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 The Scottish Highlands

Glencoe
The High Mountains of Britain & Ireland Northern Highlands

Aonach Eagach Ridge in Glencoe

Aonach Eagach Ridge in Glencoe


The Aonach Eagach is the rocky ridge

on the north side of Glen Coe.

 It includes two Munros

- Meall Dearg and Sgorr nam Fiannaidh.

The full ridge runs from the Pap of Glencoe

at the western end

to the Devil's Staircase at the eastern end.

The central section is narrow with rock pinnacles

and involves some scrambling.

The slopes on each side are extremely dangerous

 with cliffs on both the north and south sides of the ridge.

Climbers are strongly advised not to attempt descending these slopes

 but to continue along the full length of the ridge.

The Aonach Eagach is one of the best ridge walks in Scotland

rivaling Liathach, An Teallach and the Skye Ridge.




Aonach Eagach Ridge in Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland

Aonach Eagach Ridge

in Glencoe




View from Aonach Eagach Ridge in Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland

View

from Aonach Eagach Ridge

in Glencoe




View from Aonach Eagach Ridge in Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland

View

from Aonach Eagach Ridge

in Glencoe





View from Aonach Eagach Ridge in Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland

View

from Aonach Eagach Ridge

in Glencoe




Bidean nam Bian from Aonach Eagach Ridge in Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland

Bidean nam Bian

from Aonach Eagach Ridge

in Glencoe





View from Aonach Eagach Ridge in Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland

View

from Aonach Eagach Ridge

in Glencoe




View from Aonach Eagach Ridge in Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland

View

from Aonach Eagach Ridge

in Glencoe




Buachaille Etive Mor and Buachaille Etive Beag from Aonach Eagach Ridge in Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland

Buachaille Etive Mor

and Buachaille Etive Beag

from Aonach Eagach Ridge

in Glencoe



View from Aonach Eagach Ridge in Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland

View

from Aonach Eagach Ridge

in Glencoe




Bidean nam Bian from Aonach Eagach Ridge in Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland

Bidean nam Bian

from Aonach Eagach Ridge

in Glencoe





Bidean nam Bian from Aonach Eagach Ridge

Bidean nam Bian

from Aonach Eagach Ridge 




Aonach Eagach Ridge in Glencoe

Aonach Eagach Ridge


Aonach Eagach Ridge in Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland

Aonach Eagach Ridge

in Glencoe



Aonach Eagach Ridge in Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland

Aonach Eagach Ridge

in Glencoe




Aonach Eagach Ridge in Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland

Aonach Eagach Ridge

in Glencoe





Aonach Eagach Ridge in Glencoe

Aonach Eagach Ridge

from Garbh Bheinn




Aonach Eagach Ridge from Bidean

Aonach Eagach Ridge

from Bidean nam Bian




Loch Linnhe from Aonach Eagach Ridge

Loch Linnhe

from Aonach Eagach Ridge




On descent from Aonach Eagach Ridge

On descent

from

Aonach Eagach Ridge





Map for the Aonach Eagach Ridge

Map of the Aonach Eagach Ridge



Aonach Eagach - Route Description:-

Location: Aonach Eagach, Lochaber
Grade: Serious mountain scramble
Distance: 6 miles / 9.5km -
Time: 6-8 hours



The serrated edge of the ridge looked as though it was tearing the clouds apart as the wind blew them over the crest,
Swirling masses of mist curled into the sky and each time a gap was torn in the cloud the long fin of rock,
grass and scree appeared dramatically before us. On the best of days the Aonach Eagach can be a daunting sight.
On a day like this it looked  darkly threatening. The traverse of the Aonach Eagach, the notched ridge, is one of the
classic scrambles of Scotland but the tightrope route along its narrow crest has been the nadir in the fortunes of
many a Munrobagger. As ]ohn and I climbed the hill above Glen Coe I suggested that other than the initial
descent onto the ridge from the first summit, Am Bodach, the rest of the route was a doddle. It's curious how
selective the memory can be. Almost 4km in length and boasting four summits, two of which are Munros,
the Aonach Eagach forms the north wall of Glen Coe. There used to be a sign warning hillwalkers not to
try to descend from the ridge itself — it's long since gone but I guess such a descent would pose more difficulties
than the traverse. As if to prove the frailties of my memory we nipped down the ledges and grooves of the descent from Am
Bodach onto the ridge like mountain goats. Generally considered the crux of the route, it is in effect a 20 metre
dropoff that looks much worse than it actually is. We were on the crest of the ridge in no time, striding purposefully
along the fairly easy gradient to a top beyond which lay the slopes of Meall Dearg, at 3127ft/953m, the last Munro
summit of the Rev A.E. Robertson, the first person to climb all the 3000’ers back in 1901.
Between Meall Dearg and Stob Coire Leith, a number of rocky towers, the ‘Crazy Pinnacles’, bar
straightforward progress. While the path and the crampon marks of generations of climbers make route- finding
relatively straightforward, we quickly realised we weren't going to get things all our own way. The rocks were greasy
 and slippery in the autumnal dampness and the narrow chimneys and gullies, so delightful in dry, summer conditions,
were muddy and wet. Everything seemed steeper and harder than I remembered it, but nevertheless, the exposure and the
scrambling were exhilarating and we were both mildly disappointed when, with the last of the pinnacles behind us,
all that was left was a rather steep trudge on to Stob Coire Leith. From there it was an easy walk on a broad ridge
 to the second of the ridge’s Munros, Sgorr nam Fiannaidh, 3 17 3ft/ 967m.
From the summit of Sgorr nam Fiannaidh there are several descent options but with the sun just managing to pierce
the grey clouds we elected to stay high and continue to the logical end of the ridge traverse, Sgorr na Ciche, the Pap of Glencoe.
We weren't being purist. A reasonable path runs down to the old Glen Coe road from the Pap, a far preferable route
to the steep, scree-scabbed, knee-wrenching descent that drops to the road parallel with the Clachaig Gully.
The only advantage to that route, the normal descent route from Sgor nam Fiannaidh, is that it takes you straight
to the front door of the Clachaig Inn.



ROUTE PLANNER


Map: OS 1:50,000 Landranger Sheet 41 (Ben Nevis); Harveys 1:25,000 Superwalker Glen Coe
Start: Allt-na-reigh on A82 ( GR: NN176567 )
Finish: Glencoe village road at GR: NN115583
Distance: 6 miles/9.5km
Approx Time: 6-8 hours

Public transport: Citylink buses run along the A82 but do not usually stop between the Kings House Hotel and Glencoe Village.
Information: Fort William TIC, 01397701801



Route: Take the path behind the house of Allt-na-reigh up the grassy slopes of Am Bodach to the summit.
Follow the edge of‘ the crags to the left of Am Bodach's cairn in a WNW direction.
A sudden descent starts the ridge traverse proper.
Follow the ridge to Meall Dearg, descend steeply and then traverse the row of rock towers, the Crazy Pinnacles.
Here and there subsidiary paths avoid the hardest of the scrambling. The occasional fence post accompanies
you on the long pull to Stob Coire Leith, before the ridge levels out towards Sgorr nam Fiannaidh.
From the summit follow the ridge in a NW direction, descend to a rocky col and climb the slopes of the Pap of Glencoe.
Return to the col from where a path descends to the old Glen Coe village road.
( NB: If you decide to descend beside the Clachaig Gully be aware this path has a lot of loose stones
on it and there is a danger of knocking scree into the Gully where climbers could be put in danger. )






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Guide Books & Maps - Scotland:-


Loch Etive & Glen Orchy - OS Explorer Map Glen Coe & Glen Etive - OS Explorer Map Rannoch Moor & Ben Alder - OS Explorer Map

Glencoe Superwalker MapWestern Scotland & the Western Isles OS Road Map Northern Scotland OS Road Map Southern Scotland OS Road Map


Ben Nevis OS Explorer Map



Ben Nevis & Glencoe Classic Mountain Scrambles in Scotland  Scotland's Mountain Ridges  Munros Tables SMC  Ben Nevis & Glencoe - 100 Walks in Lochaber

The High Mountains of Britain & Ireland  Munros Tables SMC  The Munros - Scotland's Highest Mountains  Scotland - Lonely Planet  NW Highlands - SMC Guide  Exploring the Far NW of Scotland  Guide to Walks in NW Highlands

Walking in Scotland - Lonely Planet Mountain: Exploring Britain's High Places  National 3 Peaks Walk Scottish Highlands Hillwalking Guide The Scottish Islands Bouldering in Scotland

Pathfinder Guide: Fort William and Glen Coe Walks Rambler's Guide: Ben Nevis and Glen CoeGlencoe Rock & Ice Climbing The Munros: Scottish Mountaineering Club The Munros and Tops The Corbetts - SMC Munros & Corbetts Chart The High Mountains of Britain and Ireland Munro Almanac

The Munros - Scotland's highest mountains Call of the Corbetts Magic of the Munros Hamish's Mountain WalkThe Munros in WinterMy Scotland by Hamish MacInnes

Scottish Mountains - 50 Classic Routes 50 More Routes on Scottish Mountains The High Mountains of Britain and Ireland Scotlands 100 Best WalksScottish Mountains - 100 Best RoutesBig Walks of Great Britain Classic Walks in Britain & Ireland

Scottish Hill & Mountain Names Classic Mountain Scrambles in Scotland Classic Climbs - Central & Southern Highlands Mountaineering in Scotland and Undiscovered Scotland by W.H.MurrayMore Wilderness Walks Wilderness Walks Wilderness Walks 2 - Video Ski Mountaineering in Scotland

Ski Touring in ScotlandScrambles in Lochaber Rock Climbing in Scotland Rock Climbing SkillsThe FACE: Six Great Climbing Adventures Ben Nevis: Rock & Ice ClimbsGreat Snow & Ice Climbs of the British Isles100 Best Routes on Scottish Mountains One Man's Mountains - Tom Patey

A Mountaineer's Tale - W.H.MurrayDougal Haston: Philosophy of Risk The Glens of Rannoch Southern Highlands - MapNorthern Highlands Central Highlands West Highlands Central Highlands SMCNW Highlands SMC

Central Highlands: Six Long Distance Walks West Highland Way: Official GuideWest Highland Way: Rucksac Readers West Highland Way: TrailblazerThe West Highland WayWest Highland Way: Footprint MapWest Highland Way - Map West Highland Way - Map 100 Hillwalks around Glasgow

Scotland - Lonely PlanetScotland's Highlands & Islands - Lonley Planet Scotland's Highlands & Islands - Rough Guide Highlands & Islands of Scotland - Hidden Places Rough Guide Scotland Scottish Highlands & Islands - Rough Guide Rough Guide: Scotland Lonely Planet, Walking in ScotlandLonely Planet - Walking in Britain

50 Walks in the Scottish Highlands & Islands 100 Walks in ScotlandVisit Scotland - Touring Guide Scotland: Where to Stay - Hotels & Guest Houses Scotland: Where to Stay - Bed & Breakfast Hillwalker: The MunrosHillwalker: The Corbetts

Weather for Hillwakers & Climbers Mountain Weather Guide to the Weather Weather: Collins Gem Hillwalking Handbook for Mountain Leaders Hillwalkers Manual Hillwalkers Guide to Mountaineering First Aid on Mountains









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