Kintail Five Sisters ridge; Cioch Nose and Carn a’ Choire Ghairbh - Saturday 13th July 2025

A very hot day on the Kintail Ridge

Forecasting hot sunshine, everyone packed extra water as they started the steep ascent onto the Five Sisters ridge. Tim had started earlier in the cooler air and was due to meet the group on the Bealach an Lapain. The ascent tested the stamina of all, with the heat already showing its impact and only intermittent airs of wind. Tim was found, book in hand, as planned, and completed our party.

Along the westerly ridge we went, taking in the stunning views, with the few clouds hanging on the horizon. Like a stretching spring we spread out, with varying paces, on the ascents, and retracted on the summits where everyone valued a breather. Six summits, including three Munros (Sgurr na Carnach, Sgurr Fhuaran & Sgurr na Ciste Duibhe) and their tops  followed, keeping rough pace with other parties, including two ladies up from Glasgow who asked permission to launch a drone off from the first summit.

Water ran short, the breezes on summit areas were valued, hats were dipped into summit pools for cooling heads, and the sound of flowing burns drifted up from lower glens - tantalising. Although there were discussions about whether we should be taking in the ‘First Sister’, a Corbett-height top of Sgurr na Ciste Duibhe, which is beyond the main ridge section and because Tim was collecting all the Tops as well as the Munros, sense prevailed! Heading down everyone topped up water bottles in several burns.

The final section felt like walking into an oven, although made easier by the abundant water supply at this stage. Emma’s provision of icecreams from the local shop was beyond the call of duty but so so welcome! After a lift to the car, and a shuttle to collect team members, we were off back to Inverness after a 10h day on the hill, for 15km and 1400m of ascent. Thankfully we were not one of the teams who had to resort to a Mountain Rescue callout that day for heat exhaustion!

Taking part: Tim, May, Richard (& Orla the dog), Martin, and prospective members Rachel, Daniel & Armin.

Words: Martin; Photos: Martin