Beinn Sgritheall and neighbours

Arnisdale and Loch Hourn

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 travels westwards and 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.

On Beinn Sgritheall's screes with Beinn na h-Eaglaise behind

Upon entering the village of Arnisdale from Glenelg, there is a signposted path heading uphill between a house and the western bank of a burn. Initially through some woodland and over grass and fairly damp ground, this rough path heads above and around the back of the Arnisdale, crossing a couple of burns on the way.

The path takes a sharp turn (signposted) and then follows a line of fenceposts uphill. Progress is steep yet straightforward on the obvious path above the eastern bank of the Allt a' Mhuilinn.

At around 350m, the path dips a little as it pulls away from the fence-posts, then climbs and higher up crosses back over the burn. At around a height of 500m, the path, now more vague, splits .

Taking the left fork, the path veers away from the burn and aims directly uphill, disappearing before hitting the bottom of the Beinn Sgritheall's screes. Attack these screes (easier than it looks) and reach the small cairn on the mountain's eastern top (marked 906m) .

Taking the right fork at 500m takes a slightly longer but easier route avoiding most of the screes. This route aims to Bealach Arnasdail , the col between Beinn Sgritheall and Beinn na h-Eaglaise, where an obvious path can be picked up hugging a line of fence posts crossing the col. Follow this path westwards uphill as it twists and turns while gaining height. The ascent eases and the cairn on the mountain's eastern top (marked 906m) is reached.

From this minor summit, aim west as the path drops around 60m to a wide bealach, encountering a patch of loose rough ground on the way. A wide grass-covered slope ahead leads onwards towards Beinn Sgritheall's summit.

Higher up the wide hillside narrows to a short little ridge above a significant drop, beyond which boots are back on a grassy slope for the last 50m of height gain to Beinn Sgritheall's summit .

Beinn Sgritheall's summit from the east

Beinn Sgritheall's summit from the east

View from Beinn Sgritheall's summit over to Ladhar Bheinn

You can return by the same route which, if done in late afternoon, will reward with a glorious sunset as a descent towards Arnisdale is made.

Alternatively, a circular route can be made by continuing westwards from Beinn Sgritheall's summit.

To do this, head north-west from the trig for a short distance then turn westwards to pick up a worn path travelling down Beinn Sgritheall's western shoulder. In parts terrain is rough but never difficult as the path twists between rocks and boulders.

After losing around 200m of height, the rough terrain easies and the path continues its way towards a small lochan at c360m. Just before reaching the lochan, a small cairn marks a junction in the path.

Descending Coille Mhialairigh

Descending Coille Mhialairigh

Beinn na h-Eaglaise from Beinn nan Caorach

Ascend Beinn Sgritheall as described above, then return over the minor summit 906m , and drop to Bealach Arnasdail .

Beinn na h-Eaglaise stands rather intimidating ahead. Pick up a wall and series of fenceposts and follow them as they travel directly up the western face of this hill. Although very steep, terrain is grass covered and the ascent is straightforward with Beinn na h-Eaglaise's summit being reached quite quickly.

From Beinn na h-Eaglaise's summit, follow a line of tall fenceposts north-east towards the col before Druim nan Bo. Instead of heading up this wide featureless expanse, contour around the head of Coire Dhruim nam Bo over pleasant grassy ground to turn and aim more directly for Beinn nan Caorach .

To return to Arnisdale, aim south-west from Beinn nan Caorach's summit losing a little height, then turn southwards down the hillside. After crossing the Eas na Cuingid, a stalkers path is picked up and hiked down towards a track in Glen Arnisdale for a return to the road by Corran.

Total ascent, including Beinn Sgritheall, is 1600m over a distance of 14km.

In Gleann Beag

A longer but less steep hike up Beinn Sgritheall can be made by approaching the mountain from Gleann Beag to the north. There are a couple of ancient brochs in this glen, which alone are well worth a visit.

Around 1km south of the village of Glenelg, a road heads east up Gleann Beag to Balvraid. Drive to the end of this road, where there is limited parking.

On foot, head around some farm buildings and follow an estate track for around 2km, passing under a line of pylons. Into some woodland and cross the river in the glen using a suspended wooden footbridge .

A path is then followed aside the boundary of some forestry. When reaching the edge of the forest, leave the path and turn westwards heading uphill under the pylons once more.

A straightforward climb up Beinn a' Chapuill's gently rising eastern shoulder leads past some small lochans to the hill's main summit above and to the southeast of a larger lochan overlooking Creag Bealach na h-Oidhche.

Beinn a' Chapuill's wide crest is undulating and marked with little lochans and minor summits. Some maps incorrectly show the summit of this hill on its north-western point (indicated by the spot height of 742m).

From Beinn a' Chapuill's summit, head south-west across the undulating and lochan pitted ground for around 500m before turning south-east to lose around 200m to drop to Bealach na h-Oidhche .

Begin a gentle climb by continuing southeast. The ascent steepens as a shoulder forms, gradually turning south-west as it aims for Beinn Sgritheall's summit (if you're 'top-bagging', a detour of 500m bags Beinn Sgritheall's northern top).

Skye's Cuillin from Beinn a' Chapuill

Skye's Cuillin from Beinn a' Chapuill