The Saddle

The Saddle, at 1,010 metres, is widely regarded as the finest of the Kintail peaks and one of the most magnificent mountains in the Highlands, its narrow, striking Forcan Ridge one of the classic scrambling expeditions in Scotland.

The route starts from a layby on the north side of the A87 about 300 metres east of the Achnagart Farm turnoff. A well-used path crosses the glen floor before zig-zagging up a broad shoulder, cutting right in a rising traverse to a col between Meallan Odhar and Biod an Fhithich, then left to skirt Choire Chaoil and reach a grassy saddle. At the foot of the Forcan Ridge, a genuine choice must be made: continue directly up the ridge, or turn left to contour below it via a bypass path alongside an old drystone dyke, avoiding the scrambling entirely to reach the Bealach Coire Mhalagain.

The Forcan Ridge itself starts with simple scrambling that becomes progressively more exposed — some sections are a genuine knife-edge, with a worn path just to the right offering some relief from full exposure, though considerable exposure remains throughout. Beyond the top of Sgùrr na Forcan, an awkward steep descent of around 10 metres can be avoided via a gully to the left or a rake to the right. The Saddle itself has two summits, with the trig point on the westerly one — it isn't obvious which is the true highest point, so committed Munro-baggers climb both.

Most walkers continue to the neighbouring Munro, Sgùrr na Sgìne, completing a fine horseshoe, or descend westward towards Shiel Bridge for a shorter day taking in only The Saddle's minor tops.

The combined round taking in both The Saddle and Sgùrr na Sgìne is around 10 kilometres with roughly 1,080 metres of ascent, typically six hours or more depending on route choice and conditions.

The Forcan Ridge is a hard, exposed scramble requiring a good head for heights, appropriate footwear, and genuine scrambling ability — in winter it becomes a serious grade II mountaineering route, sometimes requiring an abseil to descend safely. The bypass path, while less thrilling, remains a perfectly legitimate and much safer option for those without scrambling experience.

The A87 layby is free; Citylink buses between Glasgow, Inverness, and Portree run along the A87, stopping at the driver's discretion.