Five Sisters of Kintail

Summary

A classic ridgewalk taking in three Munros, the Five Sisters ridge give a wonderful and very strenuous days excursion with magnificent views.

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Grade

Bog Factor

4.5/5

Rating

Terrain

The going is very steep on ascent; there is a little scrambling along the ridge itself and much rocky ground.

Deer Stalking information

National Trust for Scotland. No stalking issues.

Getting there

Start

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

Public Transport

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

Start Grid Ref

NH009135

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 12.4km / 7.75 miles
Time: 8 - 10 hours
Ascent: 1400m (Profile)

Summits Climbed

Munro: Sgùrr na Ciste Duibhe
Munro: Sgùrr na Càrnach
Munro: Sgùrr Fhuaran

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Walk Description

User reports (59)

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. 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.

Photo: the Five Sisters of Kintail from the Bealach Ratagan.

Stage 2

Once at the bealach, relax, as the hardest part of the day is already behind. To the left (west) stretches a magnificent ridgewalk; Sgùrr Fhuaran, highest of the Five Sisters, is seen in the distance ahead, but the first climb is along the long and undulating but fine ridge to the top of Sgùrr nan Spainteach (the peak of the Spaniards). From here the descent is a little rocky, and just before the bealach there is a short rock scramble to descend. Beyond this, the ridge has two separate crests with a depression between - very confusing in misty conditions. The path heads up the right hand crest at first before switching left.

Stage 3

After a steep climb the massive summit cairn of Sgùrr na Ciste Duibhe, the first Munro of the day at 1027 metres is reached; continue a short distance beyond to get a superb full length view down Loch Duich. From here, the ridge along the Five Sisters proper is broader and less well defined than that already traversed, though it is very steep, rough and bouldery. Continue down to the Bealach na Craoibhe.

Photo: Doogz

Stage 4

The next Munro, Sgùrr na Càrnach (1002 metres) is gives very rough going, but there is a path winding up the stony slopes to the top. Sgùrr na Càrnach only became a Munro in 1997, but most Munroists had already climbed it as part of the ridge. Beyond, there is almost an identical descent to the Bealach na Càrnach, with a little very easy rocky scrambling on flakes. Beyond, the ascent to Sgùrr Fhuaran beyond is again steep and bouldery.

Stage 5

Sgùrr Fhuaran is the highest and central of the Five Sisters at 1067 metres, and the third and final Munro of the day. The west ridge of Sgùrr Fhuaran is the first possible descent route into Glen Shiel since the Bealach na Lapain; it gives a very long and fairly steep route down to the valley. If taking this ridge do not attempt to bypass Sgùrr Fhuaran to reach it - you need to head up to the summit first to avoid the steep ground around the head of the Allt na Carnach gully, where there have been fatal accidents. Note also that the footbridge across the river just east of Loch Shiel marked on OS maps is gone, so if following this descent it is necessary to continue along the north side until reaching the road.

Stage 6

To continue the ridgewalk, it is necessary to descend the west ridge for around three hundred metres to avoid steep ground; at this point, follow the path which cuts back off the west ridge and joins the north ridge. This continues to descend to reach the Bealach Buidhe. The next peak on the ridge is Sgùrr nan Saighead; this is not a Munro, and the main path bypasses the summit. It is well worth keeping to the ridge, however, as the northeast slopes of this peak are the steepest and most impressive in the whole Five Sisters range. Continue along the ridge from the summit down to the next bealach, with more great views down fearsome gulleys into Coire na h-Uaighe.

Stage 7

After crossing a minor bump, the steep peak of Beinn Bhuidhe appears ahead. One path heads left here, avoiding Beinn Bhuidhe and descending its northwest ridge. If taking this option, follow the path down the ridge, descending steeply at one point beside a stream, to reach the flat bog of Fasach an t-Searraich. From here, head north and cross the Allt a Chruinn before following the path down its north bank. The other option is to scramble to the top of Beinn Buidhe, and then down its rocky NNE ridge to the next bealach. From here the purist can ascend the fifth sister, Sgùrr na Moraich, before returning to the bealach and descending to the start of the path down the north bank of the Allt a Chruinn, soon passing a waterfall. Continue down the path on the north bank, which soon improves and follows the line of a stalkers path. Lower down the hillside the stream falls into a gorge; the path swings right here before making a winding descent of the hillside. It passes through a gate lower down, and emerges into Allt a'chruinn village beside the waterworks. You are now about 13 kilometres from where you began the walk.

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