The misty Isle on a clear day ...

Skye has a very special place in history …from Norman Collie & John MacKenzie in the early days of the Scottish Mountaineering Club through to my own experience as a teenager through to the Coruisk hut trips and at least four failed attempts at a full Cullin traverse. Many of the early Victorian SMC meets were based from the Slighachan Hotel. Whilst I have been in the Slig on many occasions, I have always been camping …never lodging in the hotel “gentleman mountaineer” style.

With my Dad’s last Skye Munro being Sgurr nan Gillean, we opted for the SMC standard accommodation. With a great forecast for the Saturday – Alan, Joe, Dad and myself headed north from Glasgow arriving in time for dinner and a couple of beers. Instead of the more usual start to the day (crawling out the tent to kick the stove into life), it started with a warm shower prior to heading downstairs for a cooked breakfast !

The path across the moor has been much improved since my first visit to the hill back in 1983 and feet were still dry when we topped out onto the ridge. With the final section having a few wee “interesting” sections a bit of confidence roping had my Dad on top of his 273rd Munro (celebrated with whisky and chocolate).

Cheers to Alan and Joe for support and most importantly …great effort to my Dad for his ascent of the “peak of young men”.