No other day in Scotland delivers as many Munros for a single climb as the South Glen Shiel Ridge. Seven Munros are strung along one continuous high crest above Glen Shiel, and once you've made the initial ascent you stay high, ticking off summit after summit along a superb switchback ridge. It's a rite of passage for Munro baggers and a genuinely achievable big day for a fit walker. Here's how to do it.
The seven Munros
From east to west the ridge links Creag a' Mhàim, Druim Shionnach, Aonach air Chrith (the highest at 1,021m), Maol Chinn-dearg, Sgùrr an Doire Leathain, Sgùrr an Lochain and Creag nan Dàmh — seven Munros in a single outing. It's the biggest single-day tally most walkers will ever manage without the ground being technical.
What the day is like
The ridge's great virtue is that it's a walk, not a scramble. After a steep pull up to the crest at the eastern end, the going is on grassy, generally straightforward ground with a clear path — the effort is in the relentless up-and-down between summits, not in any difficulty underfoot. Expect roughly 30km and 2,000m of ascent and a long day of eight to ten hours. It's a test of endurance and pacing rather than nerve.
The logistics: it's linear
The ridge is a traverse — you finish several miles down the glen from where you started. Sort transport in advance: two cars, a drop-off, a stashed bike at the western end, or a plan for the road walk back (which adds a tedious few miles to an already long day). Most walkers go east-to-west to get the steepest ascent done first and finish nearer the road home. Start early to bank the summits with daylight in hand.
Choosing your day
Because you're committed to the high ridge for hours with limited easy escape, pick a settled forecast with good visibility. The navigation isn't technical, but in cloud the switchback tops can disorient, and you'll miss the sweeping views that make the day. Carry plenty of food and water — there's a lot of ground to cover. If seven feels like too much, the ridge can be split, though the classic challenge is the full seven. For more big-tally days, see how many Munros you can climb in a day.
Related guides
- How many Munros can you climb in a day?
- Munro bagging in Kintail and Glen Shiel
- Best Munro ridge walks
- Munros tracking app — offline maps and route for all seven summits
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