fit enough to complete 2 full days of mountain hiking, scrambling and climbing.

Guide-to-participant ratio

The traverse is offered on either a one-to-one basis, or for a pair with a guide to participant ratio of 1:2. This is for your safety and increases the likelihood of a successful traverse.

Costs

Prices include guiding and instruction, You will also need to take accommodation (before and after the traverse), food, personal equipment and insurance costs into consideration.

Prices are based on booking a 3-day window, of which the best 2 days will be used for the traverse. The third day will be used as a rest day, unless otherwise arranged. In the event of the weather being unsuitable for a travers, your booking will be converted into 3 days of private guiding. During this time you will be able to tackle some of Skye’s classic scrambles. such as the Clach Glas-Blaven Traverse, Pinnacle Ridge on Sgurr nan Gillean, The Dubh Ridge or sections of the main Cuillin Ridge. Rock climbing at one of the sea-cliff crags is also an option, as quite often, better weather can be found outwith the Black Cuillins.

Additional days can also be booked. This will give you a longer weather window, as well as the opportunity to warm up, refresh your mountaineering skills, stash your bivi kit ahead of the traverse and/or climb additional routes. Additional days can be added at a cost of £300 for a single participant or £325 for a pair climbing together.

Your guide will work with you to make the best use of how many days you decide to book.

Single Day Traverses

Doing the ridge in one day is a significant undertaking and presents a challenge that is unique in the UK. The amount of stamina and fitness and agility required is massive. Our guides are more than happy to guide single day traverses with up to 2 people, however, the level of challenge cannot be over-emphasised. Costs are the same as our two-day traverses and the best day in a three-day window will be used. If conditions are not suitable for a traverse, then the booking will become three separate days of private guiding. If you are considering a single day traverse, it is expected that you have plenty of scrambling experience and ideally some trail/hill running experience, too. Please contact us if you’re unsure whether you have enough suitable experience.

Accommodation

There are plenty of accommodation options close to the Cuillins, below is a list of recommendations:

Dates & Prices

3 Day Window 2 Day Full Cuillin Ridge Traverse £900 for one person or £990 for two people

Cuillin Ridge Traverses are arranged on a private guiding basis, on dates that suit you
The price includes 3 days put aside for a suitable weather window
We will only guide teams of 2 who know each other, otherwise, it needs to be on a 1:1 basis
1:2 price is the total price, so £495 each for 2 people for two days
Add additional days £300 1:1 and £325 1:2
In bad weather we deliver 3 single days

Kit Requirements

Overnight Bivi Kit Ideally in a 35-45ltr Rucksack

Rucsac –A medium volume sac (35 -45 litres) is best for traverse with an overnight bivi. Use a strong plastic rucsac liner to keep the contents dry. External Rucsack covers have a habit of blowing away and don’t work as well as an internal liner. Everything needs to fit inside your sac, karirimat can go on outside.

Bivi Bag –Ideally a lightweight Gore-Tex or other breathable fabric bivi bag

Sleeping Bag –This should be a light-weight 2 or 3 season bag.

Sleeping Mat –Either a closed cell foam mat (karrimat) or a small Thermarest style mat.

Meals –For breakfast and dinners, dehydrated packets, available from most outdoor shops are ideal. Avoid already hydrated meals as these are heavy. You will also need two days worth of lunch and snacks (energy bars/dried fruit). Your guide will bring a stove and gas, which you may need to carry.

Spoon & mug –Both lightweight as possible.

Waterbottle –1 to 2 litres, maybe more during hot weather. For traverses, one bladder and one solid bottle is useful.

Head Torch –Even in summer it’s good practise to carry a small headtorch.

Insulated jakcet – Down jacket or synthetic/primaloft for evening at Bivi

Regular scrambling kit on your body

Socks –Go for a medium to thick pair of synthetic or wool/synthetic blend socks (no need for spares)

Boots –For scrambling we recommend Mid Top Approach shoes.

Long Sleeve Thermal/Base Layers –A thermal or wicking top is far better than cotton.

Midlayer Synthetic or Fleeces –At least one mid layer for your upper body. If you get cold easily perhaps add a fleece gilet/vest to your layering. Having an extra fleece top or synthetic layer in a waterproof liner at the bottom of your rucksack is useful for the bivi in the evening.

Windshirt or lightweight softshell jacket –Ideal for dry conditions.

Walking trousers –Polycotton, polyester or softshell is ideal.

Warm Hat & Gloves –A warm hat can still be very useful even in summer. For Skye, leather work or gardening gloves, which are cheap and durable are ideal. Remember that even in the height of summer, with a bit of rain and wind, it will still be quite chilly.

Waterproof jacket and over trousers ( Outer shell clothing) –The trousers should have at least a knee length zip enabling them to be fitted over boots. Lightweight waterproofs are ok.

Trekking Poles -These are optional, but useful particularly in descent. To keep weight down, consider taking only one, that can be either compressed or collapsed to fit inside your pack when not in use.

Climbing Equipment (We can supply all items below)

Helmet –Please bring one along if you can.

Harness –Please make sure the harness fits over all clothing and can be put on over boots and crampons. Adjustable leg-loops are preferable for ease of fitting.

Belay device, two HMS Carabiners –We can provide you with these if you don’t have your own.

Programme Outline

There are a number of ways to start a Cuillin Ridge Traverse, including catching a powerboat from Elgol to then be dropped off at the foot of Gars-bheinn.  The more traditional way starts from Glenbrittle and gains the ridge near Sgurr nan Eag.  We are more than happy to discuss various options, but whichever way you choose, an early start is highly recommended.

Once established on the ridge, conditions, fitness levels and determination will influence where you bivi for the night.  There are a number of suitable sites in the central section of the ridge, many with access to freshwater springs.

Where you spend the night will determine the start time and length of the final day, so it’s generally advised to have a longer first day, leaving hopefully a shorter final day.

Booking Enquiry Form

Please fill out the form below if you would like to book or have any enquiries. Most common enquiries are dealt with in our FAQs – try there first.

We’ll be in touch soon!

Private Guiding

If the dates or contents of a course are not exactly what you are after, we also offer private guiding, which makes up a large part of our working year. Private guiding can be arranged on dates to suit you, and we can tailor the course or guiding to match you needs and aspirations. There are no limits for the number of participants on privately guided day, so whether you are an individual after 1:1 guiding or tuition, or a group or club looking to develop their collective skills or reach a particular summit, please get in touch.

Find out more about Private Guiding