The South Glen Shiel Ridge

In Glen Shiel, there are a group of Munro's (seven) which can make for a great day out of high-ridge walking. Or, if you go in a typical Scottish summer, you can be soaked for hours on end, taking in the spectacular views of mist, drizzle and your compadres some way off in the distance. I attempted the ridge with Shaz and Big Al as well as two others, who wandered off on their own to bag the Saddle and Sgurr na Sgine at the end of the ridge. Team spirit, don't you love it?

We made our way up the private road from the Cluanie Inn. As an aside, this is an excellent place to stay, eat superb food and enjoy some fine beers (Black and Red Cuillin on tap). The owners, Alex and Cecilia are the hosts with the most. Moving on, we made our way up the path/stream towards the 1st Munro of the day, Creag a Mhaim. With the hard part over, we continued onwards to the 2nd Munro, which wasn't far off at all (Druim Shionnach) and then made our way swiftly to Aonach air Chrith, the highest and steepest of this particular section of the ridge - a herd of deer flew past us from the corrie below - they can fair move. At the 4th Munro, and 2 of our triumvirate soaked, we made the correct decision to head down the stalker's path and get back to the car. It was 1500 in the afternoon, we'd been on the hill 6 hours and we were only halfway - 2100 was not an acceptable getting off time in high winds, battering rain and dusk at 2000. At this point in time, we passed a party of 3 walkers who were making their way up. They assured us they were going to do the remaining half and seemed well equipped but it appeared, in my opinion, to be a late start.

As it transpired, later that night while chilling out in the Kintail Hotel, we heard a helicopter and then again, early the next morning. Someone had fallen on Sgurr na Sgine, at the end of the ridge and unfortunately died. It was a stark realisation of the conditions we'd been walking in and I think a correct decision by our group. It certainly alerted me to the fact that the Scottish hills in summer are far from benign and made what was an enjoyable walking weekend, quite a sad experience.