Sgor Chaonasaid, Sgor a Bhatain and Ben Loyal Loop

This roughly 14 km / 8.7 mile loop on Ben Loyal’s northern side is a compact but serious mountain day, with about 700 m / 2,300 ft of ascent packed into a route that quickly leaves easy ground behind. Although often rated medium overall, it feels harder than the numbers suggest because the lower slopes can be very boggy, the climb onto the ridge is steep and at times pathless, and the mountain’s broad, broken crest demands steady footing and sound navigation. The usual start is the small parking area off the minor road to Ribigill, just south of Tongue, near the track entrance for Ribigill Farm and the bridge area below Ben Loyal’s north side. Walkhighlands gives the start as the car park off the track to Ribigill at grid reference NC584546, with Tongue as the nearest bus stop. (walkhighlands.co.uk)

By car, the approach is straightforward from Tongue: follow the minor road south toward Ribigill and Loch Loyal, then use the small parking area beside the start of the farm track. Parking is limited, so early arrival is wise in summer. By public transport, there is no service to the trailhead itself; the nearest practical drop-off is Tongue, and onward travel to the start usually requires a taxi, cycle, or a long road walk. For journey planning in the Highlands, Highland Council directs travelers to Traveline Scotland for current bus and multi-modal information. (walkhighlands.co.uk)

The opening section is usually the easiest to read on the ground. A track and then a developing path lead in past the lower ground beneath the mountain, but conditions are often wet from the outset. Expect peat, soft turf, and burn crossings, especially after rain. AllTrails and Walkhighlands both note that the lower mountain is boggy and that the route becomes less distinct higher up, so this is not a walk to underestimate simply because the distance is modest. HiiKER is worth having ready before leaving the car park, particularly if cloud lowers onto the ridge. (alltrails.com)

Climb to the ridge

After the initial approach, the route steepens sharply as it rises toward Sgòr Chaonasaid. This is where the day changes character: the ground becomes rougher, the line less obvious, and progress slower than the map might suggest. The ascent is typically made over grass, heather, wet patches, and stonier sections, with occasional hands-on balance rather than sustained scrambling. Walkhighlands describes the climb as steep, pathless, and wet underfoot, while route notes from other sources place the key transition near the ground north of Loch na Creige Riabhaich, where a worn path begins to pick its way toward the crest between Sgòr Chaonasaid and Sgòr a’ Bhatain. (walkhighlands.co.uk)

Sgòr Chaonasaid is usually the first major top reached on this loop. From here, the mountain opens up dramatically, with the ridge stretching onward toward Sgòr a’ Bhatain and Ben Loyal’s higher tors. The views are one of the route’s great rewards: northward over the Kyle of Tongue and the coast, east and west across a huge spread of moor, lochans, and remote hills, and south toward the interior of Sutherland. Ben Loyal’s isolated position is what makes these panoramas so expansive, and it is one reason the mountain is often called the “Queen of Scottish Mountains.” (walkhighlands.co.uk)

Ridge walking and the Ben Loyal group

From Sgòr Chaonasaid to Sgòr a’ Bhatain, the walking becomes more enjoyable for many hikers: less of a grind than the initial climb, but still demanding enough to require attention. Distances between tops are not huge, yet the ridge is broad enough in places to become confusing in mist, and rocky tors can pull you off line if visibility is poor. The crest itself is generally pleasant hillwalking with occasional minor scrambling around the tors rather than technical climbing. (walkhighlands.co.uk)

Ben Loyal is not a single neat cone but a striking ridge of several summits, with An Caisteal as the highest point at 764 m / 2,507 ft. Sgòr Chaonasaid and Sgòr a