A client scrambling along The Forcan Ridge on a beautiful day.
Photo of the grade two scrambling along The Forcan Ridge.
Photo of the scenery around Glen Shiel taken by a Forcan Ridge Guide.
The Forcan Ridge is a thrilling grade two scramble located in Glen Shiel, in The North West Highlands of Scotland. It offers fantastic mountaineering and easily merits the three stars it is given within the guidebooks. This beautiful ridge gives incredible access to The Saddle. The Saddle is considered the finest of the Kintail peaks and perhaps even one of the most magnificent mountains in the Scottish Highlands. It can also be combined with Sgùrr na Sgìne to create a long and adventurous horseshoe style route. Both the Saddle and Sgùrr na Sgìne are munros and so this provides a truly fantastic route for munro baggers and those just looking for a brilliant mountaineering experience. Whether you are looking for a Forcan Ridge guide or a guide for the full horseshoe, our expert instructors can help.
View some of the routes we can offer on this mountain
Climb Torridon provides private guiding on The Forcan Ridge as well as other remote mountains in the North West Highlands including in Torridon and on the Isle of Skye. We are a local company and pride ourselves on our intricate knowledge of these fantastic mountains. Our expert guides can help you to achieve your own personal goals on The Forcan Ridge, The Saddle and Sgùrr na Sgìne. When you book with us we will discuss your needs and tailor the day around you.
See our ratios and pricing information
The Saddle is a mountain located in the beautiful North West Highlands of Scotland. More specifically, it is located in Glen Shiel, a wild and remote area not far from Skye. The small villages of Dornie and Morvich are close by and offer a great location to base yourself. If you prefer access to a few more facilities, the local larger village of Kyle of Lochalsh has shops, accommodation, restaurants and other attractions. Any of the options would be a great place to book accommodation for this adventure. Alternatively, there is a simple and perfectly located campsite within Shiel Bridge itself.
There are a variety of route options which include a guided scramble along the Forcan Ridge. You can either opt to just enjoy the scramble itself (topping out on the summit of The Saddle). Alternatively you can include an additional munro, Sgùrr na Sgìne in a horseshoe style route. For those that are keen on a winter mountaineering option, we also guide The Forcan Ridge in winter.
This option is perfect for anyone who is keen to enjoy a day out scrambling. It usually takes around 5-6 hours to complete the full route. This is also a great choice for anyone who considers themself to have a slower or more relaxed pace, as there is no rush at all. You can simply enjoy the glorious scrambling that this magnificent route provides.
The option of a guide for The Forcan Ridge, The Saddle and Sgùrr na Sgìne is ideal for munro baggers or anyone looking for a longer and more challenging day in the mountains. Expect it to take around 7-9 hours to complete the full route. This gives you the opportunity to summit two munros as well as enjoy one of the best grade two scrambles in the UK.
We guide The Forcan Ridge in winter conditions as well as summer. It is a grade II winter mountaineering route. Therefore this is a full winter mountaineering experience requiring an ice axe and crampons. No experience of winter mountaineering or winter climbing is needed. However, having some experience of using crampons and an ice axe before will certainly make this much more achievable. If you do not have your own crampons or ice axe, we can provide them free of charge. However, you will need suitable boots and clothing for a winter mountain environment. If you have any questions about what is needed or about your suitability do just get in contact.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have an individual or bespoke route you wish to discuss.
In order to provide the highest level of experience and safety we maintain low ratios for guided scrambles of The Forcan Ridge. Please note, regardless of whether you opt for a guide for The Forcan Ridge and The Saddle or for the full horseshoe, the pricing is the same. All trips are considered private bookings so you will not have to worry about the pace of others and will get a trip tailored to your individual needs.
| Ratio | Price |
|---|---|
| 1:1 | £300 |
| 1:2 | £160 per person |
| Ratio | Winter Mountaineering Price |
|---|---|
| 1:1 | £320 |
| 1:2 | £170 per person |
The Forcan Ridge is located on a remote mountain called The Saddle. A reasonable level of fitness is required to tackle this 1010 metre giant! Whilst the pace does not need to be fast you should expect a full day out on the hill. The scrambling is grade two, no experience of scrambling is required but a good head for heights is needed. For those wishing to be guided on The Forcan Ridge horseshoe, a longer day should be expected. This is around 1600m of ascent in total and a distance of 14km. So for The Forcan Ridge, The Saddle and Sgùrr na Sgìne a good level of fitness and the expectation for a long day out on the hill is needed. However, this is definitely an achievable mountain for the keen walker. If you have concerns over your fitness to complete this mountain then please don’t hesitate to get in touch and we can discuss your particular circumstances.
You will need your normal hill walking kit including sturdy footwear, waterproofs (jacket and trousers), food and warm clothing. Technical kit is available to borrow for your booking where required. Alternatively, you are welcome to bring your own subject to inspection by your guide to ensure its safety. A complete kit list is provided with each booking.
