Steven Fallon Scottish Mountain Routes www. stevenfallon .co.uk
Beinn na h-Eaglaise, Beinn Sgritheall and Skye Cuillin from The Saddle
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above glenelg and arnisdale location  profile  photos
munros Beinn Sgritheall (974m, Munro 183)

corbetts Beinn na h-Eaglaise (805m, Corbett)
Beinn nan Caorach (774m, Corbett)

ascent 1100m (3,600ft)
distance 6.5km (4m)
time running : 1:35hr, walking : 3:30hr*
 *Naismith's rule : 4km/h distance + 600m/h ascent

start/finish Arnisdale (grid ref : NG841105)

maps/guides  OS Landranger 33 OS Explorer 414 Harvey Superwalker Kintail Pocket Mountains - West Highlands

GPX data download file

terrain
easy difficult
navigation
easy testing
effort
stroll long day
scenery
ok stunning



main route summary
A sea-level start and steep path make for a good stiff munro. Beinn Sgritheall lives up to it's name - hill of the scree - on th ascent to it's first top. From the summit there are terrific views in all directions due to the hill's isolation. End the day off at Sheena's Tea-Stop at the road-end.


main route outline

Getting there
Beinn Sgritheall towers above the small village of Arnisdale on the northern shores of Loch Hourn. The only practical way of accessing Arnisdale is via the twisting road that heads south from Glen Elg. Glen Elg is reached from Shiel Bridge on the A87 via a narrow road that heads over Bealach Ratagain. It is also possible to reach Glen Elg directly from the Isle of Skye using the narrow road that heads east from the A87 from a few miles north of Broadford and crossing Kyle Rhea on the Glen Elg ferry. There is limited parking on the shore side of the road at the start of the hill route. More parking is available in a car-park near the end of the public road.

Beinn Sgritheall
Just as you enter the village of Arnisdale from Glenelg, there's a signposted path heading up the side of a burn. The house next to the start has couple of unfriendly dogs, but they're usually penned up. The path heads around the back of the houses over wet ground and crosses a couple of burns, before turning uphill and following a line of fenceposts. Progress is steep, but easy and obvious following the path. At around 350m, the path crosses the burn, then splits further up, with the left fork veering away from the burn and directly uphill. Follow this path, which becomes fainter then disappears before hitting the bottom of the screes. Attack the screes - easier than it looks - and reach the small cairn on the eastern top at 906m. Aim west on a path and drop 60m to a wide bealach, then north-west up hill over a bit of wet ground. A short narrow section needs negotiating, then haul yourself up the last 50m on more grass to the summit. Beinn Sgritheall's ruined trig point is becoming engulfed by the cairn. This is a fabulous summit with superb views in all directions.

Return
Return by the same route. If you intend to do this route late afternoon, you'll be rewarded with a glorious sunset as you descend towards Arnisdale.






Relevant area weblinks
Weather Local, Region and National
Webcam 914's Kintail webcam
Accommodation and food GlenElg Inn
SYHA Ratagan Hostel
Local information Glenelg and Arnisdale
Gear 914 Outdoor
Other Kyle Rhea to Glenelg Ferry
GlenElg Brochs

Other nearby routes
East Saddle, Sgine and South Glen Shiel Ridge
South Knoydart munros and corbetts
West Blaven on Skye



Beinn Sgritheall and two corbetts
Distance : 14km, ascent : 1600m
Starting from Arnisdale, ascend Beinn Sgritheall as described in the main route on the left. Return to the small cairn on the subsiduary summit at 906m, then aim directly down the screes for Bealach Arnasdail. A wall and fenceposts are met. Climb directly up the very steep grass covered ground to the summit of Beinn na h-Eaglaise.

Tall fenceposts are followed north-east towards Druim nan Bo, but shortcut the route before this bealach by heading off over pleasant grassy ground to turn and aim directly Beinn nan Caorach.

To return to Arnisdale, aim south-west from the summit of this second corbett, then south-south-west down the hill to cross the Eas na Cuingid and follow a stalkers path, then track back to the road.




Via the Glenelg brochs
Distance : 18km, ascent : 1700m
1km south of the village of Glenelg a road heads east up Gleann Beag to Balvraid. The brochs alone are well worth a visit. Drive as far as possible (we drove probably too far and nearly stuck the car), then, on foot, cross the river at a bridge by some forestry. Follow a path around the trees, under the pylons, then head uphill on grassy ground west-south-west, then west, then south-west to reach the lochans on Beinn a'Chapuill. The summit of this hill is on Creag Bealach na h-Oidhche, from where descend south-east to the bealach at 500m. Continue south-east up to 600m, then turn and aim for Beinn Sgritheall's northern top at 928m. From the small cairn on this, reach the main summit with its fabulous views.

As in the route described above, aim over the subsiduary summit (906m), then down the screes directly down to Bealach Arnasdail. Climb up the steep grass covered ground to the summit of Beinn na h-Eaglaise. Tall fenceposts are followed towards Druim nan Bo, from where you can choose whether or not to ascend Beinn nan Caorach then return to Druim nan Bo. From Druim nan Bo carry on northwards downhill to return to the bridge by the forest and back to your car.




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