17 May - a long-held ambition finally realised! I stood on the ridge of the Black Cuillin, the most mighty mountain ridge in all Scotland. I flew to Inverness the day before, and drove to Sligachan Hotel for the night - stunning blue skies in Torridon en route with rolls of cloud enveloping the summit ridges of Beinn Eighe and Liathach. Then across the Skye bridge for the first time, an emotional drive through Broadford with its memories to the foot of the Cuillin.
The next morning the clouds were just brushing the tops of Sgurr nan Gillean as I set off up Glen Brittle in a NE wind. I forked off up Fionn Coire then up onto the NW ridge of Bruach na Frithe - a tougher scramble than I expected, with the path skirting boulders and needing hands at times, though not exposed at all. Then, cresting the summit (3,143'), an amazing view of the entire ridge from Sgurr nan Gillean, past the Basteir Tooth and the Innaccessible Pinnacle S to Sgurr nan Eag. I stayed on the top for an hour, riveted by the view including Wester Ross all the way to An Teallach, and E to Kintail. Elated, I descended off the Bealach nan Lice next to Am Basteir, back to Glen Brittle. An emotional day. The photos show the ascent from Allt Dearg house in Glen Sligachan, and views from the summit.
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