Sgùrr na Banachdich

Sgùrr na Banachdaich, at 965 metres — "Smallpox Peak" — sits at the mid-point of the Cuillin Ridge on Skye and, remarkably, is the only Munro on the entire ridge where hands aren't strictly needed to reach the summit, though this remains an extremely rugged, rocky walk with much steep, rough ground throughout.

The route starts from parking at Glen Brittle Youth Hostel. An excellently constructed path climbs the south side of a stream, passing a series of waterfalls and beautiful pools as the burn tumbles down a small gorge, before a fainter, muddier path branches off to the right up the moor. As the gradient eases, the whole route ahead comes into view: the scree-filled Coir' nan Eich corrie, edged by the steep crag of An Diallaid to the left and the Sgùrr nan Gobhar ridge to the right, with the rather shapeless Sgùrr na Banachdaich visible beyond and pointed Sgùrr Thormaid immediately to its left. The path fades near a burn; rather than continuing up the corrie, steepening grassy slopes lead up towards An Diallaid, staying grassy longest by aiming for the left skyline — an alternative, steeper and looser scree route zigzags up the back of Coir' an Eich instead.

Beyond An Diallaid's crags (bypassed on the right by faint paths), the route crosses a shallow col before an ill-defined ridge climbs towards the summit, keeping big cliffs to the left and weaving between rocks and low crags on a mix of terrain — any obstacles can usually be passed to the right. The main Cuillin ridge is reached suddenly, with a sensational contrast between the gentler scree slopes just ascended and the sheer drop down to Coir' Uisg.

The summit is a fantastic viewpoint: north, the ridge drops over sharp Sgùrr Thormaid and its "teeth" before sweeping up to the bulk of Sgùrr a' Ghreadaidh; east lies the awesome void of Coir' Uisg with Loch Coruisk glittering far below and Blà Bheinn magnificent beyond; south, the narrow ridge sweeps on to Sgùrr Dearg, where climbers can often be seen on the Inaccessible Pinnacle; and beyond lie the jagged teeth of Sgùrr Thearlaich and Sgùrr Alasdair, the highest summit in the Hebrides.

The recommended return retraces the ascent route; a scrambler-only alternative descends the Sgùrr nan Gobhar ridge for those with the necessary experience.

The out-and-back round trip from Glen Brittle is typically six to eight hours.

Despite being the sole hands-free Munro summit on the Cuillin ridge, this remains extremely rugged terrain with steep, loose ground throughout — full mountain competence, sure-footedness, and navigation skills are all essential given the serious character of the surrounding Cuillin landscape.

Parking at Glen Brittle Youth Hostel is free; there is no public transport to the start.