Beinn Sgulaird - WNW ridge
Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 2:33 pmOnce you've got to the top of this wonderful hill you'll be wondering whether you really want to go back the way you've come or whether you can face the "unrelentingly steep" WNW ridge. Well, let me try to persuade you to give the ridge a try!
For one thing I find it's always a disappointment to return the same way you've just come, especially when there's rough ground and significant up and down to retrace. And while the WNW ridge is undeniably steep and scrappy, it's not that bad - I'm sure you'll see worse. But most importantly, once you're halfway down you'll take a look back over your shoulder into the corrie nestling between Sgulaird and Meall Garbh, which for some reason doesn't show well from above, and realise what a truly magnificent hill this is.
As a final inducement, let me mention the entertaining yomping in prospect as you struggle to find a (pathless) route through the woods and scrubs of the lower slopes. To add to your difficulties these are threaded by endless numbers of busy little burns. However, there is wildlife and general interest wherever you look, so as long as you've a sense of humour, I guarantee you'll enjoy the experience enormously.
[Added after original post. Inspection of the WalkHighlands map for Sgulaird shows that an estate track now leaves the excellent tarmac road serving Taraphocain and comes a long way up the hill towards the WNW ridge. I picked this up about .5k from the road having contoured through said woods and scrubs. If I'd not lost my glasses on Glas Bheinn Mhor the previous day I might have seen this in the distance, continued straight down the ridge and saved myself some time. If anybody sees my specs, please let me know - they're probably by the summit cairn and there'll be a (small - don't get too excited) reward]
So in conclusion, if the weather is fair and there's not been excessive rainfall I earnestly recommend the WNW ridge for descent. I came off Beinn Sgulaird this way on 21/05/2012, a day of soft winds and glorious sunshine. It was pure bliss!
For one thing I find it's always a disappointment to return the same way you've just come, especially when there's rough ground and significant up and down to retrace. And while the WNW ridge is undeniably steep and scrappy, it's not that bad - I'm sure you'll see worse. But most importantly, once you're halfway down you'll take a look back over your shoulder into the corrie nestling between Sgulaird and Meall Garbh, which for some reason doesn't show well from above, and realise what a truly magnificent hill this is.
As a final inducement, let me mention the entertaining yomping in prospect as you struggle to find a (pathless) route through the woods and scrubs of the lower slopes. To add to your difficulties these are threaded by endless numbers of busy little burns. However, there is wildlife and general interest wherever you look, so as long as you've a sense of humour, I guarantee you'll enjoy the experience enormously.
[Added after original post. Inspection of the WalkHighlands map for Sgulaird shows that an estate track now leaves the excellent tarmac road serving Taraphocain and comes a long way up the hill towards the WNW ridge. I picked this up about .5k from the road having contoured through said woods and scrubs. If I'd not lost my glasses on Glas Bheinn Mhor the previous day I might have seen this in the distance, continued straight down the ridge and saved myself some time. If anybody sees my specs, please let me know - they're probably by the summit cairn and there'll be a (small - don't get too excited) reward]
So in conclusion, if the weather is fair and there's not been excessive rainfall I earnestly recommend the WNW ridge for descent. I came off Beinn Sgulaird this way on 21/05/2012, a day of soft winds and glorious sunshine. It was pure bliss!
We certainly went up this steepish aspect of Sgulaird on a fine day with sunshine then afterwards we paid our respects to Beinn Fionnlaidh before returning to the head of the sealoch. I've never been back to Fionnlaidh but have returned to Sgulaird by the now accepted way with very fine views out to the Mull hills. 
Sgulaird and the neighbouring Corbett are very fine hills to visit.