The Saddle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Saddle |
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The Forcan ridge on The Saddle
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,011.4 m (3,318 ft) |
| Prominence | c. 334 m |
| Parent peak | Aonach air Chrith |
| Listing | Marilyn, Munro |
| Naming | |
| Language of name | Gaelic |
| Geography | |
| Location | Glen Shiel, Scotland |
| OS grid | NG936131 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 33 |
The Saddle (Scottish Gaelic: An Dìollaid) is a famous mountain in Scotland. It's known for its amazing views, especially from the place where the Battle of Glen Shiel happened. This mountain sits in the Scottish Highlands, right on the border between Inverness-shire and Ross and Cromarty.
Climbing The Saddle is an exciting challenge! One of the most famous parts is walking along the Forcan Ridge. This adventure is a classic for Scottish mountain explorers, whether in summer or winter. The mountain's name comes from its shape: when you look at it from Glen Shiel, its two peaks and the ridge between them look like a saddle. Its original name was An Dìollaid in Gaelic, but now most people use its English name.
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Climbing The Saddle
The most common way to start climbing The Saddle is to park near the A87 road, close to an old quarry near Shiel Bridge. From there, a path used by deer stalkers leads you westwards up a ridge. This ridge is about 500 meters (1,640 feet) high, just below a smaller peak called Biod an Fhithich.
From this point, the path turns south and climbs steeper ground. You will then reach the bottom of the Forcan Ridge.
The Forcan Ridge Adventure
The journey continues westwards, taking you up and over Sgurr nan Forcan. After that, you reach the main summit of The Saddle. Many people think this part of the climb is one of the best ridge walks in all of Scotland!
You don't need special rock-climbing skills for the ridge. However, you should be comfortable with heights, wear proper hiking boots, and have some scrambling ability. Scrambling means using both your hands and feet to climb over rocky sections. If you're climbing in winter, you might need a rope to safely get down from some parts of the ridge.
Reaching the Summit
The Saddle actually has two main peaks. The one to the west has a trig point, which is a special marker used for surveying. It's not always clear which of the two peaks is the very highest. So, if you're a "Munro bagger" – someone who tries to climb all the Munros (Scottish mountains over 3,000 feet) – it's a good idea to climb both!
Ways to Descend
To get back to your starting point, you can either go back the way you came up. Or, you can head south and then southeast to reach a pass called Bealach Coire Mhalagain. From here, you could continue your adventure to another mountain called Sgùrr na Sgine. Alternatively, you can follow an old stone wall northeast. This will lead you back to the top of the stalker's path, which takes you down to Glen Shiel.
If you don't want to combine The Saddle with Sgurr na Sgine, you can still have a great day. Just keep going west over the smaller peaks of The Saddle. Then, you can descend to Shiel Bridge, which is about five kilometers (three miles) northwest of where you started.
Images for kids
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Deteriorating weather conditions on The Saddle in winter.
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The Saddle and Forcan Ridge.
