The trip to Skye in July 2026 was launched as a climbing trip for Dave M and Emma W who intended to target objectives on the Cuillin that had been missed the previous year. Being sociable souls the trip was opened up to the club and we ended up with a group of 8 staying in the Glen Brittle Memorial Hut and one more camping at the nearby Glen Brittle Campsite.
The weather in Scotland was excellent and some of us were able to set off a day before the Skye hut booking. On Thursday, when driving north, Dave and Derek had a surprise, unscripted breakfast meeting with Matthew D and Carol at the Lesmahagow Truckstop. After exchanging pleasant conversation over a six-wheeler breakfast they continued their journey, Derek and Dave arriving in Glencoe for an afternoon scramble up Curved Ridge before settling into the Alex MacIntyre Memorial Hut at Ballachulish. Phil H and Virginie were staying at the same hut and in the evening, before driving to the hut, met up for a very pleasant dinner for four at the Clachaig. After a later departure from York Neil D, Tracey H and Jenny G arrived in Glencoe and went straight to their campsite for a restful night, breaking up the long drive to Skye.
For those that had spent a night at Glencoe the drive to Glen Brittle was straight-forward and 7 of us had arrived by lunchtime. All seven went walking in the glorious weather, Neil and Tracey bagging the first Munro of the trip, Sgurr a Mhadaidh. Jenny, Virginie, Phil, Derek and Dave met up with a friend, Keith who was camping at Glen Brittle and joined us to wander around to Coire Lagan and up to the small lochan where the conditions and afternoon sun gave a very good view of the Cioch Buttress and other options where we intended to climb in the next couple of days.
The journey on Friday was not so easy for Emma. Shortly before reaching the Skye Bridge her car broke down. Oh dear. The car was recovered to a garage in Fort Augustus and Emma to a small room in the Invergarry Hotel for one night. Oh dear. Paulina M had set off from York after lunch but it would have been impractical to pick up Emma en-route. Paulina arrived at Glen Brittle at just after midnight. On Saturday Emma sorted out a plan for repairs to her broken car and joined us in a hire car late in the afternoon.
Dave adopted a new climbing partner for Saturday. He and Paulina made the short walk-in to Window Buttress and climbed the Original Route (VDiff***). The route was great with a lot of variation. The descent down the east side of the neck is described as 'easy', however, we remained roped together and took a very cautious line amongst the broken rocks and wet patches. Derek and Jenny climbed Cioch West, another classic climb (S**) and very enjoyable. Phil and Virginie went for a long and complex walk to acquaint themselves with the southern Cuillin Ridge and Sgurr nan Eag. Neil and Tracey had a second strenuous day of Munro bagging, managing Bruach na Frithe and am Basteir.
On Sunday, at last.... Emma was ready to climb and with Dave went to Cioch West. The route was extended up the Cioch Nose (VDiff**) Where, on the flat top, the famous scene of a swordfight was filmed for the movie Highlander (PG*****IMDB). Jenny, Derek and Tracey had an enjoyable day out at Window Buttress. Neil, solo today, summited two more Munros at Sgurr Dubh Mor and Sgurr nan Eag which was another tremendous physical effort. Phil and Virginie went walking to the south peninsula and back for ice-cream at the campsite. Paulina intially walked with them but was beaten back by midges which had taken a liking to her. She also succumbed to the temptation to visit the Talisker Distillery.
Sunday evening was a good opportunity to have a communal meal. We had the hut to ourselves and Paulina would be leaving the next day. Dave and Emma were late back to the hut but everything was prepared and a pleasant evening was had by all. The weather forecast was showing a deterioration so it was unlikely that we would climb on Monday.
Monday proved to be a restful day. For some. It was also Tracey's Birthday! Paulina headed for home. Phil and Virginie took a lift with Neil to the Sligachan and walked back at lower altitude to Gen Brittle via the Fairy Pools and Glen Brittle Forest. Despite the low cloud Neil continued clocking up his Munro tally and summited Sgurr nan Gillean. Derek, Emma, Jenny, Tracey and Dave had a leisurely stroll with a couple of billion midges up to the Fairy Pools and then to the Old Inn and Waterfront Bunkhouse at Carbost for a pub lunch. After a quick visit to the distillery we returned to the hut but Jenny, Tracey and Dave then had a very pleasant walk down to the Viking harbour and canal at Rubha an Dunain.
Tracey's Birthday cake went down very well. As did a few bottles of prosecco and the specially selected bottles of whisky which were tasted and marked for various qualities. The next morning Neil was on the final day of his Munro mission so I think he beat a hasty retreat at a sensible hour. Nontheless we all had a wonderful evening and the world was in a far better place when we got round to doing the washing up.
Tuesday was our last full day on Skye. Neil managed to summit his seventh Munro of the trip to complete all of his Skye Munros. Jenny and Tracey accompanied him on Bla Bheinn. Virginie and Phil had another big day out to Sgurr na Stri from the Sligachan. Dave and Derek visited Keith at his house in the north of the island and made it back to the hut for lunchtime where Emma was contemplating her options with her broken car and homeward journey. Although time and daylight was sufficient Emma elected not to climb again. The weather was cloudy but improving so Derek and Dave decided to climb the Inaccesible Pinnacle for a brilliant, swift, set-piece to complete our trip. During the descent from Sgurr Dearg there was much practising of smug expressions but sadly nobody was at the hut when the pair returned.
Everyone headed south on Wednesday. Dave, Derek, Jenny, Neil and Tracey all made it safely home by the early evening. Virginie and Phil had a few more days in Scotland before returning home. The Newtonmore Grill, a favourite of Virginie's, was their lunch venue when en-route to Aberfeldy. On Thursday they walked four sevenths of the Ben Lawers Seven. Beinn Ghlas, Ben Lawers, Meall Corranaich, Meall a Choire Leith. On Friday they had another remarkable day doing the Glen Lyon Munros (Invervar Round) including Càrn Gorm, Meall Garbh, Càrn Mairg and Creag Mhòr.
The long-weekend trip was a pretty full-on venture. Outstanding success for Neil to bag all of his Skye Munros and for everyone else to complete a full programme of climbing, walking, scrambling and socialising. Did I mention Tracey's Birthday? Thanks for coming along. Thanks for all the tremendous help to tidy up and clean the hut before we left. There have been suggestions that another trip to Skye next summer would be most welcome. See you there!
Cheers!
Dave M