Sgurr Alasdair

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Sgurr Alasdair

Elevation	992 m (3255 ft)
Location	Skye, Scotland
Range	Cuillin
Prominence	992 m Ranked 5th in British Isles
Topo map	OS Landranger 32
First ascent	1873, Alexander Nicholson
Easiest route	scramble
OS grid reference	NG450207
Listing	Munro, Marilyn
Translation	Alexander's peak (Gaelic)
Pronunciation	[skur alastər]

Sgurr Alasdair is the highest peak of the Black Cuillin, and therefore the highest peak on the Isle of Skye. Like the rest of the range it is composed of gabbro, a rock with excellent grip for mountaineering.

As with other hills of the Cuillin, a head for heights and scrambling ability are called for to attain the summit. The least technical route follows a feature known as the "Great Stone Shoot" – a line of scree that leads up from the corrie of Coire Lagan to join the main ridge below the summit. A short section of scrambling is then followed to the sharpest summit in the Cuillin .

Other routes require more scrambling ability, and even rock climbing. The summit of Sgurr Alasdair can be attained by a short detour off the main ridge by climbers undertaking the full traverse of the Cuillin ridge, or by those following the circuit of Coire Lagan.