South Glen Shiel Ridge
Many munroists are attracted to the area by the prospect of the South Glen Shiel Ridge. This has seven munros on its 13km ridge. It's a big walk to do, but the reascent between each summit is never more than 200m, most requiring less than 140m of reascent and so the duration of the walk takes less time than you may think, only 8 hours for a fit party. Many of the summits are very shapely with impressive north facing corries. The main ridge gets quite narrow in one or two brief places but otherwise it's quite straightforward.

The westernmost end of the ridge - Sgurr a' Bhac Chaolais

Sgurr an Doire leathain

Sgurr an Lochain seen on
the south Glen Shiel Ridge

The scenery upon this ridge is ever changing. On the east end of the ridge, empty moorland fills the southern and eastern field of view while the mountains to the south west on the edge of Knoydart, Spidean Mialach and Gleoreach, look particularly fine. Further west, Loch Duich gradually reveals itself and you increasingly feel like you are going into more mountainous domains. The road is largely hidden from view so it does feel quite isolated on the ridge.

Aonach Air Chrith

On the main ridge, scrambling is very limited, a very short section on the eastern end on Druim Shionnach is slightly narrow. The same goes for another section towards the center of the ridge just west of Aonach air Chrith. The only real scramble is a short rock step just west of the western summit, Creag nan Damh. Some of the northern ridges will provide some fine sport. Try the ridge of Aonach air Chrith.

The Saddle and Sgurr na Sgine
These two summits lie west of the south glen shiel ridge and are sometimes included by folk doing the South Glen Shiel ridge. The Saddle is the most spectacular of the two. Its ridge, known as the Forcan Ridge, is a fine slabby knife edge. Some folk say it's the only proper route to the Saddle.

Faochag seen from the east

The Saddle seen from the Kintail ridge

If you don't have a head for heights on rock then you can easily reach the Saddle from the east via the Bealach Coire Mhalagain - an easy walk into a corrie and a short stiff ascent up grass to the summit ridge.

The Forcan ridge

The western ridge of The Saddle

Further along the western ridge

The west ridge of The Saddle is a fine beautiful ridge, very narrow but the only scrambling involved is up and down short rock steps. There is some exposure on this ridge but it is brief. The ridge curls round northwards to give a great view of the Saddle's northern corrie.

Sgurr na Sgine seen from the east

The northern corrie of The Saddle

The southern corrie of The Saddle

Sgurr na Sgine is often climbed with the Saddle, not so dramatic but still a fine mountain in it's own right. The ascent of it's summit from The Saddle takes on steep rocky slopes to reach the summit ridge where a simple walk remains. This summit ridge can also be reached from the road via the top of Faochag - a very fine dramatic ridge when seen in the distance but a desperate steep slog when seen from the road.

Sgurr na Sgine is most painlessly reached by following the stream of the Allt Coire Toiteil up to the bealach east of Sgurr na Sgine. From here you can follow a stone wall round the south of Sgurr na Sgine to tackle easy slopes from there or tackle 'Concorde Ridge' a grade one scramble directly to it's summit.

Beinn Sgritheall, Beinn na h-Eaglaise and Beinn nan Caorach
These mountains are reached from Arnisdale and lie at the edge of Loch Hourn. The views from these summits provides a fine mix of loch, coast, mountain and glen. Beinn Sgritheall is the highest summit. The most popular approach to this summit is from Arnisdale steeply up to the Bealach Arnasdail at 600m followed by a steep walk up loose ground to the summit ridge from where is is a simple walk to its top.

Beinn Sgrigheall seen from the south

The western slopes of Beinn Sgritheall

The western approach starts on the road at Creag Ruadh (spot height 44m). This takes a very faint path diagonally upwards and leftwards through thick undergrowth to a forest where the ground gets very steep and the path becomes more obvious. Once on the moorland the ascent is quite straightforward. The ridge looks very steep from here and indeed some scrambling routes can be found for the sporty but the ascent is no problem with any difficulties easily avoided.

Being on the edge of the sea, the views from Beinn Sgrigheall take in the Outer Hebrides and Skye to the west, the Torridon summits to the north, the Loch Mullardoch, Affric and Shiel summits to the northeast. Ben Nevis can be seem in the distance to the southeast. This blend of sea and mountain makes Beinn Sgritheall one of the finer viewpoints in the Scottish Highlands.

The western view towards Skye

The eastern view towards Glen Shiel

Loch Hourn and Beinn na Caillich seen from Beinn Sgritheall

The summit ridge extends southeastwards from Beinn Sgrigheall before curling round east above Coire Min to the north. Coire Min is an interesting Corrie in that it is without a stream in its upper section. A spring starts some distance down the corrie from which a sizeable stream emerges. The view south from the summit ridge leads the eye across Loch Hourn to the Knoydart summits. However the sense of elevation here cannot be ignored. Steep slopes of scree and then heather fall uninterrupted all the way down to the pastures of Arnisdale, 900m below.

The summit ridge of Beinn Sgrigheall

The eastern corrie of Beinn Sgritheall

Beinn Sgritheall seen from the east from point 906m

From point 906m, the path continues east down steep eroded scree slopes to Bealach Arnisdale. An alternative route would be to drop north into Coire Min from the saddle between Beinn Sgrigheall and point 906m. From Coire min you can descend to the lower lake and then contour round to Bealach Arnisdale.

Beinn na h-Eaglaise seen from Bealach Arnasdail

Uninterrupted view of Arnisdale, 900m below

The start of the walk from Arnisdale

The ascent of Beinn na h-Eaglaise can be made from the Bealach Arnasdail. This is extremely steep and requires scrambling but the ascent is fast and short. The route follows a line of old fence posts. An easy walk on a narrow ridge can then be had north from the summit and round to Beinn nan Caorach where an easy descent back to Arnisdale can be had.