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 western side of a burn. The house next to the start occasionally has a couple of intimidating dogs, but they're usually penned up. On grass and fairly damp ground, the path heads around the back of the Arnisdale and crosses a couple of burns. The path then takes a sharp turn (signposted) and then follows 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. The left fork veers away from the burn, aiming directly uphill and disappears before hitting the bottom of the screes. Attack these screes (easier than it looks) and reach the small cairn on the eastern top at 906m.
(To avoid the screes - at the fork, veer right and aim for the col between Beinn Sgritheall and Beinn na h-Eaglaise. An obvious path can be picked up hugging the line of fence posts crossing the col - follow this path westwards uphill, which twists and turns as height is gained. The ascent easies and the cairn at 906m is reached.)
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.
ReturnEither return by the same route which, if done in late afternoon will reward you with a glorious sunset as a descend towards Arnisdale is made. Alternatively, from the summit head west on an obvious path and begin to lose height. Just before reaching a small lochan at c360m, a small cairn marks a junction in the path - turn left and descend into a birch wood. The path meanders through the wood, avoiding crags and meets up with the road below, from where a pleasant 2km walk can be enjoyed back to Arnisdale.
