South Glen Shiel Ridge..

[Coutts94]

Anyone done the South Glen Shiel ridge solo? How did you tackle the road? Just walk it at the end?

I have them planned for the next few weeks but really dont want to walk the road after 7 Munros

Would it be possible to cycle the road at the start, then pick up bike at end?

Any tips welcome

[JohnZD]

Yeah, in my mad youth I did all of the South Ridge from Cluanie to The Saddle, and walked all the way back up the road. I don’t recommend it. From memory it was 12 1/2 hours, 25 miles and 10,000 feet ascent

[iain_atkinson_1986]

I did the Brothers ridge by walking down the A87 at about 6am. If you're walking I'd recommend setting out very early and doing the road walk first. There are some tight bends and the A87 can be heaving with folk heading to Skye.

You'll be able to cut off a couple of km by heading onto the ridge from the path that starts at the 1719 battlefield site and up onto Creag nam Damh rather than the path that takes you to Bealach Duibh Leac.

[Border Reiver]

I left my car at a layby at the West end of the ridge and stood in my walking gear near it with a cardboard sign saying "CLUANIE INN". I got a lift from fellow walkers within 5 mins (the sign going back into my car boot). I was able to start walking from Cluanie by 8.00am. Hitchhikers are more likely to get a lift early in the day before they get hot and sweaty, and drivers who happen to be walkers will be more inclined to pick up fellow walkers, especially if they know their destination. The guys who picked me up were also going to do the South Glen Shiel ridge and I promised to give them a lift back up to their car at Cluanie - but they set off quickly and I never saw them again.

[Fairweather Softie]

Left bike at Cluanie and then drove to west end to start, cycling back to car after I came off hill. Would recommend going in that direction as you get the downhill gradient.

[NickyRannoch]

I walked it a couple of years ago. It was awful.

At least 2 hours in top of an already huge day and there isn't much distance between you and the HGVs and everyone else pelting along.

Next time I booked a taxi for the morning and got dropped off at start.

[al78]

Is the bus service along the glen a feasible option?

[SummitViews]

I did it a couple of years back . Posted on a Meet Up group and met a nice Polish lad, 2 cars , one at the Cluanie , one at the lay-by . Job done great day

[Pointless Parasite]

Is the bus service along the glen a feasible option?

Yes, just get the 915 Citylink bus from Shiel Bridge at 9 am. It drops you off at the Cluanie 20 minutes later.

[PeteR]

I did it from the south, down the kinloch hourn road. Parked up just over the little bridge and made a circuit using the tracks. No dodging traffic.....only Highland cows 🤣

[WalkWithWallace]

Left bike at Cluanie and then drove to west end to start, cycling back to car after I came off hill. Would recommend going in that direction as you get the downhill gradient.

This or the Citylink bus.

[iain_atkinson_1986]

I did it from the south, down the kinloch hourn road. Parked up just over the little bridge and made a circuit using the tracks. No dodging traffic.....only Highland cows 🤣

Which points did you get on and off the ridge and did you walk back along the track marked south of the ridge? Always been interested in heading down there.

[NickyRannoch]

Is the bus service along the glen a feasible option?

Yes, just get the 915 Citylink bus from Shiel Bridge at 9 am. It drops you off at the Cluanie 20 minutes later.

Not sure that's much help. You still end up 6 miles from your car. I suppose the advantage over the other way around is at least it's 6 miles downhill.

[al78]

Is the bus service along the glen a feasible option?

Yes, just get the 915 Citylink bus from Shiel Bridge at 9 am. It drops you off at the Cluanie 20 minutes later.

Not sure that's much help. You still end up 6 miles from your car. I suppose the advantage over the other way around is at least it's 6 miles downhill.

If the bus does not have a scheduled stop between Shiel Brudge and Cluanie Inn, it may be possible to ask the bus driver to drop you off at the battle site, where the main road crosses the river and there is a car park, assuming there is a safe place for the bus to stop.

[davemorrissey]

Having done the Brothers Ridge by leaving a bike at Cluanie, and finding the cycle back was through a wind tunnel that was nowhere near as downhill as I thought, I have the same question.

I'm hoping for the Sisters I can park near what used to be Jac-o-Bite and request a stop at the Glen Shiel car park, and for the South Ridge I can flag the bus down at the layby at the end of the walk and get off at Cluanie. At least this way if it doesn't stop I can go somewhere else instead.

I did once climb up to the South Ridge from the layby at the West end. I found this a constant, rough and tiring climb and decided to turn back; the approach from Cluanie seems much easier and leaves more in the legs for the rest of the walk.