At Forcan last...The Saddle and Sgurr na Sgine at the third attempt...

I was asked to arrange a weekend away hill walking that would prove challenging and enjoyable in equal measures by a couple of work colleagues a few weeks ago. Diaries were perused and dates settled on before final preparations of destinations were agreed. I had a number of suggestions, all of which were selfishly chosen as a possibility of racking up my numbers and visiting areas that were time consuming to reach, which we sifted through and agonised over. Eventually it was democratically decided to tackle the Saddle (including Forcan ridge) and Sgurr na Sgine on Saturday 31st May and then  the four Munro's on the northern shore of Loch Mullardoch on Sunday 1st June. Dates were posted on Facebook for members of the Caberfeidh Munro Baggers group to join us also. Accommodation was booked for the Saturday night at the Kintail Lodge Hotel (I tried for a little closer to Mullardoch to cut down on the travel on Sunday morning without success) and Angus the boatman was arranged for taking us down Loch Mullardoch on Sunday morning to our start point (which meant we would avoid the brutal slog along the north shore of the Loch).

The weekend began in earnest at 06.00 hours with a drive to Longside to pick up Fiona and then continued to Inverness to meet Chris at 08.30, before concluding at the layby on the A87 and meeting Angus Beaton (the sole CMB member to make it along) at 10.00 ready to start the walk.

Despite threats of rain on the drive up to Kintail the skies were clearing and the sun was shining when we set off from the cars and walked along to the start point on the south side of the road, passing through the large gate that led us on to the fine track towards the zig zag path climbing to the bealach between Biod an Fhithich and Meallan Odhar. The track winds and climbs up the slopes and the views increase in intensity with each footstep higher.

I have twice traversed this track in 2013, firstly in late January with Michael Irvine when we foolishly thought that avoiding an attempt on the Forcan Ridge would allow us to conquer the Saddle via the drystone dyke route. I then tried again in August with Asima but was beaten back at the foot of the Forcan ridge by a mixture of fatigue and poor weather. Third time lucky was my mantra today!

Having introduced Chris and Fiona to Angus at the foot of the slopes they spent the ascent getting better acquainted. Chris and Angus had both served in highland regiments so had a mutual bond there, even though Chris was a Gordon Highlander and Angus a Queens Own Highlander, they still at least had a base point of interest. One thing that they don't share is an interest in political leaning, as Angus found out to his cost on the way up the slopes. Chris is pro independence whilst myself and Fiona are both sitting on the fence at present, and Angus is pro Union.

Jelly McBaby is keeping his opinions to himself as he seeks not to alienate anyone from reading his blog, even if this means accompanying the occasional hun up a hill or two!! (Just joking Angus)

Angus was sporting a natty line in red/white/blue buff on his head to keep the sun off whilst Chris was rocking the green shorts look. I had chosen to wear shorts today but had no buff for my head (looking like a swan vesta at work on Monday was not the best look in the world and I will wear a buff in future in such heat).

We reached the bealach and started to traverse around the slopes of Meallan Odhar east to south as the track took us ever closer to the foot of the Forcan Ridge.

We could see a few walkers on the ridge ahead of us and were also aware of others following up behind us. The views around us were stunning but none of us could take our eyes off the ridge in front of us, feeling equal measures of excitement and nervous apprehension at the thought of getting involved in some classic scrambling on route to the summit. I have to admit that, despite all the other Munro's I have done so far, this one was perhaps the one that excited me the most. I have heard so much from other people about the quality of the Forcan Ridge, read reviews that eulogised about it, that a little bit of me was secretly scared that it failed to live up to the hype...I need not have feared in the slightest!! I can hand on heart say that the Saddle, because of the Forcan Ridge, is now my favourite Munro so far.

Our approach brought us to the point beneath the ridge where the drystone dyke reaches around the foot of the ridge to the Bealach Coire Mhalagain for those not wanting to sample the scrambling on offer above. This route headed off to the left...we headed straight up and entered the territory between walkers and climbers...scrambling!!

Angus has done many a scrambling route on Skye since taking up residence there and this holds no fears for him in the slightest. He has kindly offered to accompany me on my next incursion to the Skye Cuillin and get me across most, if not all, of the routes on the ridge. When this offer was being made I thought it best not to admit to my fear of heights and just accept the kindness, with a view to conquering this aversion prior to tackling an abseil down the Inn Pin (Inaccessible Pinnacle).

Angus led from the front today and was willingly followed by the three of us in turn. Hand and foot holds on the ridge are found in abundance and the scrambling was an amazing experience. There were points where a bypass path lay to our right to avoid the worst (best) of the scrambling but the only point any of us used it (all of us) was at the 10 metre pitch down the other side of Sgurr na Forcan which Angus managed without breaking sweat.

There were some real knife edge moments on the ridge to contend with and a couple of jelly legged moments between the three of us but we all rose to the challenge and loved every single second of it. Indeed it was a bit deflating to find out that we had crossed the last pinnacle and only had the steep climb up to the Saddle remaining. I took plenty of pictures on the ridge but in review there is not a single one that does it any real justice and captures that moment of adrenaline rush that being on it and feeling it beneath your fingers achieves.

Without casting any slight on the company I was in I cannot wait to come back later in the year to do it again with Michael Irvine, Angus MacLeod and Louise Miller (get something sorted for late August folks) including a night at the Cluanie Inn hopefully...

Jelly McBaby stayed within the safety of the rucksack on the way across the Forcan Ridge, but then he only has little legs, and came out when we were safely ensconced on the summit of the Saddle 1010m. After taking his picture at the summit we headed across to the triangulation point as the access path down to the Bealach Coire Mhalagain was from there.

We stopped and spoke to a couple of blokes from the kingdom of Fife (one of whom looked like Cameron McNeish but didn't like being told that) who were doing the same route as ourselves, and who we would pass and be passed by a few times before we reached the car later on, and were also joined for lunch by a group of four young ladies (who only appeared to do the Forcan Ridge as they never followed us across to Sgurr na Sgine).

From our summit ledge we headed down slope, following the drystone dyke, and crossed the expanse of Bealach Coire Mhalagain before traversing the far easier slopes to the ridge of Sgurr na Sgine.

Once on the ridge we traversed south as far as the summit cairn 946m which overlooks a steep face below.

The return route involved reversing as far as the ridge to the north and then heading along the wide ridge to the height of Faochag to the east before descending steep grassy slopes with a fine path in places which looks impossible at times from above. eventually we bottomed out on the path and headed for the road and the half kilometre trek along the road to return to the car.

We made it back in one piece, if not that some of our group were a little more tired than others, in just over eight hours from when we had left this morning. We waved goodbye to Angus after thanking him for making the effort to come out with us and putting up with our various conversations, then headed along the two miles or so to the Kintail Lodge Hotel and an overnight stay at the trekkers lodge and the promise of Chris's spaghetti bolognaise to fill our empty stomachs. With full bellies and heads full of happy memories we retired for the night, a little later than planned, with an early start and a long day ahead in prospect around Loch Mullardoch... 

 

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