Glen Brittle weekend, Skye, 10-12 April 2026
Fifteen hardy members made it to Skye with a windy forecast, with five having to drop out prior to the meet. Driving over to Skye, several parties had taken advantage of a lull in the weather to climb a few hills (more below), before a sociable evening as everyone arrived between 4 & 8 pm at the Glen Brittle Memorial Hut. Unfortunately by the morning Gill, Peter and Marion all had to leave early.
Friday - Bla Bheinn
Martyn writes: “On Friday, part of the club set off from Inverness at 8:00 AM, heading towards Blà Bheinn (Blue Hill). We arrived at the parking area at the base of the mountain around 10:00 AM. After a short regroup and gear check, we began the ascent as a team: Lukasz, Stella, Martyn, and Greg.
The weather conditions were very favourable from the start – it was a bright, sunny day with excellent visibility. Only at the summit did we experience a light wind. During the ascent, we chose a slightly more challenging route, which included sections of loose scree and more technical terrain.
Taking part: Agnes, Anne, Emily, Ewen, Ged, Gill, Greg, Hugh, Lucasz, Marion, Martin, Martyn, Nick, Peter & Stela.
Words and Photos: Martyn, Martin, and Lucasz
Just before reaching the summit, we encountered Agnes, who had taken a wrong turn and ended up following someone who later disappeared from sight. After a brief check-in to make sure she was safe, we continued together towards the top.
At the summit, the weather temporarily changed, with clouds rolling in and reducing visibility. However, after some time, the conditions improved again, allowing us to enjoy clearer views.
We initially considered adding a second nearby summit to the plan. However, as not everyone in the group was keen to continue, we made a collective decision to stay together as a team and begin our descent. The day was completed safely and in good spirits, making it a solid and rewarding mountain day for everyone involved.”
Ewen and Hugh had explored the area around Talisker Bay, bagging a couple of Marilyns, before arriving at the hut on Friday. Greg had made a Polish cheesecake, which went down very well through the evening alongside a number of drams of local Raasay whisky.
Saturday
On Saturday morning the weather was less good, with a poor forecast making high routes improbable. Nick, Greg and Martin decided to walk up into Coire Laggan, hopeful that some shelter from a southerly wind would be found and just possibly ascend Sgurr Alasdair via the Great Stone Shoot. An hour into the ascent into the coire it became very clear that wasn’t happening! The wind was gusting strongly, the weather closed in and blasted snow from another direction, and the underfoot conditions were for slippery slush over boulder rocks. Full waterproofs and goggles aided, but a decision to turn back was soon made. Nick and Martin returned to the hut for an early lunch, while Greg set off for the Viking Harbour along the peninsula.
Anne had wisely decided on the Rubh nan Dunain headland as her primary goal. Although shelter had to be taken for an hour in a bothy-bag, for an early lunch, the improved conditions made for a nice circuit.
Meanwhile Martyn, Stela, Agnes, and Ged decided to give it a go and head to Coire a’ Ghrunnda, however the very strong winds and heavy rain caused a retreat to the café at the Glen Brittle Campsite for hot drinks. The afternoon saw better weather and a walk to the Fairy Pools and the beyond into Coire na Creiche.
Hugh’s and Ewen had left Glen together, but with separate goals. Ewen drove around to Ben Tianavaig on the East Coast. Hugh got dropped above the Fairy Pools carpark and traversed the west side of the Glen, battling into the wind all day. At one point he had to crawl to reach the summit of Beinn a’ Bhraghad, before continuing over Beinn Staic, An Cruachan and Truagh Mheall to reach the footbridge in Glenbrittle.
Emily and Lucasz went for a long run in the rain, skipping over and through the puddles, and heavily challenged by the windy conditions. Hot showers were needed on returning to the accommodation to recover!
After a leisurely lunch, Martin developed Plan E of the day and set off for the Marilyn of An Cruachan to the West of Glen Brittle. He bumped into Hugh on the way down from his four peak traverse of the West Brittle region. Strong winds and sunshine, rough tussocky-grass, and good views of both the Cuillin and coast made An Cruachan worthwhile, along with Treugh Mheall, a second HuMP.
Saturday evening was dominated by the new Chess board, with one stalemate and a couple of decisive wins.
On Sunday, with an even stronger forecast and driving rain, most of the party decided to head back early. Sadly Hugh and Ewen fell foul of the road surface and punctured two tires on the road out of the glen, stopping in a forestry entrance off the road, (not to bag another few small hills as Martin incorrectly assumed, waving merrily as he drove past! ) which the local garage efficiently changed. They must do good business from the ‘Danger - Substandard roads for the next 10 miles’ as the sign at Carbost informs the unwary traveller.
