Second time out with Highland climbing Company. Ella on holiday in Kenya, Jack unable, as short notice. Wednesday night with good weather break for Friday and Saturday before back to rain and wind . Jack said he would try and get someone. Thursday he phoned he had got Micheál for Saturday 9am at Sligachan mountain rescue post, to climb Sgurr nan Gillian and Am Basteir. 9am Saturday Micheál arrived though he was going to be French with the accent in his name, no Irish. Discussed where he was going to take me for the day and followed his advice. Weather ok not quite clear, cloud stirring round tops. Set of Micheál chatting away, Irish people are always good for a laugh. Up the path to the start of the stones and rock, helmet on. He pointed to where we were going up to the saddle between Gillian and Basteir (not the tourist route). Turning port at reaching ridge to me (not right or left as always confused) , along to the bit where you stop, get rucksack off and harness on, looking up wondering where he was taking me, roped up, away up he went following him through hole in rock, up along onwards and upwards to the top of Gillian, cloud stirring round getting the odd view. Back down same way. Looking across to Basteir going down saw two people well of track away port of ridge on Basteir. Down through hole in rock abseil back down to rucksacks pickup onwards. Clear to top of Basteir up ridge steep smooth rock good grip on rock up to top met the two people coming down, that were of piste going up, very sheepish with there excuses. As Micheál said could have been in trouble if cloud was down. Nearly clear at top, back down again passing the two. Down the same way from ridge saddle to track again, helmet and harness off back to vehicles. 6hours 55 min. Second Munros outing with someone with me .definitely needed on Cuillins a guide. Micheál great company as guide. Enjoyed myself thoroughly with my outing with Micheál . Roll on the next clear weather break hopefully not to distant as past day in 9in snow on Maoile Lunndain 27/10/25.

Never been with guide or anybody on my quest to do the Munros at no 216 had done 4 of the 12 of the Cuillins myself, but climbing up and down and decided it is far to easy to get lost or get into big trouble as there are lots of well used tracks over the rocks and stones. The more used ones are the wrong paths as most have been taken forward and back looking for the right way. So a guide was needed. Who? Looking at lots of people’s video of the Cuillins and watching them I decided to use one from my local area of Oban a member of the mountain rescue team. She was booked for the most season so I asked for recommendations and she gave me Jack and Ella e mail. I was trying to do the Cuillins on clear days. So I contacted Ella. 3 months went by weather to hot and doing the Cairngorms Munros end of September came there was a weather gap and book in 1 to 1. At 8 am as arranged Ella and I started off clear at the bottom and cloudy and possibly windy at top. Ella’s pace seemed good not to fast or slow talking as we went. We arrived at the start of the up bit with stones and rocks hats on Ella in front slowed down watching me to see how. I was doing and assessing me of my abilities I am slow going up! Into the clouds or murk 20 to 30 meters visibility onwards and upwards she knew where to go watching me over and telling me what to look for out for . Then stopped to put on harness for rope work . The next bit easy enough on rope telling me foot holds to watch on way down, good hand holds on way up . Got to top fo Dubh Mor great then to get down, only one underhang bit unable to see foot holds but managed it . Only bit of climb all day that was tricky. Then up down sideways over to Alastair. On rope over top down other side harness off onto to the skree or Shute down to the loch and back to start. 6 hours 25 minutes. Ella great company kept me safe and told me of places round route as we walked would recommend her highly to anybody looking for a guide. Will be contacting Ella for my next 6 Cuillins Munros. Ian Hutcheson

We had a fabulous climbing trip to Torridon in August 2025. The guiding, route selection, timing, communication and general organisation were excellent. We were sad when the trip was finished but look forward to the next one.

A fabulous day out with Jack from The Highland Climbing Company, to complete our Skye munros. Two munros in question were Sgurr Dubh Mor and Sgurr Alasdair. Jack is a patient, encouraging and an experienced guide who knows the Skye mountains like the back of his hand Felt completely safe under his guidance, cannot recommend highly enough. This is the third time we have climbed with Jack in the Cuillens, and as said highly recommend him.

Fantastic, friendly and professional guide. Took us on routes we would never have contemplated doing on our own. Always felt safe, challenged and very well looked after. Excellent knowledge of the Cuillin.