Glen Brittle Memorial Hut

The hut is held in trust on behalf of the BMC and and Mountaineering Scotland. Probably uniquely, the hut is also a War Memorial having been built to commemorate those mountaineers who lost their lives in service during wartime.

Who can book?

The hut is open all year round and can be booked by Individual and Club members of the BMC and Mountaineering Scotland.

Location

The hut is situated immediately below the Cuillin Ridge, in the village of Glen Brittle. The path to Sgurr Dearg and the “Inn Pin” starts at the hut and other parts of the ridge may be accessed easily. The situation is superb yet accessed by road. For those wishing less challenging terrain, Loch Brittle beach is nearby and there are excellent coastal and forest walks, often shared with sea eagles, peregrine falcons and many other birds of interest. The hut is also a fine base for other outdoor activities, including sea kayaking, mountain biking on forest trails etc. There is also excellent sea cliff climbing on Skye.

Accommodation

The hut has spaces for 20 persons, and includes a kitchen, showers and drying room.

History of the Glen Brittle Hut

Glen Brittle Memorial Hut has offered a base for mountaineers coming to Skye since the 1960s. People are often surprised to learn that the hut was built as a result of a public appeal for donations, with the aim of serving as a War Memorial to mountaineers who died in the Second World War.

The prime mover was Harry Spilsbury, who had been a Prisoner of War in the First World War and he was active in its management until his death on Beinn Alligin in 1970.

The hut was formally opened in 1965 and has been carefully maintained ever since. Financial support for it's latest work came from the BMC and the Scottish Mountaineering Trust, with additional support from Mountaineering Scotland and volunteers from the Rucksack Club and Forth Valley Mountaineering Club.

In 2019 a new memorial plaque was installed at the hut, alongside the original, commemorating those who have died in other wars and more recent conflicts. A memorial plaque in the hut also commemorates Mick Burke, mountaineer and cameraman who was lost near the summit of Everest during the 1975 expedition.

The visitors’ book records Lord Hunt of Everest fame visiting the hut in 1966 and many other well-known names of the past and current climbing scenes. The “climbs” register filled in by hut users over the years include records of many first ascents and other notable achievements in the hills.