Cuillin

The Cuillin are a rugged mountain range on the Isle of Skye, on the west coast of Scotland. The range is divided into two distinct groups: the Black Cuillin, a high, jagged spine running along the island’s central backbone; and the Red Cuillin, a lower, lighter-toned group located to the south and east of the Black Cuillin. The highest peak is Sgurr Alasdair, at 992 metres, situated in the Black Cuillin.

The Cuillin are renowned for their dramatic, knife-edge ridges and challenging terrain. The Inaccessible Pinnacle, a prominent spire on Sgurr Dearg within the Black Cuillin, is one of the more famous technical climbs in Britain. The Cuillin Ridge, a long, exposed arête route across multiple summits, is iconic among climbers and requires extensive scrambling and mountaineering skill, planning, and favorable weather.

Geology shapes much of the range’s character. The Black Cuillin are formed mainly from dark igneous rocks such as gabbro and basalt, producing rugged, hard-wearing ridges. The Red Cuillin feature lighter-colored rocks, predominantly granite, which gives a contrasting landscape with broader, grassy slopes in places.

Access and routes typically begin from Sligachan or Glen Brittle, with common approaches for walkers and climbers depending on the chosen objective. Conditions can change rapidly, and the terrain includes steep scrambles, loose rock, and exposed sections.

Ecology in the area includes heather moorland and a range of wildlife, with red deer present in parts of the range. The Cuillin are protected for their natural beauty and held in high regard by climbers, walkers, and hikers as a defining feature of the Isle of Skye.