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The Inaccessible Pinnacle

 

The History of the Inaccessible Pinnacle:

The Inaccessible Pinnacle or Inn Pinn, is considered to be the hardest Munro out of the 282 Munros found in Scotland.  The Isle of Skye has 12 Munros in total, the most iconic of which is the Inaccessible Pinnacle.

For a Rock climber the actual climbing on the ‘Inn Pinn’ is pretty straightforward. Although that said, in strong winds and rain, the exposure and situation of this iconic peak, can somewhat intensify and feels considerably harder than the ‘Moderate’ climbing grade it is given.

The Inaccessible Pinnacle was first climbed way back in 1880 by Lawrence and Charles Pilkington. The equipment back then was extremely primitive by today’s standards, and a fall would have most likely resulted in to a fatality.

Ascent of the Inaccessible Pinnacle:

Nowadays with modern equipment, better footwear and peoples general fitness and well being has improved. The Inaccessible Pinnacle or ‘Inn Pinn’ as it’s known, is definitely achievable for a fit hill walker with very little scrambling experience.

Our Guides will look after you every step of the way. You will need a confident approach and have trust in the equipment we use (it works!) The holds are big on the climb, and every move leads to a good handhold or foothold. Therefore you need to trust and use your feet as they were designed – to be stood on!

The route we use is by the East Ridge. This is 68m in total, and is possibly the photograph you’ve seen (see our images) when you’ve been researching the Inn Pinn. We will break the climb up into bite-sized chunks. This makes people feel secure as we can watch from a vantage point whilst you are climbing. As instructors, we can then offer you tips and tricks to help you bypass a section that to you may look impassable.

In conclusion your ascent of the Inaccessible Pinnacle will be one to remember. We will take photos of your day on request, leaving you to focus and enjoy the surroundings. Our Guides will look after all the technical rope work and decision making that goes along with Rock Climbing. This then leaves you to fully concentrate on the job in hand. To conquer the Inn Pinn!

What to bring?

The walk into the Inaccessible Pinnacle is around 2/2.5 hours. So general walking kit will be needed for that. If you’re unsure then when we’ve confirmed your booking we will send out a full kit list. For the ascent of the Inn Pinn if you have your own climbing harness and helmet, then let us know. If not we can lend you these. We will provide all other climbing equipment and hard wear.

Useful Links:

The Guardian – Inn Pinn info – Here

UKC logbook – Here

Danny MacAskill amazing bike crossing! – Here

Experience needed:

No previous Rock Climbing experience is necessary. Although if you have been to a climbing wall/gym, or have Rock Climbed outside then all the better. The Inaccessible Pinnacle is more like a harder grade scramble, so experience in scrambling will help you but not essential. The approach climbs up the ridge of Sgurr Dearg and takes around 2.5 hours to reach the Inn Pinn. If you’re keen, willing, fit and up for it then this is for you.

Weather:

The Cuillins has its own unique weather. In fact it has the most unpredictable weather in the UK for sure! above all no two days are rarely the same! I have known it to have definitely four seasons in the same day. Therefore the longer you can stay up on Skye the better the chances are of you succeeding. Therefore if you are staying on Skye or in the nearby are for a week say, you’d have a greater success rate of bagging all 11 Munros, completing the traverse, or climbing the Inn Pinn! More often than not its the wind that will stop play on the Ridge, and so we will maybe aim for a solitary ‘easier’ Munro peak on the ridge like Banachdich say rather than doing some of the more technical peaks.

But what if…?

** Please note that in the past and on occasions the weather can mean that we don’t get to do your requested day out. For example climbing the Inn Pinn because of high winds and or rain, or both! This is not our fault obviously and just the way it goes. We therefore will try and offer an alternative day out for you as described above. If the weather is so bad that the sheep are blowing side ways! Then on occasions, and if this is suitable for your instructor, he or she may suggest an alternative date close to your original booking date. If your instructor or yourself cannot do another date, then sadly the day is what it is and therefore does not go ahead. Remember most instructors at busy periods work 6/7 days a week on the ridge so therefore cannot always fit and or suggest an alternative date. This is very rare but can/does happen so want to make people aware of this. After all it is the Isle of Skye.

Accommodation:

Skye can and does get BUSY! Therefore we suggest you book early to avoid disappointment…Some clients do leave it until the last minute only to find that most places are booked up. We recommend if your camping to stay at the Glenbrittle campsite (see below) This is great access and a lovely location. So too is the YHA in Glenbrittle.

Further out but not too far is Carbost and Satran. Portree can make a good base too although longer to drive to the start.

Pricing and Ratios:

The prices below are 1:1 or  your own private group so you will not be joining others for your Inn Pinn experience. On occasions we can join you with another person/party (solo travellers) But don’t usually do this as logistically it can be complicated!

We believe that Rock n Ridges prices are very competitive to other reputable and local providers. So therefore review our prices yearly and use only the best instructors for the Black Cuillin ridge.

The Inn Pinn is also suitable for parties of 4. This can still be with 1 instructor. Larger groups can be catered for, although we will require an additional instructor for safety and efficiency. Or else you’d  be there all day ascending! Please note – For larger groups, the ascents will be slower and usually an earlier start is needed. As don’t forget there usually isn’t just your party wanting and waiting to ascend this iconic peak! Plus there will be a lot of sitting around usually on the col which can be cold with no shelter or cafe like another peak we could mention….

Instructor 1 Person – Total Cost 2 Persons – Total Cost 3 Persons – Total Cost 4 Persons – Total Cost
1 Instructor £310 £320 £360 £450
For larger groups –

Please get in touch

Links:

BMC Scrambling the ridge – Here

Alpkit top 10 tips: Here

 

2022 saw many ascents in the Cuillin hills. Some of which was an ascent of the ‘Inn Pinn’ Here’s a quick video with Sky news anchor Kay Burley & British Adventurer Jordan Wylie discussing their ascent.