Main route summary. Five Sisters of Kintail in the North Glen Shiel Ridge. To the north of the glen the North Glen Shiel ridge forms the famous ‘Five Sisters of Kintail’ mountain group, and to the mountain group to the south contains the famous ‘The Saddle. New Topic Reply to Topic. Once over the Munro of Aonach Meadhoin, the North Glen Shiel Ridge has some really nice narrow (but easy) sections that give you a real feeling of walking through the sky. Home Up. We were lucky to have a magnificent clear, still day to tackle the 7 Munros of the famous South Glen Shiel ridge. A short rocky scramble leads down to a bealach at the head of Coire na Criche, and a narrow path heading slightly north of west down into the coire. Grade - very hard. A marvellous ridge walk which is a Munro-baggers delight. NH007136). Above the clouds on the Five Sisters of Kintail . Here the main body was posted, consisting of a Spanish regiment, Clan Cameron of Lochiel with about 150 men, about 150 of Lidcoat’s and others, Rob Roy MacGregor with 40 men, 50 men of Clan Mackinnon and 200 from the Clan MacKenzie. If Aonach air Chrith is the high point of the walk, the descent of its west ridge provides the most entertaining section, and one that certainly keeps your hands out of your pockets. [2] The lower part of Glen Shiel, including both sides of the glen from the site of the Battle of Glen Shiel down to Dornie on the shores of Loch Duich, lies within the Kintail National Scenic Area,[3] one of the forty national scenic areas in Scotland. There was already movement in the dorm. Anyone done it in a day and if so what kind of time?? Day 2 – May 2009 Creag a’ Mhaim, (23rd) Druim Shionnach (24th), Aonach Air Chrith (25th), Maol Chinn-dearg (26th), Sgurr an Doire Leathain (27th), Sgurr an Lochain (28th) and Creag nan Damh (29th), A return to Glen shiel with Scot and Frazer for an epic traverse of the infamous south shiel ridge. [20], The steep south-west slopes of Sgùrr na Ciste Duibhe contain a large boulder known as "Prince Charlie's Stone", where Charles Edward Stuart, known as "Bonnie Prince Charlie", spent a day in the summer of 1746 hiding from Government troops once he had left the Isle of Skye. Having run it once many years ago my memory was of grassy amenable slopes, and with this in mind it was ce 918m/3012ft. Connected by a road and a bus service. Peaks of west Glen Shiel, from Saileag. Five Sisters Ridge, North Glen Shiel Introduction to Walk 3083. If Aonach air Chrith is the high point of the walk, the descent of its west ridge provides the most entertaining section, and one that certainly keeps your hands out of your pockets. Copyright © 1997 - 2020 Walking Britain. The South Glen Shiel Ridge. [21] After he reached Glen Shiel, Charles was sheltered by the "Seven Men of Glenmoriston", who "lived in a cave called Corriedhoga, high in Glenmoriston where the glen closes toward Loch Cluanie", some 10 miles to the east of Glen Shiel. Five Sisters Ridge, North Glen Shiel. I slept extraordinarily well and awoke refreshed a few minutes before my alarm went off. Time - 8 hours 40 minutes. The South Shiel ridge is a munroists dream, seven munros spread over a thirteen kilometre ridge with average drops of no more than 150 metres. It is part of a group of three Munros (the other two being Aonach Meadhoin and Sàileag) known as the North Glen Shiel Ridge; they are also known as the “Brothers of Kintail ” in contrast to the Five Sisters of Kintail which lie just to the west. Additionally, the summit ridge of Sgurr a’ Bhealaich Dheirg, which juts north off the ridge for a short distance, tapers into another scrambly, shattered summit. [5] The remnants of the military road connecting Fort Augustus to the Bernera barracks in Glenelg built between 1750 and 1784 by William Caulfeild, the successor to General Wade, can be seen a quarter of a mile west of the Cluanie Inn.[6]. The small summit, dominated by its cairn, also boasts another ridge, this one knife edged and running eastwards almost directly towards Glenlicht House, offering a challenging scramble onto the main ridge from the east. Stay safe on the mountains with detailed weather forecasts - for iOS devices or for Android devices. On the far left is Sgurr nan Ceathreambnan which I hope to do soon. There are also tips for GPS and digital mapping technologies.More information. Five Sisters Ridge, North Glen Shiel Introduction to Walk 3083. Other sources give the figure as 300, National Trust for Scotland information on Kintail, National Trust for Scotland information on the battle, National Galleries of Scotland online collection, Biography at Scottish Liberal Democrats site, 360° panoramic view of the top of Glen Shiel, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Glen_Shiel&oldid=975942005, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing Scottish Gaelic-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 31 August 2020, at 08:18. 2 hours 45 mins after leaving the car, we reached the wide, spacious grassy summit of out first Munro. The south side is a long uniformly steep grassy slope dropping to Glen Quoich. The South Glen Shiel Ridge (west end) Having walked the eastern half of the South Glen Shiel ridge, the following day I tackled the western end. The glen runs approximately 9 miles from south-east to north-west, from the Cluanie Inn at the western end of Loch Cluanie and the start of Glenmoriston to sea level at the village of Shiel Bridge and Loch Duich. Dawn on a calm winter's day high up in the mountains - quite a life enriching experience. The glen runs approximately 9 miles from south-east to north-west, from the Cluanie Inn (216 metres) at the western end of Loch Cluanie and the start of Glenmoriston to sea level at the village of Shiel Bridge and Loch Duich. Above the clouds on the Five Sisters of Kintail - Sgurr na Ciste Duibhe from Sgurr na Spainteach . Glen Shiel was within the former Forestry Commission's Fort Augustus Forest Division, and in a 2008 report the Commission wrote "Consideration is being given to restoration of ancient woodland sites in dramatic landscapes like the Great Glen and Glen Shiel. Published in Scottish Mountaineering Club Journal 2018 Many times I have passed through Glen Shiel, looked up to the South Cluanie Ridge and wondered what it would be like as a ski traverse. Ben Nevis – wedge shaped. Time - 8 hours 40 minutes. Huge collection, amazing choice, 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM images. Sgurr a' Bhealaich Dheirg. All rights reserved. The plan was to climb the 6 Munros on the North Side of Glen Shiel, which included the ridge of the Five Sisters of Kintail. Next comes a rocky descent of some 250metres to the Bealach Bhuidhe. I have taken my time writing this report because it has given me time to relive the experience, to look again and again at the photographs and realise how lucky I was. Describes 69 challenging routes across 139 of the iconic 3000ft+ mountains covering areas such as Glencoe, Bridge of Orchy and Mull. Ascent - 4900 feet / 1485 metres . That their backs should be to God and their faces to the Devil; that all the curses the Scripture did pronounce might come upon them and all their posterity if they did not stand firm to the Prince in the greatest danger... Murray, p. 278. Click thumbnails for larger images. Whether you are experienced in map-reading, or have never used a compass before, this guidebook will sharpen your skills and have you exploring new areas in no time. North of Glen Shiel. Geo-Trips:: Western half of the South Glen Shiel Ridge Glen Shiel A walk from Head of Glen Shiel, Sat, 13 May 2000 by Nigel Brown. / seven munros of glen shiel ridge in winter! Volume 1 of two guidebooks.More information, This 2-volume set provides all the information required to complete the main ridge traverse on Skye's Black Cuillin. Published 15th January 2021, 19:40. Five Sisters of Kintail in the North Glen Shiel Ridge. Five Sisters of Kintail in the North Glen Shiel Ridge. Weather warnings issued . WHY SEVEN MUNROS OF SOUTH SHIEL RIDGE ARE BETTER BY HALF. High, wild and remote, the hills are physically in two parts; the South Shiel Ridge and the North Glenshiel Hills, amongst which are the famous Five Sisters of Kintail. From the summit of the Munro I turned right onto the main ridge and walked along it to the fourth Munro on the ridge, Maol Chinn-dearg. Leaving a feeling of what lurks around the corner and the imminent on set of daybreak . The south side is a long uniformly steep grassy slope dropping to Glen Quoich. It is a promenade through OS landranger map 33, my favourite map, with Knoydart to the south and the five Sisters and the Brothers of Kintail to the north. At the time he had a £30,000 bounty on his head, having fled after the Battle of Culloden. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. Hear pronunciation Press to hear pronunciation. Immediately after the scramble is the summit of Aonach air Chrith, the third Munro on the South Glen Shiel ridge, and the highest. Comfortable Rooms with all the Amenities. Or the North Glen Shiel Ridge - what a day!- March 2012 heatwave Parking up, just West of the Cluanie Inn. The north and south sides of the glen are chains of shapely mountain summits, connected by high, narrow ridges with occasional scrambly sections. Alpenglow finally hit the North Shiel ridge as we were getting close to the ridgeline. Size and location determine the monthly rate. 918m/3012ft. Hiking Nature trips Walking Lake River Views Wildflowers Wildlife. The pictures speak for themselves but the ridge was amazing, a new route for all of us in winter it was a mini adventure. North Glen Shiel Ridge Sunday 7th June 2009 ... Five Sisters, but is still delightfully narrow with bits of rock near the tops of the Munros. In this view it’s seen looking east along the ridge from the approach to Druim Shionnach. It is a week since I did this walk. As I was staying at the Cluanie Inn (highly recommended by the way for good rooms and food as well as friendly staff) I used their "taxi" service to reach the start of the walk at the lower end of Glen Shiel. Published in Scottish Mountaineering Club Journal 2018 Many times I have passed through Glen Shiel, looked up to the South Cluanie Ridge and wondered what it would be like as a ski traverse. Unlike last month's Munro foray into the Cairngorms, this time I would be following a popular route used by many others on this forum. Myself, James and Craig made our way north to Glen Shiel with the aim to get to the top of The Saddle via the Forcan ridge. [4], The A87 Road to the Isles runs the full length of the glen, reaching a high point of 271 metres two miles west of the Cluanie Inn. Walk grading - Learn how each walk is assessed and select a walk to suit your ability and experience by going to Walk Grading Details. Saileag of the Three Brothers and the Five Sisters of Kintail. Kyle of Lochalsh is roughly a 25 minute drive west (via the A87). Shiel Bridge is a legendary place among mountaineers, and anybody with aspirations to stand astride the most handsome mountains in Scotland will eventually find themselves in Glen Shiel, staring up at the famous Five Sisters of Kintail or contemplating the steep and slightly perilous ascent of the mighty Forcan Ridge on to the Saddle. The road and mist line of trees converge drawing the eye to the barely lit mountains . To the south of the glen, the South Glen Shiel (or South Cluanie) ridge (Creag a' Mhàim, Druim Shionnach, Aonach air Chrith, Maol Chinn-dearg, Sgùrr an Doire Leathain, Sgùrr an Lochain and Creag nan Damh) occupies the upper part, and in the lower part are The Saddle, according to W. H. Murray "the best mountain of the region both in distant shape and close acquaintance,"[7] and Sgùrr na Sgine. [13] It is "Scotland's only battle site with contemporary remains still visible – including the stone dyke enclosure where the Jacobite munitions were stored". County/Area - Highland. A lightweight second guidebook gives the scrambler detailed maps, topos and route description for the ridge traverse itself.More information, An instructive guidebook explaining map and compass techniques, to help readers enhance their outdoor experiences. Another ridge goes north east for a kilometre to the subsidiary “Top” of Sgùrr an Fhuarail (Peak of the Cold Place) where it splits, ... however it is often scaled with the other two Munros of the North Glen Shiel Ridge. The Saddle and Forcan Ridge above Glen Shiel. A' Glas-bheinn. Immediately to your left is the deep and steep sided Coire Dhomain, and beyond that, the magnificent spire of Sgurr Fhuaran, the highest point of the ridge at 1068 metres. The north flank of the ridge is well seen from the A87 road through Glen Shiel; it is a succession of fine rocky corries carved along the hillside. Five Sisters of Kintail - Sgurr na Ciste Duibhe. I've chosen to stay at the Cluanie Inn in Glen Shiel, virtually the only habitation for twenty miles in any direction, and surrounded by a large number of mountains that should prove relatively easy to climb. It was spring and the North West was caught in a heat wave, when I turned my attention to the western half of the South Glen Shiel Ridge, … Day by day forecast. Continuing on our way, the ridge starts to turn northwards as it drops down to the Bealach na Craoibhe, before rising once again to the rocky peak of Sgurr na Carnach, a Munro top of 1002metres. Shiel Bridge - Weather warnings issued 14-day forecast. The glen is popular with hillwakers and tourists and contains the village of Shiel Bridge as well as other small settlements. Above the clouds on the Five Sisters of Kintail - Sgurr na Ciste Duibhe from Sgurr na Spainteach. Author - Paul Gasson. Then coming to the right we have Ciste Dhubh (tomorrow's hill), Mullach Froach choire and A'Chralaig (the following days hills) and further away Sgurr nan Conbhairean. We started the walk in through deep powder and made our way to the start of the ridge with views all around of snowy peaks. Glen Shiel is a glen in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. "[10], Notable plant species growing on the grassy flanks of the mountains include fragrant orchid, butterfly orchid, pale butterwort and mountain azalea (Loiseleuria procumbens). Five Sisters of Kintail in the North Glen Shiel Ridge. North, across Glen Shiel, lays the Five Sisters amongst many other peaks on view. [15], One of the peaks on the northern side of the glen, Sgùrr nan Spàinteach (Peak of the Spaniards), derives its name from the 200 Spanish troops[16] who fought a rearguard action on the side of the defeated Jacobite rebels and who retreated over the peak. It is probably best tackled from it's Eastern end, having taken the precaution of leaving a second car on the road from Shiel Bridge to Morvich (Grid ref. The glen is popular with hillwakers and tourists and contains the village of Shiel Bridge as well as other small settlements. Glen Shiel is a narrow valley in the northwest Highlands that cuts a line through rugged mountains to drop to Scotland's west coast at Loch Duich, a long finger of sea reaching far into the hills. This is undoubtedly one of the classic Scottish hill walks, and no hillwalker who has seen an illustration of it, or viewed it, perhaps from the Mam Rattigan pass out of Shiel Bridge, can have failed to put it on their 'wish list'. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and nature trips. Strategy, gear, training, navigation and logistics are covered, and 10 classic scrambles are described. Be warned that the route, which can be completed in 9 hours or less in ideal summer conditions, can easily take 11 or 12 in winter. Hiking Nature trips Walking Lake River Views Wildflowers Wildlife. [1] The northern side of the glen lies within the Kintail and Morvich estate owned by the National Trust for Scotland. The ridge descends this rocky top to the Bealach na Carnach before a short, but steep and rocky ascent to the reigning peak, Sgurr Fhuaran, a Munro of 1068metres. The North Glen Shiel ridge that forms the northern side of the glen consists of the Five Sisters of Kintail (Sgùrr na Ciste Duibhe, Sgùrr na Càrnach, Sgùrr Fhuaran, Sgùrr nan Spàinteach and Sgùrr nan Saighead) in the lower part of the glen, and Sàileag, Sgùrr a' Bhealaich Dheirg and Aonach Meadhoin in the upper part. A' Glas-bheinn. Find the perfect glen shiel ridge stock photo. — at Glen Shiel. There's a pub at either end. Grade - very hard. Description. It was the last close engagement of British and foreign troops on mainland British soil. High quality Glen Shiel Ridge gifts and merchandise. Inspired designs on t-shirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more by independent artists and designers from around the world. More peaks lead westwards, ending with The Saddle and its famed north-eastern spur, The Forcan Ridge. No need to register, buy now! Ignore the second gate through a deer fence which goes to a water installation, and keep right. Sadly I was still in the cloud, and it wasn’t until the descent towards Saileag, my third Munro of the day that views began to open up to Glen Shiel below on my left. Parts of the northern flanks of the upper glen have been afforested with a mix of Scots pine, Sitka spruce and Norway spruce. Beinn Fhada (Ben Attow) 1032m/3386ft. The big wedge summit that was Ben Nevis looked incredibly close across layers of mountains. a factor in their favour when time or energy levels are low. Sgurr a' Bhealaich Dheirg. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Start - OS grid reference NH007136Lat 57.169817 // Long -5.298089Postcode IV40 8HU (approx.