South Glen Shiel

South Glen Shiel Ridge


Many munroists are attracted to the area by the prospect of the South Glen Shiel Ridge. This has seven munros on its 20km long ridge. It's a big walk to do taking between 8 - 12 hours. Many of the summits are very shapely with impressive north facing corries. The main ridge gets quite narrow in one or two brief places but otherwise it's quite straightforward.

The scenery upon this ridge is ever changing. On the east end of the ridge, empty moorland fills the southern and eastern field of view while the mountains to the south west on the edge of Knoydart, Spidean Mialach and Gleoreach, look particularly fine. Further west, Loch Duich gradually reveals itself and you increasingly feel like you are going into more mountainous domains. The road is largely hidden from view so it does feel quite isolated on the ridge.

On the main ridge, scrambling is very limited, a very short section on the eastern end is slightly narrow as goes for another section towards the center of the ridge. The only real scramble is a short rock step just west of the western summit, Creag nan Damh. some of the northern ridges will provide some fine sport. Try the ridge of Aonach air Chrith.

The Saddle and Sgurr na Sgine


These two summits lie west of the south glen shiel ridge and are sometimes included by folk doing the South Glen Shiel ridge. The Saddle is the most spectacular of the two. Its ridge, known as the Forcan Ridge, is a fine slabby knife edge. Some folk say it's the only proper route to the Saddle.

If you don't have a head for heights on rock then you can easily reach the Saddle from the east via the Bealach Coire Mhalagain - an easy walk into a corrie and a short stiff ascent up grass to the summit ridge.



The west ridge of The Saddle is a fine beautiful ridge, very narrow but the only scrambling involved is up and down short rock steps. There is some exposure on this ridge but it is brief. The ridge curls round northwards to give a great view of the Saddle's northern corrie.



Sgurr na Sgine is often climbed with the Saddle, not so dramatic but still a fine mountain in it's own right. The ascent of it's summit from The Saddle takes on steep rocky slopes to reach the summit ridge where a simple walk remains. This summit ridge can also be reached from the road via the top of Faochag - a very fine dramatic ridge when seen in the distance but a desperate steep slog when seen from the road.

Sgurr na Sgine is most painlessly reached by following the stream of the Allt Coire Toiteil up to the bealach east of Sgurr na Sgine. From here you can follow a stone wall round the south of Sgurr na Sgine to tackle easy slopes from there or tackle 'Concorde Ridge' a grade one scramble directly to it's summit.

Beinn Sgritheall, Beinn na h-Eaglaise and Beinn nan Caorach
These mountains are reached from Arnisdale and lie at the edge of Loch Hourn. The views from these summits provides a fine mix of loch, coast, mountain and glen. Beinn Sgritheall is the highest summit. The most popular approach to this summit is from Arnisdale steeply up to the Bealach Arnasdail at 600m followed by a steep walk up loose ground to the summit ridge from where is is a simple walk to its top.



The western approach starts on the road at Creag Ruadh (spot height 44m). This takes a very faint path diagonally upwards and leftwards through thick undergrowth to a forest where the ground gets very steep and the path becomes more obvious. Once on the moorland the ascent is quite straightforward. The ridge looks very steep from here and indeed some scrambling route can be found for the sporty but the ascent is no problem with any difficulties easily avoided.



The ascent of Beinn na h-Eaglaise is best made from the Bealach Arnasdail. This is extremely steep and requires scrambling but the ascent is fast and short. An easy walk on a narrow ridge can then be had north from the summit and round to Beinn nan Caorach where an easy descent back to Arnisdale can be had.