13km + 1140m. 08.00-14.00.
Glen Shiel A87 lay-by GR968142 (08.00), stalkers path to Bealach na Craoibhe 496m (09.00), followed ridge to base of Sgurr na Forcan and contoured beside the wall to Bealach Coire Mhalagain. From there it was a diagonal ascent to the trig point and then along to The Saddle (11.00). A careful descent to the north ridge was made to the deleted note top GR935138 (11.30), before retracing my step back up the ridge to The Saddle (12.10), down a steep snow slope to the bealach, beside the wall, along the ridge and down the stalkers path back to the lay-by (14.00). It was then a long drive home.
I had tried to get to this deleted summit before but made the mistake of trying the Forcan Ridge with similar soft, granular snow. I was very careful on the summit ridges, especially picking my way north along the rocky crest to the deleted summit. Once again I found that following the route a fox had taken paid dividends.
Area :
Loch Eil to Glen Shiel
The Great Glen to the east, the A87 to the north and the A830 to the south separate this area from its surroundings and enclose an area of high mountains and low glens. The highest mountain is Sgurr na Ciche (1040m) and further north the South Glen Shiel Ridge is formed by a whopping seven Munros! Also in the area is The Saddle (1010m) which is home to the classic Forcan Ridge. Peaks in the mountains list are all above 900m.
