The Saddle

The Saddle
The Forcan ridge on The Saddle
Highest point
Elevation	1,010 m (3,310 ft)
Prominence	c. 315 m
Parent peak	Aonach air Chrith
Listing	Marilyn, Munro
Geography
Location	Glen Shiel, Scotland
OS grid	NG936131
Topo map	OS Landranger 33

The Saddle (Scottish Gaelic: An Dìollaid, pronounced [ən̪ˠ ˈtʲiəlˠ̪ətʲ]) is one of the great Scottish mountains; seen from the site of the Battle of Glen Shiel it forms (with Faochag) one of the best-known views in the Highlands. It is in the Highland local government area, on the boundary between the counties of Inverness-shire and Ross and Cromarty.

The mountain provides exciting and challenging climbing. The traverse of the Forcan Ridge — in winter or summer — is one of the classic Scottish mountain expeditions. The mountain's name refers to the shape of the summit ridge when seen from Glen Shiel with the twin summits and ridge in between resembling a saddle. The mountain was originally known by its Gaelic name of An Dìollaid but this has now been lost through common usage of its English translation and it is now one of the few mountains in highland Scotland with an English name.

The usual approach is to park beside the A87 just before the old quarry near Shiel Bridge. A stalker's path leads up westwards to a ridge at about 500 metres (1,600 ft), just below the outlying top of Biod an Fhithich. From here the route turns south and climbs steeper ground to the foot of the Forcan Ridge.

From here the route continues westwards up and over Sgurr nan Forcan and so up to the main summit. This section is often regarded one of the best ridge walks in Scotland. There is no technical rock-climbing on the ridge, but a good head for heights, appropriate footwear, and some scrambling ability are required. (In winter a rope may be needed to safeguard the descent from the ridge.)