walkhighlands

Share your personal walking route experiences in Scotland, and comment on other peoples' reports.
Warning Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. Summer routes may not be viable or appropriate in winter. See winter information on our skills and safety pages for more information.

Saddle and Sgurr na Sgine with high camp

Saddle and Sgurr na Sgine with high camp


Postby mrssanta » Sun Jul 14, 2013 5:32 pm

Munros included on this walk: Sgùrr na Sgìne, The Saddle

Date walked: 08/07/2013

Distance: 14.5 km

4 people think this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).

Well lots of folks have written excellent reports recently about these two hills so I just drop in my two pennorth on our smashing week we have just had in Kintail. How to start writing about it? words and pictures don't do it justice, but as much as anything I do this so that I can enjoy the experience all over again in the future.
CW&H was on a residential week playing her cello so we dropped her off at noon on sunday the 7th and drove up to Kintail, via tea at our favourite place, the Real Food Cafe. With a bit of trepidation we got out of the car at 8pm planning to walk and camp with smidge and headnets at the ready. but there was a lovely wee breeze and so they were not necessary. What a delightful fragrance as we set off walking, with bog myrtle and meadowsweet to start with, and wild thyme as we climbed uphill. I always stuff a sprig of myrtle behind my ear as I love it so much.

We went up the usual excellent stalkers path which traverses up the hillside reaching a flat area at about 600m where we camped not far from the start of the Forcan Ridge.
P7070855.jpg
First view of Forcan Ridge from the North

P7070858.jpg
how's this for the view from your sitting room?

P7080862.jpg
- and from your kitchen while eating breakfast

P7080864.jpg
orchid

Not a midge to be seen anywhere and after a comfortable night we struck camp and stashed our stuff in an orange bag under a rock (easily visible from the ridge as it happens!)

having heard a lot about the Forcan Ridge we were a bit nervous but in fact it was all very doable particularly if you are a lover of bypass paths, and it was a dramatic climb with bits of cloud blowing in from the South side and bright sunshine on the north. We were up on the top just before ten am, unfortunately a bit of cloud blew in at this point so no view from the top but we got plenty of views the rest of the day so no fretting was necessary.
P7080870.jpg
dramatic mist

P7080876.jpg
more dramatic mist

P7080879.jpg
view to the summit

P7080884.jpg
view to the summit from the start of the "bad step" off Sgurr na Forcan. Over here, right? Er, no. we went down the gully to the north (left) and bypassed it safely.

P7080888.jpg
Rudolph on the top. although he says it hardly counts as evidence, as the tiny piece of rock you can see could be anywhere. However, I was there, so I can tell you it is true.

P7080889.jpg
me on the top.

The path then goes down and up to the second top with the trig point, then down following an old wall.
I am fascinated by these walls and why they were built, by whom. Were they built as boundary walls, famine walls, or what? If anyone has any information on these I would love to know.
P7080897.jpg
sea pinks

P7080900.jpg
one of the wee lochans at the bealach, looking over to the first three sisters.

P7080906.jpg
interesting rock

There are remnants of a wall or fence all the way from The Saddle to Sgurr na Sgine which we followed from the Bealach Coire Mhalagain to the second summit of the day, reaching the top of Sgurr na Sgine just before noon. Here we were just under the cloud base but much of the South Cluanie ridge was in the cloud.
P7080910.jpg
Rudolph on the top of Sgurr na Sgine

P7080912.jpg
and me.

Retracing our steps to the Bealach Coire Mhalagain, we came across two lads whom we assumed were Canadian (as they spoke a mixture of French and transatlantic English). They were carrying enormous packs and walking the Cape Wrath Trail. They had just walked up from Kinloch Hourn and were heading for Shiel Bridge for the night. We were a bit faster as we had only stuff for the day.

We found our way back to our campsite following the wall traversing from the bealach to the foot of the Forcan Ridge. After picking up our stuff all that remained was the walk back down the stalker's path to the car for a change of socks and tops before the next adventure!
P7080920.jpg
From the top of the stalker's path, looks a long way down, steep, but these stalkers path builders knew how to build paths at the right gradient.

P7080922.jpg
view up Glen Shiel


saddle f.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

User avatar
mrssanta
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 3132
Munros:281   Corbetts:12
Fionas:3   
Sub 2000:12   Hewitts:43
Wainwrights:41   Islands:13
Joined: Jul 18, 2011
Location: north yorkshire moors

Re: Saddle and Sgurr na Sgine with high camp

Postby Alan S » Sun Jul 14, 2013 6:06 pm

Well done mrsS
I loved this route and have always said I will be back, A wild camp looks tempting 8)

Cheers
Alan
User avatar
Alan S
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 1482
Munros:216   Corbetts:4
Fionas:4   Donalds:1
Sub 2000:4   
Islands:13
Joined: Nov 10, 2008
Location: Braco
Walk wish-list

Re: Saddle and Sgurr na Sgine with high camp

Postby weaselmaster » Sun Jul 14, 2013 9:21 pm

Ah you did get a great week for Kintail - though maybe a little too hot?? :shock:
Great to see you in the Saddle - want to have a go myself in a fortnight on the way to a weekend on Skye.
weaselmaster
Hill Bagger
 
Posts: 2429
Munros:277   Corbetts:216
Fionas:183   Donalds:73+30
Sub 2000:391   Hewitts:33
Wainwrights:15   Islands:28
Joined: Aug 22, 2012
Location: Greenock

Re: Saddle and Sgurr na Sgine with high camp

Postby dogplodder » Mon Jul 15, 2013 7:50 am

Great to see you got this midge free and in good weather. :D

I'm planning an excursion with a group up Sgurr na Sgine via Faochag and down by the corrie to the east - mainly because we used your stalker's path last summer when we did the Forcan ridge and it's nice to try something different. Could you see much of a path heading east off Sgurr na Sgine's summit? My grandson (10) wants to come so it would be good to have some reassurance it's doable! 8)
User avatar
dogplodder
 
Posts: 4238
Munros:242   Corbetts:74
Fionas:25   
Sub 2000:32   Hewitts:4
Wainwrights:9   Islands:24
Joined: Jul 16, 2011

Re: Saddle and Sgurr na Sgine with high camp

Postby rockhopper » Mon Jul 15, 2013 12:29 pm

Good stuff Mrs S and a nice idea to camp esp without the midges. Didn't manage the ridge last year but am hoping to sometime - think I'd prefer a light day sack though ! - cheers :)
User avatar
rockhopper
 
Posts: 7446
Munros:282   Corbetts:222
Fionas:136   Donalds:89+20
Sub 2000:16   Hewitts:2
Wainwrights:3   Islands:20
Joined: May 31, 2009
Location: Glasgow

Re: Saddle and Sgurr na Sgine with high camp

Postby Graeme D » Mon Jul 15, 2013 1:12 pm

Very sweet. Shamefully still on my to-do list! :roll:
User avatar
Graeme D
 
Posts: 3996
Munros:251   Corbetts:123
Fionas:75   Donalds:22
Sub 2000:59   Hewitts:36
Wainwrights:28   Islands:6
Joined: Oct 17, 2008
Location: Perth

Re: Saddle and Sgurr na Sgine with high camp

Postby jonny616 » Mon Jul 15, 2013 4:13 pm

One of my fav walks. Lovely 8)
User avatar
jonny616
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 1621
Munros:282   Corbetts:14
Fionas:2   Donalds:1
Sub 2000:1   Hewitts:17
Wainwrights:8   Islands:8
Joined: Aug 19, 2009

Re: Saddle and Sgurr na Sgine with high camp

Postby SusieThePensioner » Mon Jul 15, 2013 4:20 pm

Glad to see you out camping again and a great report, mrs s :thumbup:
Some lovely photos :D
User avatar
SusieThePensioner
 
Posts: 1543
Munros:6   Corbetts:3
Fionas:4   Donalds:7
Sub 2000:3   Hewitts:107
Wainwrights:156   
Joined: Sep 7, 2011
Location: County Durham

Re: Saddle and Sgurr na Sgine with high camp

Postby Collaciotach » Mon Jul 15, 2013 6:34 pm

Good stuff and a grand camping spot :clap:

Most of these dyke's where put up from 1792 , Bliadhna nan Caoraich (Year of the sheep) onwards and marked the "great sheep walks" made up of the cleared population's various common hill ground. The height of this madness was during the Napleonic wars , when mutton was in huge demand and the Highland pasture's after hundreds of years of good husbandry ,meant 1st class grazings for the landlords sheep .....once the folk were dispersed.

Many had to work on these dykes in return for a "holding" usually not large enough to support the family.

Fuadach nan Gaidheal :(
User avatar
Collaciotach
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 1896
Munros:282   Corbetts:219
Fionas:47   Donalds:10
Sub 2000:25   
Islands:28
Joined: Aug 8, 2011
Location: Gàidhealtachd an Iar

Re: Saddle and Sgurr na Sgine with high camp

Postby quoman » Mon Jul 15, 2013 6:43 pm

well done Mrs S...this walk is still in my top 5 hills what a place it is.
User avatar
quoman
Mountaineer
 
Posts: 960
Munros:282   Corbetts:10
Fionas:1   Donalds:5
Sub 2000:2   
Joined: Nov 14, 2011
Location: larbert

Re: Saddle and Sgurr na Sgine with high camp

Postby mrssanta » Tue Jul 16, 2013 9:51 pm

quoman wrote:well done Mrs S...this walk is still in my top 5 hills what a place it is.

was a smashing day indeed.
Collaciotach wrote:Good stuff and a grand camping spot :clap:

Most of these dyke's where put up from 1792 , Bliadhna nan Caoraich (Year of the sheep) onwards and marked the "great sheep walks" made up of the cleared population's various common hill ground. The height of this madness was during the Napleonic wars , when mutton was in huge demand and the Highland pasture's after hundreds of years of good husbandry ,meant 1st class grazings for the landlords sheep .....once the folk were dispersed.

Many had to work on these dykes in return for a "holding" usually not large enough to support the family.

Fuadach nan Gaidheal :(

thanks for that information, I had thought it would involve some kind of injustice right enough.
SusieThePensioner wrote:Glad to see you out camping again and a great report, mrs s :thumbup:
Some lovely photos :D

thanks susie, it was such a good day hard to take a bad one, my wee camera screen is not very bright and often I can't see what I'm taking at all!
jonny616 wrote:One of my fav walks. Lovely 8)
thanks
Graeme D wrote:Very sweet. Shamefully still on my to-do list! :roll:

you'll get there eventually, I've waited a long time for this one!
rockhopper wrote:Good stuff Mrs S and a nice idea to camp esp without the midges. Didn't manage the ridge last year but am hoping to sometime - think I'd prefer a light day sack though ! - cheers :)

you'll probably do the whole south kintail in a oner with these two going by your recent exploits!
dogplodder wrote:Great to see you got this midge free and in good weather. :D

I'm planning an excursion with a group up Sgurr na Sgine via Faochag and down by the corrie to the east - mainly because we used your stalker's path last summer when we did the Forcan ridge and it's nice to try something different. Could you see much of a path heading east off Sgurr na Sgine's summit? My grandson (10) wants to come so it would be good to have some reassurance it's doable! 8)

I don't think you could go East from Sgurr na Sgine summit, because it is a cliff both to east and north. you can probably go southwest from the summit and then round East to the Bealach an Toiteil where you could then go downstream and pick up the stalkers path off the south cluanie ridge, but I would not like to comment on any paths there. This is the route Steven Fallon recommends on his website for continuing to Sgurr a bhac chaolais.
weaselmaster wrote:Ah you did get a great week for Kintail - though maybe a little too hot?? :shock:
Great to see you in the Saddle - want to have a go myself in a fortnight on the way to a weekend on Skye.

hot indeed. It got hotter later in the week, I'm still writing the report for that one.
Alan S wrote:Well done mrsS
I loved this route and have always said I will be back, A wild camp looks tempting 8)

Cheers
Alan

thanks Alan, it is really a very good campspot with running water not far away as well.
User avatar
mrssanta
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 3132
Munros:281   Corbetts:12
Fionas:3   
Sub 2000:12   Hewitts:43
Wainwrights:41   Islands:13
Joined: Jul 18, 2011
Location: north yorkshire moors

Re: Saddle and Sgurr na Sgine with high camp

Postby dogplodder » Wed Jul 17, 2013 7:37 am

"I don't think you could go East from Sgurr na Sgine summit, because it is a cliff both to east and north. you can probably go southwest from the summit and then round East to the Bealach an Toiteil where you could then go downstream and pick up the stalkers path off the south cluanie ridge, but I would not like to comment on any paths there. This is the route Steven Fallon recommends on his website for continuing to Sgurr a bhac chaolais."

Yes, that's what I had in mind - round east to the Bealach an Toteil. I read somewhere someone had done that with a large entourage including kids for his last Munro - which is what gave me the idea. :D Or we could descend by the stalker's path for the Saddle. Just don't fancy going down Faochag for the poor old knees! :lol:
User avatar
dogplodder
 
Posts: 4238
Munros:242   Corbetts:74
Fionas:25   
Sub 2000:32   Hewitts:4
Wainwrights:9   Islands:24
Joined: Jul 16, 2011

4 people think this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).




Can you help support Walkhighlands?


Our forum is free from adverts - your generosity keeps it running.
Can you help support Walkhighlands and this community by donating by direct debit?



Return to Walk reports - Scotland

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: mishaptitsa, Quincy, scribe64, Strathlassie, WCCT and 90 guests