Home » Routes » Best Guidebook Walks 6 – The Saddle and the Forcan Ridge

Best Guidebook Walks 6 – The Saddle and the Forcan Ridge

By Dave Roberts   

on February 13, 2012    No ratings yet.

Posted as a walk in –

Best Guidebook Walks 6 – The Saddle and the Forcan Ridge

Route Essentials

Route Summary

See the end of the article for local information about parking, public transport facilities, pubs and cafes.

Distance

16.8 km

Ascent

1509 m

Time

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Start Location

Difficulty

Hard Walk, Scrambling, Scrambling Grade 1

Hazards

Weather Forecast:

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?
Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need. 

Best Guidebook Walks 6 – The Saddle and the Forcan Ridge Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download

View the full route map

Download file for GPS

Best Guidebook Walks 6 – The Saddle and the Forcan Ridge

This route featured in our article on My Favourite Guidebook Walks and is taken from Irvine Butterfield’s classic tome – The High Mountains of Britain and Ireland Vol 1.

Enigmatically named volume 1 thirty years ago, this is still a standalone volume. The cover of the original had a shot of the Forcan Ridge, with even more impressive images of the walk accompanying the route, which was all I needed. A lofty peak, rocky exposed ridge and plenty of green made it look like somewhere I’d like to walk. Unfortunately, the new book has a new cover – while equally impressive just isn’t the original. I have no plans to do this walk any time soon as it’s just too damn far north! Though a week or so in Glen Shiel is nothing to be sniffed at, but I can’t see how it would be practical without driving there. The shot below is the same as the book’s cover, only less green!

The Route can only be found in Irvine Butterfield’s classic tome – The High Mountains of Britain and Ireland Vol 1 which you may be able to get second hand online, but well worth buying.

© Copyright John Bennett and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Local Information and Recommended Maps and Guidebooks

Route Summary:

Route Start Location:

Distance
 Ascent
 Time
16.8 km 1509 m

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Activivity Type: Hard Walk, Scrambling, Scrambling Grade 1

Summits and Places on this Route

Facilities

Check out the businesses nearby for more places to stay and drink.

Hazards

Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need.

Parking :

Public Transport:

Traveline for UK Public Transport

Weather Forecast:

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?

Recommended Maps: 

Guidebooks:

Please rate this

Dave Roberts

Dave Roberts founded Walk Eryri in 2004, with the aim of providing routes that are off the beaten track. Walk Eryri is now part of Mud and Routes which continues to provide more off beat routes and walks in Snowdonia and beyond. Dave has been exploring the hills of Eryri for over thirty years, and is a qualified Mountain Leader. Dave also established Walk up Snowdon, Walk up Scafell Pike and Walk up Ben Nevis just to mention a few.

More Posts by Dave Roberts

Leave a Reply