Single Cullin walks

Hi. Heading to Skye next week for a holiday with my wife, sister-in-law & her husband. Not really a walking week as I would like so I will probably only get one day to myself to take in a Cullin.

I have, as a novice to the Cullins, been advised to try either Bruach na Frithe, Sgurr Alasdair or Bla Bheinn (my father-in-law, whose climbed them all, also mentioned Sgurr nan Gillean as well but descriptions have put me off for the time being!!) However as we are staying up near Uig, Bruach or Alasdair are the more reachable.

Which would you advise and are any of these feasible with a healthy, strong border collie (or should he be left at the cottage - he has been up a few more normal mountains with me like Ben Lui range, Ben More & Cruach Arduain)?  

For my part the most advanced I have done is the Aonach Eagach ridge.

All advice welcome. 

The so-called toruist Route on Sgurr nan Gillean is no more difficult, but a bit more exposed than the Aonach Eagach. It involves exposed sidling around little rock towers near the top, which could be a bit problematic for a dog. The other routes on S nan G are much harder.

 Bruach na Frith is much more straightforward.

 The only easy route on Sgurr Alasdair is a dreadful plod up a scree gulley. Suggest you try something else first, then try the scrambling route up Alastair from Sgurr na Ciche. Maybe not for a dog, though.

The southwest ridge of Bla Bheinn is a fairly straightforward scramble. The route up from the col between Bla Bheinn and Clach Glas is more of an easy rock climb than a scramble, imho. 

As Paddy says, beware of fingertip and dog pad wear from the extremely coarse gabbro crystals.

Cath, is Bruach climbable for a dog? If like AE, I would doubt he could do it. Bits where you need hands rather than feet, even if you have four of them !

The scree gulley (is that the Great Stone Chute?) at Alasdair: Jim, you say its a dreadful plod: is that just wearisome or dreadful meaning full of dread?  

Bruach na Frithe and Sgurr na Banachdich have effectively walking routes up with no scrambling. Sgurr nan Eag has very minor scrambling into Coir a Ghrunnda and rough steep walking to the ridge.

Bla Bheinn has a non-technical approach/retreat over it's SW ridge although the true NE top would require a minor scramble along a ledge from here.

I think I'd dump the dog for the Cuillin tho. Plenty of easier walks around Skye - Quiraing, Red Cuillins, The Storr.

Cath, is Bruach climbable for a dog?

Not sure as I don't have a dog.  

The scree gulley (is that the Great Stone Chute?) at Alasdair: Jim, you say its a dreadful plod: is that just wearisome or dreadful meaning full of dread?

Yes, the Great Stone Chute. Wearisome, foul going underfoot on loose scree. Not difficult.

Dumping the dog requires further negotiating on a deal with my wife (as the dog is supposed to get 3 hrs walk a day) !

Initial deal was I would get to go away if I took the dog...

Best bet for the dog, imho, would be Sgurr na Banachdich minus the Inn Pinn (although Hamish Broon reports getting one of his dogs up even that!). You can go up the west ridge and down Coire na Banachdich from Bealach Coire na Banachdich or or the other way round. Both good walks with minimal scrambling.

Or, as Kinley says, the south end peaks via Coire a Ghrunnda from Glen Brittle.

Alasdair is quite an exposed top as well. You can walk up to the other two no problems. Loads of coastal walks too, also into Corruisk from Slig.

the 'tourist route' on Gillian is a scramble, i wouldn't take my dogs.

You can also walk up the coire below Am Basteir no problem, a nice atmospheric walk from Glen Brittle.

If you can get dropped off do a few point to point walks over the Bealachs, the coires are quite unique places.

The far end of the ridge Gars Bhein is also walkable. Not greatly enjoyable as a trudge up but the views more than make up for it, the ridge along their is grade 1 really, can't remember the scramble back down at the end to the Castel, but I don't think it was too serious, but yo'd better check.

Agree with Iain - the corries alone are well worth the walks, amazingly atmospheric places.

An alternative Cuillin destination within the range, if you're not a munro bagger, and dog-doable would be Sgurr na Stri.

Thanks for all the advice. Think will try Sgurr na Banachdith.

I have waked up to Coire Lagan before & agree: amazing (though had to hurry back to my wife waitning further down in the rain!).

I dare say that after all my planning & your contributions, the weather will be atrocious & we will be confined to Portree giftshops & distillery tours

Should ask: whats the best (easiest) route up Sgurr na Banachdich?

Up Coir an Eich via An Diallaid   or

Coire na Banachdich to Bealach Coire na Banachdich

The rock surrounding the summit of Sgurr Alasdair is basalt and when wet makes it very slippery and together with the Great Stone Chute may not be what you are looking for for a first ascent in the Cuillin.

The easiest Munro is Bruach na Frithe.

If the weather isn't good try one of the Red Cuillin instead. There is some enjoyable walks there with good views when the tops of the Black Cuillin are cloud covered.

Hi

For Sgurr na Banachdich & ascent via Coire nan Banachdich, the route south side of the corrie, do I head towards Sgurr Dearg NW butress and cut across keeping in the region of about 750-825m contour, below the In Pinn, then head up to Bealahc Coire na Banachdich.

Some books say there is a way marked with cairns - is it this route up  the south side that is thus marked ?

Sorry to revive a five-year-old thread but here is a further observation about dog walking on Skye gabbro

Further to the comments above, a freind and I recently walked with a large collie-cross bitch from Glen Brittle campsite to Coire Lagan then on up the Great Stone Chute to the summit of Sgurr Alasdair.

The dog coped fine with both the small scree on the lower half of the Chute and the larger rocks and choss in the gully above.

As others have said, where the gabbro is slabby it has a very coarse grippy texture but this did not cause the dog any discomfort either.

The dog was fine on the final scramble. However, my friend and I were less confident about how safe the dog would be on the exposed bit right at the top so we took it in turns to do the last few yards, one of us keeping the dog on the lead as the other explored the summit.

The dog had no problem on the way down (same route) and the next day her paws showed no ill effects.

So IME that particular route is fine for a strong healthy dog that is used to rough or rocky walks.