This is the summed total of all the climbing within a route and is a good indicator of the strenuousness of a route.
Total Ascent
1785 m
An estimate of the time taken based on a derivation of Naismiths rules. Our calculation is based on the horizontal and ascent components of a climb, we do not make a reduction for descent.
Registered users can customise these walking times by specifying their own walking and ascending speeds. They can also add a fixed time period for stoppages.
Route Time
7 hrs
The horizontal distance of the route.
Route Distance
18.30 km
The UK is covered by 204 Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50,000 scale maps. Maps numbered 1 to 86 cover Scotland but for the highest mountains (Munros) only 23 maps are required. The name given roughly describes the area covered by the map.
You can click on the map name to purchase the map for £6.29 including postage which is one of the cheapest prices we have found.
Our summary will always contain one of easy, moderate or hard to indicate the severity of the route.
Notes
This is the west section of the South Glen Shiel Ridge. It is possible to traverse the whole ridge on a long summer day.
Here we provide the nearest town to the start of the route where you will find basic services.
We then give directions from that location to the route start. Your approach route may differ.
Travel Information
Head to: Shiel Bridge
From Shiel Bridge (A87) travel SE 10km to parking at Glen Sheil Battle site. N.B.This is close to the end rather than the start of the route.
Route Waypoint Map
The total ascent is 1,785 metres. Allow 7 hours to complete this 18.30 km route.
In winter months please check the local snow conditions at sais.gov.uk.
The hillphones service can inform you of stalking activities in the area.
Usually the shortest way to climb the mountain, making best use of tracks and paths to gain altitude. Route navigation requires map reading skills and an ability to navigate with a compass.
The information given here will enable you to annotate your map and plan your route. We do not give anecdotal descriptions on where to find the paths, worn by the feet of previous mountaineers.
Where the access routes are few or the ridge is narrow, paths are generally obvious. On open ground, following paths without using your compass may get you lost in poor visibility.
Route Information
Waypoint Detail
Leave car here or at end of route (by bridge at Glenshiel battle site)
NH04451141
Distance
Altitude 250 m
1
Follow path SSW up Druim Thollaidh to summit of Sgurr na Feinne
NH02780929
Distance 3.02 km
Altitude 902 m
2
Follow ridge WNW
NH01510957
Distance 1.33 km
Altitude 947 m
3
Continue along ridge to Sgurr Doire Leathain
NH01520989
Distance 0.52 km
Altitude 1010 m
4
Continue WNW along ridge
NH00811007
Distance 0.78 km
Altitude 863 m
5
Continue NW on ridge to Sgurr an Lochain
NH00581043
Distance 0.62 km
Altitude 985 m
6
Descend WNW then W to col then ascend NW to summit of Sgurr Beag
NG99841095
Distance 0.99 km
Altitude 896 m
7
Descend W to Bealach Am Fraoch-choire then ascend WNW to Creag nan Damph
NG98361120
Distance 1.60 km
Altitude 918 m
8
Descend NE on ridge or return ESE to bealach and descend NNE to join path
NG99161203
Distance 1.95 km
Altitude 380 m
9
Follow path down to road
NG99221319
Distance 1.34 km
Altitude 120 m
10
Head ENE along road
NH00741362
Distance 1.73 km
Altitude 183 m
11
Continue ESE on road to return to start
NH04451141
Distance 4.42 km
Altitude 250 m
A selection of weather forecasts local to this route.
Two mountains 22 metres apart in height straddling the col: on the right, Creag nan Damh at 918 metres only just a munro; and on the left Sgurr Beag, at 896 metres NOT a munro. Seen across Glen Shiel from Sgurr nan Spainteach.
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Rating & Reviews
Rating & Reviews
Rated:
from 5 votes
Click Stars to Vote
Your Rating
Written by
Dave Craik
on 02 Oct 2008:
Did the full route from east to west, poor visibility and very mixed weather, rained liked there Noah was builting the ark the night before and started to snow with 50mph winds half way through route, as for the descent off Greag nan damh don't try this if heavy rain the day before,would have been better walking down the middle of the several burns, and the forest route was knee high mud, terrible, exit NW route, must be better than the muddy swim we had.
Written by
Mike Watson
on 17 Sep 2007:
Another vote for doing it in one go. Once up there its really not too bad and the path is very obvious.
The taxi we used dropped us off at the end of the private road to Cluanie Lodge with shaved off some time.
If descending via Bealach Duibh Leac be careful as there are a few dodgy burn crossings!
Written by
Ben Dolphin
on 15 May 2007:
I'd be the first to admit I'm something of a masochist when it comes to walk-ins, but doing the full circular walk along the ridge isn't too bad at all. Starting at Cluanie, the key is to walk down the road first and do the ridge west to east, otherwise you'll be walking up that road at day's end. Still, to avoid too much road-walking I went up Druim a Choire Reidh. It's quite easy to nip to Creag nan Damh and back from Sgurr Beag in an hour or so and then head east along the six other munros back to Cluanie. Took me 9 hours. The only downside is that the views are better east to west.
Written by
Craig Dunderdale
on 11 Mar 2007:
I did the whole ridge on a clear day on 9th October 2006 with my mate in 8hrs. We started at the Cluanie Inn (they only do drop offs if ur staying there!) and walked out via the North East ridge of Creag nan Damh. A taxi from the village to the Cluanie dropping your car off at the Glenshiel memorial may be your best option, if you don't want to take your chances with thumbing or the bus timetable. Without a doubt one of the best days I've ever had on Munros!
Written by
Graham Ellis
on 27 Aug 2006:
I did all the ridge in one long day. If coming down the NE ridge, then look out for the "path" when it veers to the west through the wood at the end. It doesn't follow the route marked on the map around the edge of the wood, but goes through the middle. It is very wet, with big holes, and with some sheer, but small drops. Others have been before, so it is possible with care!
Disclaimer. The details provided above are an aid to planning an expedition, but all distances, altitudes and bearings must be considered approximate. You must navigate with the appropriate map,
a compass, your navigation skills and common sense, MunroMagic.com accept no responsibility for your interpretation of our route information.
