Photographs, route description and map of The Saddle and Sgur nan Forcan ridge in Glen Shiel

An Diollaid is the ﬁnest mountain in one of Scotland’s most Munro-rich areas. The name describes the low-slung ridge between the hill's two main peaks and its long eastern ridge, the Forcan Ridge. This is a narrow, airy and exhilarating scramble, one of the ﬁnest ridges in the western Highlands. Climbed in combination with the neighbouring Munro of Sgurr na Sgine (3,100ft) and its top, Faochag, this outing is the ﬁnest in the
Glen Shiel area.
Glen Shiel's popularity with hillwalkers is not surprising — there are no fewer than 20 Munros lining up on either side of the A87 road. Nine Munros rear up from a succession of superb scooped corries on the south side, and with 11 more on the north side of the road, the area is tailormade for that modern phenomenon, the car-borne hill basher.
But An Diollaid is the epitome of all that’s good in west Highland mountains. Seen from the steep slopes of Faochag, the Forcan Ridge appears like a humped Stegosaurus' back — a narrow spine created by rough plates of rock, culminating in its very own top, Sgurr na Forcan, before dipping slightly and rising again to the east top of An Dioliaid.
The approach to the foot of the Forcan Ridge follows a beautifully crafted stalkers’ path which leaves Glen Shiel just southeast of the quarry at Achnagart and eases you up for more than 500 metres to a grassy bealach between Biod an Fhithich and Meallan Odhar. Head south over Meallan Odhar and then continue south-west across another grassy bealach to reach the foot of the rocky staircase that soon narrows into the Forcan Ridge.
Try to stick with the crest of the ridge if you can but take note: in wintry conditions this is more of a climb than a walk.
If it all becomes too exposed and airy you can drop down to the right where a path weaves its way up and through the lesser difﬁculties, but of course that may not be too obvious under snow. The continuation to the Saddle from the top of the Forcan Ridge, Sgurr nan Forcan, is narrow and steep in places and involves one particularly steep down climbing section. The holds are there if you look for them and, again, if things get too hairy you can avoid the awkward step by an easier route on the south side.
Descents can be made down the north ridge over Sgurr na Creige, or west and then north round Coire Uaine, but most visitors will want to add Sgurr na Sgine to their day’s tally and this Munro, and its outlier, Faochag ( the Whelk ) are about 2km southeast of the summit.
Sgurr na Sgine can be easily climbed from the Bealach Coire Mhalagain —up onto the north ridge where a gentle stroll takes you round the head of Coire Toileil to the summit. Retrace your steps now, back around the corrie rim to the summit of Faochag, whose northeast ridge drops you steeply back into the depths of Glen Shiel.

ROUTE PLANNER

Map: OS 1:50,000 Landranger sheet 33 ( Loch Alsh, Glen Shiel & Loch Hourn );
Harveys Mountain Map Knoydart, Kintail & Glen Affric
Start/ﬁnish: A87 at Achnagart ( GR: NG964148 ).
Distance: 10 miles/16km
Time: 7-8 hours
Public Transport: Glasgow-Skye Citylink buses stop at Shiel Bridge, 5km from the start.

Route:

Follow the rising path trom the road at Achnagart W to the bealach between Biod an Fhithich and Meail Odhar.
Head S then SW to the foot ot the Forcan Ridge, which is then ciimbed to the summit of Sgurr na Forcan.
Continue W down steep rocks and traverse another narrow ridge to the E top ot An Dioilaid, and then the summit.
Descend to the Beaiach Coire Mhaiagain and climb to the NW top of Sgurr na Sgine.
Follow the ridge SE to the summit.
Descend by Faochag and its steep NE ridge.