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Isle of Skye

Area Information

Some essential information to help plan your trip. There is more detail included in the MiniGUIDE.

Other Guidebooks and Additional Information

Skye and the Hebrides
SMC

Scrambles in Skye - J.Wilson Parker (Cicerone).

Needlesports Cuillin Advice Page - Stephen Reid's extensive notes on the Ridge.
www.needlesports.com

When to Go

The weather in Skye, and particularly in the Cuillin, is notoriously difficult to predict most of the year. Even during a settled period of weather a high tide can bring cloudy, wet conditions to the Cuillin for a few hours, clearing again at low tide. Early May might have a good spell, but check the amount of old snow left on the ridge, as this can slow progress on certain sections. From late May to early June a high pressure system can sometimes give a couple of weeks of clear stable weather. Plan to go in this period and, if possible, to be able to leave at short notice.

• UKClimbing.com
• Mountain Weather
• Scotland Online
• BBC Weather

Panorama

Steve Betts has produced a superb 360^o panorama of the Skye Ridge. Click on the icon on the left to download the Skye Ridge panorama.

If you don't have an Apple QuickTime player you can download one for free for Apple or Windows from QuickTime Download.

Climbing Gear

Shoes - Walsh, Salomon, Sportiva, Scarpa, 5.10 approach/running shoes or similar good quality running or combination climbing/running shoes. Stealth spot sole is available from many resoling companies.

Clothing - Your base clothing should consist of light trousers or leggings, a long sleeve thermal shirt and a thin fleece. Carry a hat, gloves, a light waterproof top and, if the weather looks dodgy, take over-trousers.

Watch/Heart Monitor - For those wishing to move very quickly, or even run the ridge this device will prove essential. It looks and works like a watch and stopwatch but has a heart rate monitor incorporated, transmitting via a band worn around the chest.<

Climbing Gear - Those who intend to rope up for the climbing sections should take a minimal rack consisting of a couple of 120cm slings, 3 to 4 mid to large nuts and a few spare krabs. All the climbing can be done using a single 45m rope although those attempting the ridge from North to South will need 2 ropes for the Bhasteir Tooth abseil. Most competent climbers will be okay without gear.

Bivvy Gear - Bivvy sites on the ridge are poor so it is recommended that you prepare yourself properly for making a one-day traverse. If you do pack bivvy gear then the chances are that the extra weight of sleeping bag, mat, extra food and a stove will ensure that you need to use it. It is also extremely important that you pack enough water since there is none to be found on the ridge itself.

Drink - The most popular method these days to ensure sufficient liquid intake is to use a 2 litre bladder carried on the back with a drinking tube extending to near your mouth enabling you to take regular sips of liquid can be taken.
Camelbak
Cascade

Food - You need to add some kind of energy supplement to the water you carry. Carbohydrate based drinks which give slow and sustained feeding are best. For nutrition Power Bars give everything you need although they can get hard at temperatures less than 10ºC and consequently become very difficult to chew. An alternative is High Five bars which also contain more calories.

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