Munro · Skye & The Small Isles
Sgurr Dearg - Inaccessible Pinnacle
The Inaccessible Pinnacle (985m) — universally known as the "In Pin" — sits atop Sgùrr Dearg on the Cuillin Ridge and is the most technically demanding Munro in Scotland. The summit itself is a great upright fin of gabbro that requires roped rock climbing to ascend and abseil to descend safely. It is the only Munro that absolutely requires rope work and is the principal obstacle for most aspiring Munroists. Most hillwalkers hire a qualified guide for this summit.
Gaelic: “sharp peak, red” · Pronunciation: skoor jerr-ak inaccessible pinnacle
Quick facts
- Height
- 985.8m/ 3234ft
- Prominence
- 188 m
- Distance
- 17 km
- Ascent
- 868 m
- Time
- 6–9 hrs
- Grid ref
- NG444215
- Parking
- NG410205
- Nearest
- Fort William
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
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Standard route
Path to corrie / bealach 30% · Cuillin ridge scramble 30% · Rock climbing / abseil 40%
Approach from Glenbrittle Campsite. Take the path north-east up Coire Lagan, climbing the steep sandy slabs onto the Sgùrr Dearg ridge. Reach the Sgùrr Dearg summit cairn, then walk west to the base of the In Pin. The standard route is the East Ridge — a sustained Moderate / V Diff rock climb up the airy crest (50m), then an abseil descent off the back. Total round about 10km with 1100m of ascent. Allow plenty of time and bring rope, harness and helmets.
Terrain
The Coire Lagan path from Glenbrittle is rough and slabby in places. The climb onto Sgùrr Dearg involves a sustained ascent of sandy gabbro slabs and broken rock. The In Pin itself is a great upright blade of gabbro — Moderate / V Diff climbing on excellent friction in dry conditions; treacherous when wet. The East Ridge is approximately 50m of climbing with airy exposure on both sides. Compass readings on the Cuillin are unreliable due to the magnetic gabbro.
In winter
The In Pin in winter conditions becomes a serious technical climb (Grade III–IV). Few attempt it in winter — most Munroists choose a fair-weather summer ascent. Gabbro glazes with verglas. The Coire Lagan approach is exposed to westerly weather and the upper slopes hold significant avalanche risk. There is no mobile reception on the Cuillin. GPS essential; magnetic gabbro disrupts compass readings. Full rope work and competence essential.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow4h 43m
- Edinburgh4h 29m
OS maps: OS Landranger 32
Mobile signal: Moderate signal near Glenbrittle. No signal on the Cuillin ridge. The Cuillin affects compass accuracy — use GPS for navigation.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:05
- Sunset
- 21:58
- Civil dawn
- 04:09
- Civil dusk
- 22:54
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 July 2026
Around Sgurr Dearg - Inaccessible Pinnacle on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Kyle of Lochalsh station
Skye Bridge; Five Sisters of Kintail; Glen Shiel; Plockton
32km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Portree
Main Skye base — Cuillin, Trotternish, Storr
22km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Talisker
Carbost on Skye — Cuillin foothills distillery; peppery, maritime, big-bodied
12km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Sgurr Dearg - Inaccessible Pinnacle — common questions
- What difficulty is Sgurr Dearg - Inaccessible Pinnacle?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Sgurr Dearg - Inaccessible Pinnacle comes in at 5/5 — very challenging. Expect roughly 17km and 868m of ascent on the usual route — 6-9 hours for most parties. Ground conditions: The Coire Lagan path from Glenbrittle is rough and slabby in places.
- How much drop does Sgurr Dearg - Inaccessible Pinnacle have?
- The drop is 188m: measured from the summit of Sgurr Dearg - Inaccessible Pinnacle down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
- Where's the parking for Sgurr Dearg - Inaccessible Pinnacle?
- Park at NG410205 near Fort William. Double-check the grid reference on an OS map first; informal laybys here fill early in high season.
- What's the best month to climb Sgurr Dearg - Inaccessible Pinnacle?
- Aim for May, June, July, August, September on Sgurr Dearg - Inaccessible Pinnacle. In the remaining months treat it as a winter hill — full kit, solid navigation, and a look at the relevant SAIS avalanche forecast before you go.
- Can dogs go up Sgurr Dearg - Inaccessible Pinnacle?
- Dogs are fine on a lead. The route passes livestock or ground-nesting bird habitat, so keep them close throughout.
- Will I get phone signal on Sgurr Dearg - Inaccessible Pinnacle?
- Moderate signal near Glenbrittle. No signal on the Cuillin ridge. The Cuillin affects compass accuracy — use GPS for navigation.
- Is Sgurr Dearg - Inaccessible Pinnacle safe in winter?
- The In Pin in winter conditions becomes a serious technical climb (Grade III–IV). Few attempt it in winter — most Munroists choose a fair-weather summer ascent. Gabbro glazes with verglas. The Coire Lagan approach is exposed to westerly weather and the upper slopes hold significant avalanche risk. There is no mobile reception on the Cuillin. GPS essential; magnetic gabbro disrupts compass readings. Full rope work and competence essential.
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