The Saddle is one of the great mountains of Kintail, and the finest way to its summit — the Forcan Ridge — is widely rated among the best scrambles in Scotland. A narrow, exposed crest of firm rock leading dramatically to the top, it offers a superb, serious day for competent scramblers. Here's what it involves.
The mountain and the ridge
The Saddle (1,010m) rises above Glen Shiel, not far from the Five Sisters. Its eastern approach, the Forcan Ridge, is a slender rock crest that narrows as it climbs, with steep drops on both sides and continuous interest. It's the kind of route people travel a long way to do — position, exposure and quality rock in equal measure.
Difficulty and the "bad step"
The Forcan Ridge is generally graded a Grade 2/3 scramble, harder and more sustained than the CMD Arête or the Horns of Alligin. The crux is a famous "bad step" — an awkward, exposed downclimb where the holds are positive but the drop concentrates the mind. Some parties carry a rope for this section. It is genuine, serious scrambling with real consequences to a slip: this is a route for those with solid scrambling experience and a good head for heights, not a first scramble.
Options and escape
There is a bypass path that avoids the very crest of the ridge in places, allowing a somewhat easier line, and The Saddle can also be climbed by an entirely non-scrambling route from the west if you want the Munro without the ridge. Know your options before you start, and be honest about your ability — committing to the crest and then finding it beyond you is a bad position to be in. Our guide to scrambling grades explained will help you judge whether you're ready.
Conditions and season
Do the Forcan Ridge in dry, settled, clear weather. Wet rock raises the difficulty sharply, wind on the narrow crest is dangerous, and cloud removes both the route-finding and the spectacle. In winter it becomes a serious graded mountaineering route requiring full winter skills and experience. Save it for a fine summer day, go with the daylight to spare, and enjoy one of the best ridges in the Highlands. It lies within our Kintail and Glen Shiel bagging guide, alongside the Five Sisters.
Related guides
- Scrambling grades explained
- The Five Sisters of Kintail
- Munro bagging in Kintail and Glen Shiel
- Munros tracking app — offline maps for the ridge and its bypass options
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