| Summit: | Sgurr a' Mhadaidh |
| Heights: | 918 m (3012 ft) |
| Map Reference: | NG 447 236 |
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| Our Ascents: |
We included this Munro summit as a second top on a walk from the Youth Hostel in Glen Brittle. We climbed to the narrow cleft of An Dorus and ascended Sgurr a Ghreadaidh before returning to the col for an excusion to this summit.
The ascent starts just over the lip of the gully on the Coruisk side with a moderate scramble up clean rock. Above this the route requires care but is relatively simple scrambling. Although Sgurr a' Mhadaidh has four tops, the most southerly one is the highest and it takes only a few minutes to reach the summit cairn. The ridge to the north divides with a spur running north east to Sgurr Thuilm - this branch could be seen clearly from the steep ascent to An Dorus is the ridge forms the northerly wall to Coire an Dorus. The main Cuillin ridge turns north east over a series of lower tops (850 m), Bidein Druim nan Ramh, to An Caisteal. This section is rises, falls and twists and is clearly extremely complex to follow. Beyond this the higher and most northerly tops of Bruach na Frithe, Am Basteir and Sgurr nan Gillean rise. The traverse of the tops of Sgurr a' Mhadaidh are rated a rock climb and outside our itinery.
Sgurr a' Mhadaidh only just reaches the height requirement for Munro status and is somewhat fortunate in being classified in view of the fact that it is so near the higher summit of Sgurr a Ghreadaidh to the south; the col of An Dourus is only 70m below the summit. We assume that this top is considered to be the highest point of the extensive section of ridge to the north and that this overrides its proximity to the more southerly tops. Anyway, it makes an easy tick on the list once the pass of An Dorus has been claimed.
We returned back down the ridge and dropped back to the col of An Dorus. We collected the rucksacks and picked our way down the scree slopes into the corrie below. It was a longish walk out and we stopped for a drink - and a quick swim in the clear, cool water - before following the path back to the road. Once back we called in at Sligachan Hotel for a drink before returning to Potree for supper.