Scotland

Forcan Ridge and The Saddle, South Glen Shiel

Character: A short ascent of this unique mountain, with some exposed rock scrambling. An extreme walk under winter conditions

Ascent: ~3000 feet

Time: 3.5 hours

Map: Ordnance Survey Landranger Sheet 33, 1:50,000

Transport: City Link buses, either from Fort William, or on their return from Shiel Bridge to the same, seem willing to drop walkers at points on the road through the glen. Times for 17/10/99 to 20/04/00 are given here

Accomodation: Scottish Youth Hostel at Ratagan. Tel: 01599 511 243

This magnificent mountain outing is surprisingly accessible, and in perfect conditions could be completed in only 2.5 hours or so. For this reason, especially in summer it is normal to take in the other proximate Munro, Sgurr na Sgine. For this description, a midday start was necessary on a stormy winter day, so only the "pin-up" peak was attempted.

The City Link bus dropped me at a point on the Glen Shiel road just NW of a bridge at GR 971 140. From here a stalkers path start is easily found some 200 metres along the road to the NW. This motorway of a path is seen snaking up a small knobbly nose of a ridge descending to near to the road. Really one can't go wrong. After winding around this "nose", the path heads directly across the main hillside to the WNW. The going is easy, and 45 minutes or so after leaving the road one has reached the saddle (no pun intended) between Meallan Odhar and Biod an Fhithich. About half the vertical climb has been completed at this stage, and as one comes over the rise the magnificence of the famous ridge and summit appear, (picture above) commanding the horizon almost 180 degrees from SE to NW. Thankfully however, its height has been diminished from the earlier ascent, so the ridge looks challenging but not scary. Wait, however, until you are on it!

View to Glen Shiel on initial ascent

The path now contours around Meallan Odhar on its NW side, to meet the start of the ridge. Initially I walked straight past the start of the ridge, as an old wall and path continue on to the saddle between The Saddle and Sgurr na Sgine. The path needed, heading WSW up the ridge, is clearly heading up hill from the saddle between Meallan Odhar and the Forcan Ridge, where the other path continues to the SW and is fairly flat. Avoid my mistake!

The ridge itself is always interesting, but only once was a real "hands on" climb required. At this point a drop of some 30 feet or so off a pinnacle is reasonably vertical, and in the windy conditions I was pleased but also proud, to successfully descend it. At other short sections, grassy intervals occur, but only for 5 or 10 metres before the next rocky scramble. The route taken by other ascendants is always obvious, so that when a difficult outcrop needs to be circuvented, the route left or right is always clear. In full winter conditions, this ridge would clearly be a major undertaking.

On the ridge - an easy section

The continuation from Sgurr na Forcan to The Saddle has its difficulties, but none severe. When the top is reached there is a satisfaction of knowing that a truely worthwhile mountain has been climbed by a route of spectacular beauty and challenge.

My return would also be the obvious way for a continuation to the more boring satellite of Sgurr na Sgine. Immediately to the south of the summit is a flatter area with tiny pools, if memory serves. From this flatter area it is possible to take a direct bearing for the lochan shown on the Bealach Coire Mhalagain. On this bearing one eventually hits the remains of a fence heading down to the bealach. The winds from this point on were horendous, until the start of the ridge is again encountered. From here, one can either head south to the other Munro, or head ENE under the crags of the ridge where the wall becomes apparent again. The ground under foot is awkward due to loose large stones. Eventually one arrives back at the path skirting Meallan Odhar and the descent becomes the ascent once more.