Home   Glossary

An Caisteal (Ben Loyal)

Corbett
Quick Facts
This is the height of the mountain above sea level. However, on the climb, it is the ascent that matters, i.e. the sum of all the uphill parts of the route.
Altitude
764 m (2506 ft)

This is the standard notation used on Ordnance Survey Landranger maps.

Each reference consists of two letters identifying a 100,000 metre square block then three digits defining the Easting and finally the three digits defining the Northing with reference to the South West corner of the block.

NN166712 is the grid reference for the summit of Ben Nevis. Where you are given the map number ( For Ben Nevis = 41) it is acceptable to omit the two initial letters e.g. 166712. (Instructions on how to read the references are given on the OS maps).

Grid Ref.
NC57804886
An indication of this mountains height rank within its class. Where two mountains share the same height they are ordered alphabetically.
Stature
217 of 222 Corbetts
The number of ascent routes currently available on Munromagic.
Routes
1
Mountain names are usually in Gaelic, the native language of the Scottish Highlands, or have been derived from the old Scots and Norse languages. We give the most commonly accepted meaning, but accept that some of these are disputed.
Meaning
Law hill (The castle)
 

The UK is covered by 204 Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50,000 scale maps. Maps numbered 1 to 86 cover Scotland but for the highest mountains (Munros) only 23 maps are required. The name given roughly describes the area covered by the map.

OS Landranger Maps Required
  10   Strathnaver, Bettyhill & Tongue
 

A description of the characteristics of the mountain including any hazards of which you should be aware.

  Description
From the NW Ben Loyal is seen as 4 rocky peaks which are in fact branches of the main ridge that runs N to S. The three more southern side ridges are separated by two hanging corries, each with a lochan.

In spite of this impressive craggy outline, Ben Loyal is not a difficult hill to climb as its E and S slopes are less steep and mainly crag free apart from the E slopes of the single E ridge.

The easiest access is from Ribigill in the N up the E slopes of Sgor Chaonasaid. The highest top is An Caisteal which lies in the middle of the summit ridge but you are recommended to follow the summit ridge to Carn an Tionail in the S.

An ascent from the A836 by Loch Loyal in the E is possible but not recommended due to the boggy terrain.

Hazards you may encounter on An Caisteal include
 Crags on or near ascent routes.
 Crags near summit.
 
General Considerations
 Temperature decreases by 1degree C for every 100m of ascent.
 Wind usually increases with altitude.
 Visibility can change markedly with cloud level.
 River/Stream levels can increase markedly in one day.
Picture Gallery for An Caisteal

From Ben Loyal summit looking north over Sgurr Chaonasaid and and Sgurr a Bhatain - January 2006.

© Ron Crawford
Image by Ron Crawford

Ben Loyal from the Ribigill approach - January 2006.

© Ron Crawford
Image by Ron Crawford

Ben Loyal from the summit of Ben Hope. December 2007.

© David McSporran
Image by David McSporran

Ben Loyal summit on a fantastic winter's day in January 2006.

© Ron Crawford
Image by Ron Crawford
View All 7 Images for An Caisteal

A selection of weather forecasts local to #GetMountain.Top_Name#.

Ordnance Survey digital maps are also available to members.

  Weather & OS Maps
North West Highlands
by MWIS (PDF format) 		East Highlands
by Met Office 		Ben Hope
by Metcheck
An Caisteal Area Map
Legend  Munro  Corbett  Graham  English/Welsh Top  Accommodation

A selection of local accommodation options who advertise with Munromagic.com.

  Where to Stay
We currently have no
sponsored accommodation listings for this area.

The summary information of one or more ascent routes that include An Caisteal.

Click on the route title to load the full content for that route.

  Routes that include An Caisteal
  Ascent Distance Time Including... Description Rating
1 962 m 18.19 km 5.5 hrs An Caisteal  A medium length easy route on a splendid rocky hill.  
 

Pictures submitted by members on the summit of An Caisteal

  Baggers Gallery for An Caisteal

David Peden, me summit An Caisteal (Ben Loyal). 24/09/2012

© John Donnelly
Image by John Donnelly
 
The logging section stores any entries for An Caisteal in your own log. From here you can
  1. Add a route log entry that includes this mountain
  2. Write a full account of your route including photos
  3. Edit an existing log entry including uploading a GPX file or add a photo
  4. Delete your log entry
  Logging
Your Route Log
You need to be a member to have a route log.
Recently Climbed By
Graham Neish on 10 Jun 2023
Douglas Robertson on 08 Jun 2023

If a member has uploaded a tracklog as part of their personal route log and opted to share it then it will be presented here.

You can view a members route overlayed on an online map or download the KMZ file for use in Google Earth.

 Shared Members Track Logs
 
An Caisteal
by David McSporran
An Caisteal
by Graham Gaw
An Caisteal
by Stevie Yates

Post a few words about An Caisteal or read what others have had to say.

 Comments
 
Chris Bowles
wrote on
January 24, 2009
There is ample parking for a few cars just before the gate to Ribigil farm. From there a track leads through heathery terrain crossing a few burns that could be problematic in spate. The ascent onto the ridge was steep with no real path to follow up heathery slopes. The hill is deceptive and the ridge is broad and grassy, and the ascent onto the summit is straightforward. Returned the same way but a traverse of all the tops looked a cracking route. In winter conditions 5.5 hrs overall.
 
 

A full written account of a climb submitted by our members.

You can prepare your own write up by first making an entry in your route log and then visiting the logging section above.

  Route Write-Ups
There are no Route Write-Ups submitted for An Caisteal
 
Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Contact Us