Munros Tables SMC The Munros - Scotland's Highest Mountains

 The Scottish Highlands


Glen Shiel
The High Mountains of Britain & Ireland NW Highlands SMC

Photographs of The Saddle

and Sgur nan Forcan ridge

 in Glen Shiel

The Saddle from Sgur nan Forcan

The Saddle ( 3314ft, 1010m )

from Sgurr nan Forcan

The traverse of the Forcan Ridge,
 in winter or summer,

 is one of the classic mountain expeditions
 in Scotland.

The mountain's name refers to the shape
 of the summit ridge,

when seen from Glen Shiel,
 with the twin summits and ridge in between
 resembling a saddle.



The Saddle

The Saddle





Forcan Ridge on The Saddle

Forcan Ridge
 on The Saddle



Forcan Ridge

Forcan Ridge

 




Forcan Ridge on The Saddle

Forcan Ridge
on The Saddle





Forcan Ridge on The Saddle

Forcan Ridge
 on The Saddle






Forcan Ridge on The Saddle

Forcan Ridge
 on The Saddle






Forcan Ridge

Forcan Ridge

 








The Saddle

The Saddle ( 3314ft, 1010m )

 






The Saddle

 The Saddle





The Brothers Ridge and The Saddle

 The Brothers Ridge

and The Saddle






The Saddle

The Saddle ( 3314ft, 1010m )

 






The Saddle

The Saddle






The Saddle

Trig Point
 on The Saddle





Forcan Ridge from Sgurr na Sgine

Forcan Ridge

 from 
Sgurr na Sgine





Forcan Ridge from Sgurr na Sgine

Forcan Ridge

 from 
Sgurr na Sgine






The Saddle and Forcan Ridge

The Saddle and Forcan Ridge





The Saddle and Forcan Ridge from Sgurr na Sgine

The Saddle and Forcan Ridge

from Sgurr na Sgine






Forcan Ridge and The Saddle from Sgur na Sgine

Forcan Ridge and The Saddle

 from Sgurr na Sgine



Glen Shiel

Glen Shiel





Five Sisters of Kintail from The Saddle

 Five Sisters of Kintail

from The Saddle





Five Sisters of Kintail from The Saddle

 Five Sisters of Kintail

from The Saddle





Map of The Saddle

Map of The Saddle



Map for The Saddle

Map for The Saddle


Route description for The Saddle:


Location: Kintail
Grade: Serious mountain walk. A mountaineering route in full winter conditions
Distance: 10miles / 16km
Time: 7-8 hours


An Diollaid is the finest mountain in one of Scotland’s most Munro-rich areas. The name describes the low-slung ridge between the hill's two main peaks and its long eastern ridge, the Forcan Ridge. This is a narrow, airy and exhilarating scramble, one of the finest ridges in the western Highlands. Climbed in combination with the neighbouring Munro of Sgurr na Sgine (3,100ft) and its top, Faochag, this outing is the finest in the
Glen Shiel area.
Glen Shiel's popularity with hillwalkers is not surprising — there are no fewer than 20 Munros lining up on either side of the A87 road. Nine Munros rear up from a succession of superb scooped corries on the south side, and with 11 more on the north side of the road,  the area is tailormade for that modern phenomenon, the car-borne hill basher.
But An Diollaid is the epitome of all that’s good in west Highland mountains. Seen from the steep slopes of Faochag, the Forcan Ridge appears like a humped Stegosaurus' back — a narrow spine created by rough plates of rock, culminating in its very own top, Sgurr na Forcan, before dipping slightly and rising again to the east top of An Dioliaid.
The approach to the foot of the Forcan Ridge follows a beautifully crafted stalkers’ path which leaves Glen Shiel just southeast of the quarry at Achnagart and eases you up for more than 500 metres to a grassy bealach between Biod an Fhithich and Meallan Odhar. Head south over Meallan Odhar and then continue south-west across another grassy bealach to reach the foot of the rocky staircase that soon narrows into the Forcan Ridge.
Try to stick with the crest of the ridge if you can but take note: in wintry conditions this is more of a climb than a walk.
If it all becomes
too exposed and airy you can drop down to the right where a path weaves its way up and through the lesser difficulties, but of course that may not be too obvious under snow. The continuation to the Saddle from the top of the Forcan Ridge, Sgurr nan Forcan, is narrow and steep in places and involves one particularly steep down climbing section. The holds are there if you look for them and, again, if things get too hairy you can avoid the awkward step by an easier route on the south side.
Descents can be made down the north ridge over Sgurr na Creige, or west and then north round Coire Uaine, but most visitors will want to add Sgurr na Sgine to their day’s tally and this Munro, and its outlier, Faochag ( the Whelk ) are about 2km southeast of the summit.
Sgurr na Sgine can be easily climbed from the Bealach Coire Mhalagain —up onto the north ridge where a gentle stroll takes you round the head of Coire Toileil to the summit. Retrace your steps now, back around the corrie rim to the summit of Faochag, whose northeast ridge drops you steeply back into the depths of Glen Shiel.



ROUTE PLANNER

Map: OS 1:50,000 Landranger sheet 33  ( Loch Alsh, Glen Shiel & Loch Hourn );
Harveys Mountain Map Knoydart, Kintail
& Glen Affric
Start/finish: A87 at Achnagart ( GR: NG964148 ).
Distance: 10 miles/16km
Time: 7-8 hours
Public Transport: Glasgow-Skye Citylink buses stop at Shiel Bridge, 5km from the start.

Route:

Follow the rising path trom the road
at Achnagart W to the bealach between Biod an Fhithich and Meail Odhar.
Head
S then SW to the foot ot the Forcan Ridge, which is then ciimbed to the summit of Sgurr na Forcan.
Continue W down steep
rocks and traverse another narrow ridge to the E top ot An Dioilaid, and then the summit.
Descend to the Beaiach Coire
Mhaiagain and climb to the NW top of Sgurr na Sgine.
Follow the ridge SE to the
summit.
Descend by Faochag and its steep
NE ridge.




Route Map for The Saddle

Route Map for The Saddle


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Western Scotland & the Western Isles OS Road Map Northern Scotland OS Road MapSouthern Scotland OS Road MapGairloch, Ullapool & Loch Maree OS Map Aviemore, Granton & Cairngorm Mountains OS Map Iona & Mull MapIsle of Arran OS Explorer MapIsle of Arran OS Landranger Map Arran - Official Tourist Map

Torridon Map Kintail, Glen Shiel - Map Cairngorm - Map Arrochar Alps - Map Glasgow Popular Hills - Map Lochnagar & Glenshee - Map Skye, Storr & Trotternish - MapSkye - THe Cuillin The Munros Map Ben Nevis Map West Highland Way - Map Ben Nevis & Glencoe OS Landranger Map

North Skye: Dunvegan & Portree - OS Landranger Mao Skye: Dunvegan - OS Explorer Map Skye: Trotternish & the Storr - OS Explorer Map Skye: Portree & Bracadale - OS Explorer Map Glen Shiel & Loch Hourn - OS Landranger Map An Teallach & Slioch - OS Explorer Map Creag Meagaidh & Loch Laggan - OS Explorer Map Braemar, Tomintoul & Glen Avon - OS Explorer Map Kingussie & Monadhliath Mountains





  

Loch Lomond & Trossachs - 25 Walks  Loch Lomond & Trossachs NP - Vol 1 - West  Loch Lomond & Trossachs NP - Vol 2 - East

Lonely Planet - Scotland  Scottish Highlands & Islands - Rough Guide  Scotland - Rough Guide   Magic of the Munros  Scottish Mountains  Scotland's Mountains

The High Mountains of Britain & Ireland  Munros Tables SMC  The Munros - Scotland's Highest Mountains  Scotland - Lonely Planet  NW Highlands - SMC Guide  Exploring the Far NW of Scotland  Guide to Walks in NW Highlands

Walking in Scotland - Lonely Planet Mountain: Exploring Britain's High Places  National 3 Peaks Walk Scottish Highlands Hillwalking Guide The Scottish Islands Bouldering in Scotland

Scotland - Lonely PlanetScotland's Highlands & Islands - Lonley Planet Scotland's Highlands & Islands - Rough Guide Highlands & Islands of Scotland - Hidden Places Rough Guide ScotlandScottish Highlands & Islands - Rough Guide Rough Guide: Scotland Lonely Planet, Walking in ScotlandLonely Planet - Walking in Britain

50 Walks in Glasgow & SW Scotland 50 Walks in the Scottish Highlands & Islands 50 Walks in Edinburgh & Eastern Scotland 100 Walks in ScotlandVisit Scotland - Touring Guide Scotland: Where to Stay - Hotels & Guest Houses Scotland: Where to Stay - Bed & Breakfast Hillwalker: The MunrosHillwalker: The Corbetts

The Munros: Scottish Mountaineering Club The Munros and Tops The Corbetts - SMC Call of the Corbetts Munros & Corbetts Chart The High Mountains of Britain and Ireland Magic of the Munros The Munros - Scotland's highest mountains

Munro Almanac The Munros: Scottish Mountaineering Club Hamish's Mountain WalkThe Munros in WinterMy Scotland by Hamish MacInnes 50 More Routes on Scottish Mountains Scottish Mountains - 50 Classic Routes

The High Mountains of Britain and Ireland Scotlands 100 Best Walks Scottish Mountains - 100 Best RoutesBig Walks of Great Britain Classic Walks in Britain & IrelandScottish Hill & Mountain NamesClassic Mountain Scrambles in Scotland Classic Climbs - Central & Southern Highlands 

Mountaineering in Scotland and Undiscovered Scotland by W.H.MurrayMore Wilderness Walks Wilderness Walks Wilderness Walks 2 - Video Ski Mountaineering in Scotland Ski Touring in ScotlandSkye Scrambles The Cuillin

Skye - W.A.PoucherA Long Walk on the Isle of Skye 50 Best Routes on Skye and Raasay Scrambles in Skye The CuillinsThe Isle of Skye

50 Best Routes on Skye and Raasay - Chris Townsend Pathfinder Guide: Skye and NW Highlands WalksPathfinder Guide: Fort William and Glen Coe Walks Rambler's Guide: Ben Nevis and Glen CoeGlencoe Rock & Ice Climbing Scrambles in Lochaber Rock Climbing in ScotlandRock Climbing SkillsThe FACE: Six Great Climbing Adventures Ben Nevis: Rock & Ice Climbs

Great Snow & Ice Climbs of the British IslesTorridon: A Walkers Guide Scottish Hill Tracks100 Best Routes on Scottish Mountains From the Himalaya to Skye One Man's Mountains - Tom Patey A Mountaineer's Tale - W.H.MurrayDougal Haston: Philosophy of RiskLandscapes of the Scottish Highlands & the Isle of Skye

The Glens of Rannoch Cairngorm Glens Glens of Trossach Knoydart to Morven Scottish Glens: The Atholl GlensThe Isle of Arran The Isle of Arran Walking in the Hebrides North to the Cape - Fort William to Cape Wrath

  Southern Highlands - MapNorthern Highlands Central Highlands West Highlands The Islands Central Highlands SMC NW Highlands SMC Central Highlands: Six Long Distance Walks Exploring Scottish Hill Tracks

The Cairngorms Cairngorms, Lochnagar, Mounth - SMC Walks in the Cairngorms The Cairngorms of Scotland Cairngorms Walks Winter Climbs in the CaingormsThe Cairngorms - Cicerone GuideCairngorms - Mountain Bike Guide101 Mountain Bike Routes in Scotland

Northern Highlands, Volume 1 - SMC Northern Highlands, Volume 2 - SMC The Cairngorms Vol. 1 - SMC The Cairngorms Vol. 2 - SMC NE Outcrops - SMC Highland Outcrops Scottish Winter ClimbsBen Nevis Rock & Ice Climbs Winter Climbs: Ben Nevis and Glencoe

West Highland Way: Official GuideWest Highland Way: Rucksac Readers West Highland Way: TrailblazerThe West Highland WayWest Highland Way: Footprint MapWest Highland Way - Map West Highland Way - Map 100 Hillwalks around GlasgowWest Highland Way Wet Highland Way - Official Guide

Oban, Mull & Kintyre - OS Pathfinder Guide Loch Lomond & Trossachs Walks Mull & Iona - Pevensey GuideIsle of Bute - Pevensey GuideThe Grahams - Scotland's 2000ft Peaks The Book of the BivvySkye 360 - Walking the Coastline Isle of Skye - A Walkers GuideSkye - Pevensey Island Guide

Geology & Landscapes of Scotland The Highland Geology Trail Weather for Hillwakers & Climbers Mountain Weather Guide to the Weather Weather: Collins Gem Hillwalking Handbook for Mountain Leaders Hillwalkers Manual Hillwalkers Guide to Mountaineering

All Mountain Skier Off Piste Mountain Travellers HandbookMountaineering: Freedom of the Hills Mountaineering: The Freedom of the HillsHistory of Mountain ClimbingWorld's most significant ClimbsClimbing Free: My Life in the Vertical World

Mountain Leadership Handbook of Climbing - Hamish MacInnesRope Techniques: The complete guideMountain Skills Training Handbook First Aid on Mountains Mountains of the Mind - A history..Mountains of the Mind - ExperiencesWalking the Munros Vol 2: Northern Highlands & Cairngorms

Scotland's Far North  Walking the Munros Vol 1: Southern, Central & Western Highlands

Skye & the Western Isles Scotland Travel Guide Lonely Planet Walking Through Scotland - From the Border to Cape Wrath Discovering Scotland - Atlas & Guide Autumn Road to the IslesBritain's Best WalksBest Routes on Britain's Mountains The Joy of Climbing

200 Challenging Walks in Britain & Ireland Scotland - The Wild Places - Colin Prior Frontiers: The World's Best Hikes Great British Ridge Walks Torridon - Life & Wildlife in the Scottish Highlands Scottish Mountains - 50 Classic Routes Mountain Days & Bothy Nights

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