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Finishing off Kintail in Forcan style
Finishing off Kintail in Forcan style
by Johnny Corbett » Fri Sep 28, 2012 9:04 pm
Route description: The Saddle, Forcan Ridge and Sgurr na Sgine
Munros included on this walk: Sgurr na Sgine, The Saddle
Grahams included on this walk: Biod an Fhithich
Date walked: 26/09/2012
Time taken: 7.3 hours
Register or Login free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).The forecast for this day in Kintail was white cloud and no rain so we took the chance to head up to do The Forcan Ridge, hoping the cloud would be high enough for some nice views and good walking conditions. Alas it was not to be with the best view of the day being from the Graham, Biod an Fhithich. The walk was generally done in low cloud and drizzly rain making conditions slippy at times and not good for decent photos. However the ridge was still very enjoyable and in my opinion more difficult than the Aonach Eagach, more so down to the conditions i.e the rain and wind, but also because you were kept on your toes for virtually the whole ridge where as the Aonach Eagach was for only really three sections of its ridge. We started the walk from the layby just short of the path that leads to the Bealach between Biod an Fhitich and Meallan Odhar, taking the path up beside the Allt Mhalagain before crossing over to pick up the main path. We probably should have walked down the road at the start to get on this path and probably the reason we got a funny look from a teacher leading a school group up four of The South Shiel Ridge, when we told him we were doing The Forcan Ridge. It wasn't long before we were on the other path and once up we made the short diversion to the Graham. We then returned and followed the path to the ridge, where we came to a cairn and the bypass path. We left the path making our way over the ridge and its many obstacles, a ridge i would like to return to on a clear day. Once on the ridge there were other bypass paths, some which we took due to the conditions and others we didn't. We eventually came to a cairn and then the trig point, where a quick photo was took before taking the path that leads to Bealach Coire Mhalagain. From here we climbed and then followed the ridge round to Sgurr na Sgine and from here decided to head down to the Allt Coire Toiteil rather than down Faochaig, again this decision being made by the weather. Once down we picked up the path back to the layby. In all it was a good day but not as good as we'd hoped for weather wise and not quite the style i'd hoped to finish Kintail in.
Re: Finishing off Kintail in Forcan style
by mountain thyme » Fri Sep 28, 2012 9:55 pm
no like you to get lost at the start of walks
Pity about the weather.... i had a cracking day when I LED mgmt dooterbang and woodsyboy over these two

Pity about the weather.... i had a cracking day when I LED mgmt dooterbang and woodsyboy over these two

Re: Finishing off Kintail in Forcan style
by rockhopper » Fri Sep 28, 2012 11:12 pm
a real shame about the weather Johnny especially at the top - still looks like you all had an enjoyable day nevertheless - have to get back to this ridge at some point myself - cheers 

Re: Finishing off Kintail in Forcan style
by monty » Sat Sep 29, 2012 9:04 am
Been in the clag many a time Johnny so well done on getting out. In fact it was clagged in when we done these but not so bad
Danger: slippy when wet




- monty
Re: Finishing off Kintail in Forcan style
by mrssanta » Sat Sep 29, 2012 10:23 am
well I suppose it gives you a good excuse to go back - but it does give a certain sense of achievement and satisfaction going out in claggy weather, doesn't it.
Re: Finishing off Kintail in Forcan style
by robertphillips » Sat Sep 29, 2012 7:18 pm
Well done johnny the saddle and the forcan ridge are a great walk. 

Re: Finishing off Kintail in Forcan style
by robertphillips » Sat Sep 29, 2012 7:20 pm
Well done johnny the saddle and forcan ridge are a great walk. 

Re: Finishing off Kintail in Forcan style
by Gavin99 » Sat Sep 29, 2012 9:44 pm
Nice , apart from the bit about this being harder than the AE
That's a good idea to include the Graham , one for a nice dry day I think

That's a good idea to include the Graham , one for a nice dry day I think

Re: Finishing off Kintail in Forcan style
by Johnny Corbett » Sat Sep 29, 2012 10:43 pm
Yip save it for a nice day if you can Gavinmountain thyme wrote:no like you to get lost at the start of walksAye it's normally during the walk i get lost
I too will return on a finer dayrockhopper wrote:a real shame about the weather Johnny especially at the top - still looks like you all had an enjoyable day nevertheless - have to get back to this ridge at some point myself - cheers
Cheers Montymonty wrote:Been in the clag many a time Johnny so well done on getting out. In fact it was clagged in when we done these but not so badDanger: slippy when wet
![]()
Indeed it does mrssanta and look forward to returning allreadymrssanta wrote:well I suppose it gives you a good excuse to go back - but it does give a certain sense of achievement and satisfaction going out in claggy weather, doesn't it.
Cheers a great walk indeedrobertphillips wrote:Well done johnny the saddle and the forcan ridge are a great walk.
Gavin99 wrote:Nice , apart from the bit about this being harder than the AE![]()
That's a good idea to include the Graham , one for a nice dry day I think

Re: Finishing off Kintail in Forcan style
by Bod » Sun Sep 30, 2012 12:36 am
Well done you guys, a cracking walk and well done visiting the Graham. I still have this one to report on one day soon hopefully? Interesting debate on comparisons with AE, I keep changing my views on that




Re: Finishing off Kintail in Forcan style
by jonny616 » Sun Sep 30, 2012 3:00 pm
Holy s**t your photos of the ridge make it look well scary. Shame about the old clag fella being about but hay ho them's the breaks. Might add this to the growing list of good weather hills which usually results in me being in the clag also



Re: Finishing off Kintail in Forcan style
by pollyh33 » Sun Sep 30, 2012 3:09 pm
Hi Johnny,
Super scary pics of the ridge
Still have to get up there myself, thanks for warning me about it posing even more dangers than A/E
I suppose having bypass paths gives you options that you don't have on the A/E

Super scary pics of the ridge


Still have to get up there myself, thanks for warning me about it posing even more dangers than A/E


I suppose having bypass paths gives you options that you don't have on the A/E


Re: Finishing off Kintail in Forcan style
by simon-b » Sun Sep 30, 2012 5:29 pm
Nice to see you've got this ridge done, Johnny. It must still have been a good adventure despite the lack of views.
You got some good, atmospheric close-up photos in the mist.
You got some good, atmospheric close-up photos in the mist.
Re: Finishing off Kintail in Forcan style
by Johnny Corbett » Sun Sep 30, 2012 7:44 pm
Thanks Bod the Graham was certainly worth the short detour.Bod wrote:Well done you guys, a cracking walk and well done visiting the Graham. I still have this one to report on one day soon hopefully? Interesting debate on comparisons with AE, I keep changing my views on that![]()
![]()

It's not too bad, just extra care if wet. Keep it for a good day Jonnyjonny616 wrote:Holy s**t your photos of the ridge make it look well scary. Shame about the old clag fella being about but hay ho them's the breaks. Might add this to the growing list of good weather hills which usually results in me being in the clag also![]()

Thanks Polly. Where the path splits there is a sign that says wimps this way if you don't fancy the ridgepollyh33 wrote:Hi Johnny,
Super scary pics of the ridge![]()
![]()
Still have to get up there myself, thanks for warning me about it posing even more dangers than A/E:lol
I suppose having bypass paths gives you options that you don't have on the A/E![]()

Cheers Simon it was but still would have prefered a day like you gotsimon-b wrote:Nice to see you've got this ridge done, Johnny. It must still have been a good adventure despite the lack of views.
You got some good, atmospheric close-up photos in the mist.

Re: Finishing off Kintail in Forcan style
by Stuart Angus » Sun Sep 30, 2012 10:05 pm
Absolutely forcan amazing Johnny
just a shame about the weather. Nice one 


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