Munro · Skye & The Small Isles
Sgurr na Banachdich (Sgurr na Banachdaich)
Sgùrr na Banachdich (965m) — "smallpox peak" — is one of the more approachable Munros on the Cuillin Ridge, often used as the entry point for walkers building up to the more technical Cuillin summits. It sits between Sgùrr a' Ghreadaidh to the north and Sgùrr Dearg (the Inaccessible Pinnacle) to the south. The standard ascent via Coire na Banachdich involves only modest scrambling, making it the easiest Munro on the main Cuillin Ridge.
Quick facts
- Height
- 965m/ 3166ft
- Prominence
- 114 m
- Distance
- ~8 km
- Ascent
- ~850 m
- Time
- 6–9 hrs
- Grid ref
- NG440224
- 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
Glenbrittle path 20% · Rocky corrie 40% · Summit ridge scramble 40%
Approach from Glenbrittle Hut. Take the path north into Coire na Banachdich, climbing the steep boulder slopes to the col below the summit. From the col turn south and climb the rocky ridge to the summit cairn — easy scrambling on excellent gabbro. Most parties also take in the connecting Top of Sgùrr Thormaid before returning. Around 8km return with 850m of ascent.
Terrain
The lower Coire na Banachdich path crosses wet boggy moor, then steepens onto loose boulder slopes up to the col. The summit ridge is broad rocky ground with one or two short scrambly steps — easy by Cuillin standards. The summit cairn is a small pile of gabbro on a rocky outcrop. Compass readings on the Cuillin gabbro are unreliable; carry GPS for navigation.
In winter
In winter, despite being the easiest Cuillin Munro in summer, this becomes a serious mountaineering objective. The Coire na Banachdich approach holds avalanche-prone snow after westerly storms. Cuillin gabbro readily ices over and midwinter daylight is brief. Few parties tackle this in winter; most Munroists choose summer ascents.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow4h 44m
- Edinburgh5h 30m
OS maps: OS Landranger 32
Mobile signal: No signal in the Cuillin above 500m. Glenbrittle campsite has reasonable 4G. Download maps and plan the route before setting off.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 06:38
- Sunset
- 20:08
- Civil dawn
- 05:58
- Civil dusk
- 20:48
NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 September 2026
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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
11km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Sgurr na Banachdich (Sgurr na Banachdaich) — common questions
- What difficulty is Sgurr na Banachdich (Sgurr na Banachdaich)?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Sgurr na Banachdich (Sgurr na Banachdaich) comes in at 5/5 — very challenging. Expect roughly 8km and 850m of ascent on the usual route — 6-9 hours for most parties. Underfoot: The lower Coire na Banachdich path crosses wet boggy moor, then steepens onto loose boulder slopes up to the col.
- What is Sgurr na Banachdich (Sgurr na Banachdaich)'s prominence?
- 114m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Sgurr na Banachdich (Sgurr na Banachdaich) to the next higher ground.
- Where do I park for Sgurr na Banachdich (Sgurr na Banachdaich)?
- Most walkers start from NG410205 near Fort William. Verify the grid reference on an OS map before you set off — space is tight on busy summer weekends.
- When is the best time to climb Sgurr na Banachdich (Sgurr na Banachdaich)?
- May, June, July, August, September give the most reliable conditions on Sgurr na Banachdich (Sgurr na Banachdaich). Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.
- Is Sgurr na Banachdich (Sgurr na Banachdaich) dog-friendly?
- Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.
- Is there mobile signal on Sgurr na Banachdich (Sgurr na Banachdaich)?
- No signal in the Cuillin above 500m. Glenbrittle campsite has reasonable 4G. Download maps and plan the route before setting off.
- Is Sgurr na Banachdich (Sgurr na Banachdaich) safe in winter?
- In winter, despite being the easiest Cuillin Munro in summer, this becomes a serious mountaineering objective. The Coire na Banachdich approach holds avalanche-prone snow after westerly storms. Cuillin gabbro readily ices over and midwinter daylight is brief. Few parties tackle this in winter; most Munroists choose summer ascents.
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