Finishing off Kintail in Forcan style

[Johnny Corbett]

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.

Biod an Fhidhich

The Graham again

More of the Graham

View to Loch Duich from the Graham

Jimmy & Mo's first Graham

Glen Shiel

Biod an Fhidich

First obstacle on the ridge

The ridge

The ridge

The ridge

Cairn on the ridge

Trigpoint

Sgurr na Sgine

Route down

[mountain thyme]

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

[rockhopper]

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

[monty]

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

[mrssanta]

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.

[robertphillips]

Well done johnny the saddle and the forcan ridge are a great walk.

[robertphillips]

Well done johnny the saddle and forcan ridge are a great walk.

[Gavin99]

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

[Johnny Corbett]

no like you to get lost at the start of walks Aye it's normally during the walk i get lost

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

I too will return on a finer day

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

Cheers Monty

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.

Indeed it does mrssanta and look forward to returning allready

Well done johnny the saddle and the forcan ridge are a great walk.

Cheers a great walk indeed

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

Yip save it for a nice day if you can Gavin

[Bod]

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

[jonny616]

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

[pollyh33]

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

[simon-b]

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.

[Johnny Corbett]

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

Thanks Bod the Graham was certainly worth the short detour.

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

It's not too bad, just extra care if wet. Keep it for a good day Jonny

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

Thanks Polly. Where the path splits there is a sign that says wimps this way if you don't fancy the ridge

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.

Cheers Simon it was but still would have prefered a day like you got

[Stuart Angus]

Absolutely forcan amazing Johnny just a shame about the weather. Nice one