I had an entertaining hour or so playing around on the South Ridge of Sgor Chaonasaid, Ben Loyal on Sunday 9th October, a breezy overcast autumn day when I didn’t want to travel too far and the bigger hills probably wouldn’t have been too much fun. The ridge is a grade 2 scramble according to the SMC’s Highland Scrambles North and provides some fine scrambling along syenite (similar to granite) tors on the summit plateau of Ben Loyal. A map and several photos illustrating the route follow:
Sgor Chaonasaid South Ridge - An Caisteal the summit of Ben Loyal behind
The scramble starts at the foot of the rocks at the bottom right and follows the crest of the first tor until a gap in the ridge forces a jump. A quick look around didn’t offer up any obvious alternative.
South Ridge Jump
The gap requires an approximately 2 metre jump, slightly downhill. It should provide an adrenalin rush!
Sgor Chaonasaid South Ridge - A view back north along the ridge to Sgor Chaonasaid.
A little beyond the gap a descent westwards is required at the end of the first tor before further tors provide some good scrambling.
Sgor Chaonasaid - From An Caisteal with Sgor a' Bhatain on the left.
Jason Bonniface 01/11/2011
