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Many moons ago before I was into this hill-walking malarkey, one of my friends decided we were going to climb the last 3 mountains on the West end of the Glen Shiel Ridge. If I had known any better I would have waited and climbed the ridge in its entirety. However, I didn’t… know any better… that is!
I went back last year in May to climb the other 4 Munro’s and the conditions under foot were very poor to say the least and incredibly dangerous and I took a chance that I probably shouldn’t have between Creag a Mhaim and Druim Shionnach. On route to the 4th Munro, I met two chaps who had decided to retreat – this time I followed suit leaving me with this wee chap in the middle left to complete the ridge.
Some things are meant to be and this was most definitely one of them!
After a lazy Sunday morning in bed, I left Dunblane at 12.15 and reached Kintail at 3.30pm.
The clouds were high, the sky blue and there was a slight chill in the air. I was very motivated and felt I had to be as I had no idea how long this would take me, but had overly estimated 3 hours to the summit, but I thought it would be more like 2. I set off at 3.45pm up the zig-zag stalkers path which was a little wet in places, but a very good path up onto the grassy ridge.
![Looking over to Five Sisters in Autumn Colours.jpg]()
- Looking up to the Five Sisters
![The Cluanie Inn.jpg]()
- Looking down to the Cluanie Inn and Loch Cluanie
![Down the Ridge.jpg]()
- Looking down the ridge
The stags were bellowing down both sides of the ridge which made me a little wary. It’s quite eerie. I reached a very short rocky bit and once over this, more of the grassy ridge took me to the summit in 1hr 45 minutes. Not bad at all!
I think it’s fair to say that the view absolutely blew me away.
Scotland is absolutely stunning and I could see everything from Gleouriach, Spidean Mialach, Knoydart, The Forcan Ridge, Skye and across to the North of course to the Five Sisters, the Brothers, Achralaig, Mullach Fraoch-Choire and the other 3 yonder Munro’s.
![Summit cairn.jpg]()
- The Summit Cairn
![Loch Quoich.jpg]()
- Loch Quoich again
![Loch Quoich 1.jpg]()
- Loch Quoich
![Me 1.jpg]()
- Me on the summit
![Gleouriach and Spidean Mialach.jpg]()
- Gleouraich and Spidean Mialach
![Aonach Air Chrith.jpg]()
- Aonach Air Chrith
If you’re a bit of a romantic, this would be an awesome place to pitch a tent and watch the stars or the Northern Lights. Plenty places to pitch up.
I spent the best part of half an hour on the summit faffing around taking photos, selfies, making a wee video and just drinking in the views before I got so cold that I had to leave and of course before it got dark.
![Summit Sunshine.jpg]()
- Summit in Sunshine
I descended the same way I came up as I knew the path and that it was straightforward should darkness fall. But one could easily head West from the summit and North down the next shoulder as there is a clear marked path on the map.
![the descent.jpg]()
- Pink Clouds on the descent
I descended to the car without the use of my head-torch. Just.
And now to pitch the tent somewhere near the Cluanie Inn.
Tomorrow will be a very big day
