Sgùrr nan Gillean facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sgùrr nan Gillean
Sgùrr nan Gillean, Am Basteir and Sgurr a'Bhasteir from the Sligachan hotel
Highest point
Elevation	966.1 m (3,170 ft)
Prominence	c. 205 m
Parent peak	Sgùrr Alasdair
Listing	Munro, Marilyn
Naming
English translation	Peak of the young men
Language of name	Gaelic
Geography
Location	Skye, Scotland
Parent range	Cuillin
OS grid	NG471252
Topo map	OS Landranger 32
Climbing
First ascent	7 July 1836, by Duncan Macintyre and James Forbes
Easiest route	Scramble

Sgùrr nan Gillean and the Pinnacle Ridge from Basteir gorge

Sgùrr nan Gillean is a famous mountain in the northern part of the Cuillin mountain range. You can find it on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. This impressive peak stands at about 966 meters (3,169 feet) tall.

Sgùrr nan Gillean is one of the eleven Munros in the Cuillin ridge. A Munro is a Scottish mountain that is over 3,000 feet (914.4 meters) high. It's the Munro closest to a village called Sligachan. Its unique triangular shape makes it easy to spot behind the Sligachan hotel. This makes it one of the most well-known mountains in the Cuillin range.

Climbing Sgùrr nan Gillean

Climbing Sgùrr nan Gillean is an exciting adventure. There are a few different ways to reach the top. Some routes are easier, while others are only for experienced climbers.

The Tourist Route

The most popular way to climb Sgùrr nan Gillean is called the Tourist Route. This path starts from Sligachan and heads southwest. You will cross a small stream known as the Allt Dearg Beag.

The path then goes up into a bowl-shaped valley called Coire Rhiabhach. As you climb, you'll find loose rocks and scree, which are small broken rocks. The final part of the climb up the southeast ridge needs some scrambling. Scrambling means using both your hands and feet to climb over rocks. The path is narrow, so climbers often go in a single line.

The very top of the mountain is a ridge that you need to walk along to reach the highest point. This also requires some scrambling. All sides of the summit are very open, so you need to be extra careful, especially if it's foggy. The small, flat top offers amazing views all around.

The Pinnacle Ridge

Another way to climb Sgùrr nan Gillean is along the north ridge, known as Pinnacle Ridge. This route is a serious rock climb. Climbers need special gear like ropes and harnesses. They also need to know how to abseil, which is lowering yourself down a rope.

To start this route, you follow the same path as the Tourist Route at first. But instead of crossing the stream, you go uphill on the right side. You cross another stream near the Basteir gorge to reach the start of the climb.

The West Ridge

The West Ridge is another path you can use to go up or down the mountain. It connects the summit of Sgùrr nan Gillean to a mountain pass called a bealach. This pass separates Sgùrr nan Gillean from another mountain called Am Basteir.

About two-thirds of the way down this ridge, there used to be a very narrow and exposed section. This part was formed by a large upright rock called the Gendarme. However, this rock broke off during the winter of 1986/87 due to ice and freezing weather. Now, only its base remains.

You can avoid this narrow section by climbing up or abseiling down a steep gully. This gully is known as Nicholson's Chimney and is on the north side of the ridge.

Mountain Facts and Names

The name Sgùrr nan Gillean comes from the Gaelic words meaning "Peak of the young men."

In November 2013, a nearby peak called Knight's Peak was reclassified. It was found to be a little too short to be a Munro Top. A Munro Top is a smaller peak next to a Munro that is also over 3,000 feet high. Knight's Peak is now considered a Corbett Top. A Corbett Top is a peak between 2,500 and 3,000 feet (762 to 914.4 meters) high.

Knight's Peak was named after W. Knight. He was one of the first people to climb it with a guide in 1873.

See also

In Spanish: Sgurr nan Gillean para niños