Brothers Ridge - Sgùrr a Bhealaich Dheirg

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Summary

The eastern neighbours of the Five Sisters are the three Munros Sgùrr a Bhealaich Dheirg, Sàileag and Aonach Meadhoin, often collectively known as the Brothers of Kintail. They give a very fine ridgewalk themselves, and are in no way overshadowed by their more famous siblings.

Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

Rating

Terrain

Steep ascent to and from the ridge, but a clear path leads along the ridge.

Public Transport

Citilink buses from Glasgow and Inverness on A87 (request stop at drivers discretion).

Start

Glen Shiel car park off A87 (T) just east of clearing between two sections of forest. Open in Google Maps.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 10km / 6.25 miles
Time: 6 - 8 hours
Ascent: 1274m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NH009135

Summits Climbed

Munro: Sàileag
Munro: Sgùrr a Bhealaich Dheirg
Munro: Aonach Meadhoin

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Accommodation

Walk Description

User reports (36)

Stage 1

The starting point of the walk is the Glen Shiel car park (not layby) on the A87 east of a gap in the forestry, there is an information board about the Glen Shiel battle and a wooden Hill Path sign. Note that this is a one-way walk and you'll need to use public transport, bike, or a lift back up the road to return to this start point. Take the path west from the car park, soon turning right to follow a boggy path steeply up the slopes to the north keeping the forestry fence on your right. This first climb of the day is barely a kilometre long, but very steep as 550 metres have to be gained to reach the Bealach an Lapain.

Stage 2

At the corner of the forestry fence, turn left to head directly uphill on a fainter path marked with a tiny cairn. The route zigzags up the hillside above but never stops heading hard uphill until the Bealach na Lapain is reached with some relief. Turn right along the ridge.

Stage 3

The ridge has a well worn path and climbs very easily and directly to the summit cairn of Sàileag, at 956 metres. Sàileag feels fairly insignificant when compared with the other mountains on the ridge and given the short descent beyond the summit it is something of a surprise to find it is the first Munro of the day.

Stage 4

Continue east along the ridge, descending just eighty metres or so to a col. Beyond there are a couple of minor summits to traverse before the start of a more prolonged climb up towards the next mountain.

Stage 5

This climb ends as the ridge levels off, turning southeast before the final gentle ascent to the summit ridge of Sgùrr a'Bhealaich Dheirg. There is a cairn at 1014 metres, but the actual summit of the mountain is a little further along the ridge. Continue along the ridge and then take the short arrete NE to reach the summit. Rocky, this short northeast ridge has drystone dyke built along it and a path on the east side. At 1038 metres, a fine cairn marks the true summit.

Stage 6

Retrace your steps back to the main, broader ridge of the mountain before beginning a descent down the wide southeastern slopes, keeping the steeper slopes on your left, until the ridge becomes more distinctive once more as it turns east and drops again to the col at 827 metres. From the col, climb on a good path up to the 938 metre top, after which there is a small dip before the final climb to the summit of Munro number three, Aonach Meadhoin, at 1001 metres. From here, descend steeply at first before following a fine rocky ridge (bypass path on right in places) to the prominent top of Sgùrr an Fhuarail.

Stage 7

Munro-baggers with plenty of energy may choose to descend the NNE ridge down to boggy Bealach a'Chòinich and to include Ciste Dhubh in the day, whilst others will be content and will descend the southeast ridge of Sgùrr an Fhuarail. The ridge descends simply at first, but it is necessary to traverse over a couple of minor summits to avoid the steep slopes on either side of the ridge.

Stage 8

From the final bump at 843 metres, descend southwards, keeping the steepest ground to your left on the way down, before descending southeast to join the A87 opposite the Cluanie Inn. You are 7.5 kilometres from the start of the walk, so hopefully you've remembered to check the bus times or have arranged at lift!

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