The Saddle is the finest of the Kintail peaks and one of the most magnificent mountains in the Highlands. Its ascent via the Forcan Ridge is a difficult but classic scramble; the scrambling can be avoided if needed and the walk still has fantastic views.
Summary
A tough mountain walk with steep and rugged terrain. Ascending via the Forcan Ridge is a hard and exposed scramble; this part of the walk can be avoided as indicated in the text (reducing the walk to Grade 4)
Terrain
NG965146
Grid ref
13km/8 miles
Distance
Grade
NB. Hillwalking when there is snow on the hills requires an ice-axe, crampons and winter skills and experience.
Users'
rating
Citilink buses from Glasgow and Inverness to Portree pass along the A87(T).
Open Traveline Scotland
Public transport
1. Park at the layby on the north side of the A87(T) about three hundred metres east of where a track goes off the road to Achnagart Farm. Cross the road (carefully) and walk east along it until reaching the foot of the stalkers path leading up to the col between Biod an Fhithich and Meallan Odhar. This excellent path winds two and fro up the hillside before making a long traverse to reach the col.
2. From the col, turn left. The path traverses to the right hand side of the summit of Meallan Odhar, reaching the ridge once more between that peak and the foot of the Forcan ridge. When the path begins to climb steeply towards the first rocky steps, a choice must be made as regards whether to tackle the Forcan ridge or avoid it. If avoiding the ridge, turn left here and contour the slope, keeping just to the right of a drystone dyke; this leads up to the Bealach Coire Mhalagain. Otherwise, continue on the main path directly up to the Forcan Ridge.
3. The scrambling is simple at first, but the ridge becomes progressively more exposed. Some sections are a real knife-edge, but there is a worn scrambling path which avoids the rocks by keeping just to the right at several points. The exposure is however considerable. After passing the top of Sgurr na Forcan there is an awkward steep descent of a pitch of about 10 metres; this can be avoided using a gully to the left or a rake to the right. Beyond this the ridge leads over a minor top to ridge the summit of the Saddle, at 1010 metres. The trig point is slightly further along the ridge
4. To descend to Bealach Coire Mhalagain, head a short distance south of the trig point to where a path can be seen beginning to make the descent. It winds clearly and steeply at first before petering out in the boulder fields further down. Beyond the boulder fields a boggy traverse eastwards leads to the Bealach. If you have reached here by the drystone dyke, avoiding the Forcan Ridge, use the descent route just described to reach the summit of the Saddle.
5. To continue to Sgurr na Sgine, there is a sketchy path which winds up the rocky slopes beyond. It is a stiff climb, but you should reach the ridge without too much difficulty. Turn south along the ridge, easily reaching the northwest top of Sgurr na Sgine. From here, the ridge becomes very rocky on the continuation to the main summit which is perched above a steep face at 946 metres; the second Munro of the day.
Photo © Nigel Brown, under CCSA.
6. Return over the northwest top and continue along the ridge to its elegant termination at the minor summit of Faochag. This peak has a dramatic outline when seen from higher up Glen Shiel. The descent is directly down the northeast ridge, which looks impossible from some viewpoints. Closer inspection reveals that there is a path the whole way down to the glen, with views of the great wall of the Five Sisters opposite. Cross the Allt Mhalagain at the foot of the ridge (or continue on the west bank if this is impossible) and walk up to the road. You are now only about half a kilometre from the layby and the start.
Photo © Nigel Brown, under CCSA.
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