You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. This stony path eventually becomes clearer and works its way down the broad slope that links the ridge with the Pap of Glencoe. Want a website thank ranks in Google Search. Join us for a guided scramble on this classic ridge. For me, only the Cuillin Ridge on Skye can beat it. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. It is possible to descend south directly into Glen Coe down Clachaig Gully, however this is loose and been the scene of numerous accidents and therefore can’t be recommended. On the far side follow the path to a track and then turn left to head down to the Glencoe - Clachaig road about a kilometre east of Glencoe village. Turn left along the ridge, which climbs steeply to reach the Munro 'Top' of Am Bodach where the direct option is joined. The Aonach Eagach ('Notched Ridge') is one of the UK's finest ridge traverses. The path climbs steeply up the south east ridge of Am Bodach giving some really great views of the Lost Valley and the Three Sisters. The Aonach Eagach is the rocky ridge on the north side of Glen Coe. I was proud that I was over half way, and then I saw the pinnacles. The Aonach Eagach which appropriately means 'notched ridge', travels along the northern side of Glencoe and is probably the most famous ridge in the country. 1 – (NN 17333 56746) Follow the path out of the car park up the hillside keeping up a good pace to escape the bite of wee beasties. This generosity enables us to publish a whole range of scrambling routes to help you enjoy the outdoors. It is an exhilarating and heart stopping traverse with many scrambles, ascending and descending, linking the two Munro’s, Meall Dearg and Sgorr nam Fiannaidh. Updated Friday, 24th March 2017, 11:09 am. The ridge is very up and down (Aonach Eagach means notched ridge) and you need stamina to complete it. Home » Scotland Scrambles » Aonach Eagach. Famed as the narrowest ridge on the British mainland (though Liathach and An Teallach must run it close), the Aonach Eagach gives a thrilling and spectacular traverse for keen scramblers, linking the Munros of Meall Dearg and Sgorr nam Fiannaidh. using a map and compass. Below shows the route outline for Aonach Eagach. A traverse of the Aonach Eagach is unquestionably one of the most classic scrambling routes in the whole UK (and perhaps the world over!). Famed as the narrowest ridge on the British mainland (though Liathach and An Teallach must run it close), the Aonach Eagach gives a thrilling and spectacular traverse for keen scramblers, linking the … Aonach Eagach ridge We had a very memorable day on the Aonach Eagach ridge guided by Ben from west coast mountain guides. We took 2 cars since it was a linear walk so that saved us having to walk miles back to the car once we had traversed the ridge. The view of the Aonach Eagach is rather foreshortened from here; in the photograph opposite it is shown from Loch Achtriochtan further down the glen. As well as reading our description of each walking route, you can read about the experiences of others users on this walk and others.There are 89 user reports for this walk - click to read them. The ridge has several steep rocky chimneys and other scrambling sections which must be climbed and descended, and is very exposed in some places (though it is not as consistently narrow as reputation would have it). From the end of the difficulties continue along to the summit of Stob Coire Leith. He kissed first the cairn, and then his wife. 3 – (NN 16630 58092) The next section of the ridge along to Meal Dearg goes without incident, providing some finely positioned with the odd section of scrambling. William Poucher’s guidebook the Scottish Peaks, first published in 1965, has a photograph of a sign which says: “Do NOT attempt to descend from the Aonach Eagach ridge until you reach the last peak Sgor nam Fiannaidh.” The path leaves the ridge before the bealach, bearing left to join the Pap of Glencoe path further down the flank. “I live for everything outdoors and to me a bad day in the hills still beats a good day in the office.” Sam regularly publishes route blogs on his website Wainright Climbing here. All that remains is the descent from the ridge. ... 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. A guided traverse of the Aonach Eagach, famously dubbed the narrowest ridge on the British mainland. Please let us know by clicking here. Do not attempt the descent along the rim of Clachaig Gully, which has an extremely eroded and very dangerous 'path', the scene of several fatalities (as well as the danger of sending stones down which could endanger the lives of others). We traversed the ridge without a problem Ben was very good telling us what we needed to do and talking us through the difficult sections. Viewed from Glencoe below, the Aonach Eagach appears as a narrow crest with a series of small towers. Hard, exposed scrambling along the ridge between Am Bodach and Stob Coire Leith - experience and a good head for heights is required.. Citilink buses along Glen Coe (request stops at drivers discretion). Competent summer scramblers have plenty of time to reverse the ridge and descend Am Bodach, saving a walk back up the glen. Please Register as a New User in order to reply to this topic. You have been warned! Note that there are no safe descents from the Aonach Eagach once embarked on this section of ridge; there have been many accidents to scramblers attempting to leave the ridge before the end of the scrambling. 5 – (NN 14927 58493) From the summit of your second Munro of the day continue along to Sgorr nam Fiannaidh with great views back along the ridge. Do you have the skills to take it on? UK Scrambles is dedicated to introducing people to the activity of scrambling. New Topic Reply to Topic. Walk h128 Aonach Eagach from Pass of Glen Coe. The Aonach Eagach is a rocky ridge lying to the north of Glen Coe in the Scottish Highlands, boasting two Munro summits. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. It has a bit of a fearsome reputation amongst hill walkers due to it's inescapability once established on the ridge and it's exposed pinnacles. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Aonach Eagach is a very exposed ridge walk. Facebook. Learn more about working with UK Scrambles here. Friday 7am and we set off for walk number 1 which would be the famous grade 1/2 Aonach Eagach ridge. The last two 'pinnacles' in this section will make even the most experienced scramblers pause for thought while they search for a route round them. The famous Aonach Eagach, above Glen Coe, is one of the best ridge traverses in Scotland, perhaps second only to the terrifyingly awkward Black Cuillin on Skye. You have been warned! There are many short scrambles necessary all along this ridge; the trickiest section is known as the 'Crazy Pinnacles' and is well along the ridge. “I live for everything outdoors and to me a bad day in the hills still beats a good day in the office.”, Sam regularly publishes route blogs on his website, This route was created by Sam Wainwright and donated to the. From the summit descend the path westwards, with the main event now clearly in view – ‘The Pinnacles’. This is an extremely popular ridge to do and rightly so! Small car park 300m west of Allt-na-reigh. - See 418 traveller reviews, 340 candid photos, and great deals for Fort William, UK, at Tripadvisor. Nothing quite gets a hillwalker's heart racing like a ridge walk. It includes two Munros - Meall Dearg and Sgorr nam Fiannaidh. People are asked to stay at home except for essential purposes. As teenagers, George Adam and myself decided to do the Aonach Eagach, it was one of those days when the sun was shining and it is bitterly cold with no wind. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. From Stob Coire Leith the ridge continues easily with a broad path to the second Munro, Sgorr nam Fiannaidh, the highest on the ridge at 967 metres; it has a superb view of the lower reaches of Glen Coe. If you have a route you could contribute, submit it to us today. If you haven't arranged transport, you have a long walk back up the glen to return to your parked car - not included in the times or distances given. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The ridge has been the scene of many epics on account of its length and its difficulty. Aonach Eagach is a grade 2 scrambling route. If this isn’t an option, you can at least condole yourself with the presence of a pint on the way back. Trail magazine and the British Mountaineering Council present Britain's Mountain Challenges. Day 1 Aonach Eagach, Glen Coe. The route summits two Munros; Meall Dearg and Sgorr nam Fiannaidh, but for many it is the legendary grade 2 scrambling in between these mountains that makes this such an exhilarating challenge. Aonach Eagach. By The Newsroom. , he was very knowledgeable about the flora and fauna. This is the true Aonach Eagach, or 'notched ridge'. Whatever measure you use to assess the quality of a scramble - length, exposure, views, or overall adrenal gland-squeezing awesomeness - the castellated crest of rock that looms menacingly above Glen Coe is pretty hard to top. The difficulties then end when the Munro 'Top' of Stob Coire Leith is reached. Its well earned! The Aonach Eagach Ridge is one of the most well-known ridges in Scotland and for many people it is high on their mountaineering list. The first Munro of Meall Darg is reached swiftly afterward but the majority of the scrambling is then to come as the ridge gradually narrows from here on in. You can also check out good value accommodation nearby on Booking.com here. Scrambling is the blurred middle line between hiking and climbing, considered by many to be far more enjoyable than either of them. 2 – (NN 16838 58020) Its from the summit of Am Bodach that things really start to get exciting. Inspire others to try a new scrambling route, become a contributor. If you have a route you could contribute. The ridge has been the scene of many epics on account of its length and its difficulty. This route was created by Sam Wainwright and donated to the UK Scrambles website through our contributor program. Have you found an error or is any information wrong or missing? The only possible escape route is descend northwards from Meall Dearg (incidentally this route gives an easy ascent to Meall Dearg for baggers who do not wish to traverse the ridge). The first real scrambling comes on the descent from Am Bodach. This generosity enables us to publish a whole range of scrambling routes to help you enjoy the outdoors. Start from the car park on the A82 at NN 17333 56746 (maps link). Turn to the East and there are a number of long ridges - Beinn Fhada being the closest with the Buachailles Etive Beag and Etive Mor beyond, then further again the Blackmount Hills. The Aonach Eagach is a spectacular narrow ridge running high above the pass of Glencoe. Scrambling the Aonach Eagach ridge in Glencoe is high on many people's 'tick list'. This is an excellent viewpoint, with the first hint of the drama to come in the view of a rock pinnacle known as 'The Chancellor' below (luckily our route does not visit this pinnacle!). This website contains route information submitted by real people like you, accounting the facts and personal tales of their experiences. The Aonach Eagach is widely regarded as being the finest ridge walk on the UK mainland. Cneifion Arête 21 Aug 2020. Walking can be dangerous and is done entirely at your own risk. available via Paperback or Kindle Book here. Once safely down this descent, the ridge is narrow with a few short scrambly sections but fairly straightforward with a good path as it continues onto Meall Dearg. This path mostly ascends close to the stream, making a wide zig-zag to the left at one point to avoid a rocky gorge, before emerging on the bealach between Sron Garbh and Am Bodach. This car park is often full, in which case there is a larger car park a short distance further west along the road. To the North you can look down on the serrated ridge of Aonach Eagach, beyond which lies the massive bulk of Ben Nevis and to the East of The Ben are the Mamores. I had a memorable experience on it in winter, however, don't try and emulate it. The ridge itself is a very linear affair, running almost the entire length of the Glen Coe and therefore its best to be a bit organised and have a car at the other end to save the 7 km walk back up the valley after you’re done. The Pinnacles is a 500 m long very exposed section of the ridge and provides some fantastically committing and sustained scrambling. Superb positions and great rock make this a really special outing which is made all the better for finishing at the legendary Clachaig Inn. The Aonach Eagach ridge Aonach Eagach from A82: The Lost Valley below Bidean nam Bian: Below Am Bodach: Descent by the Chancellor: Descending the crazy pinnacles : Looking back from Stob Coire Liath: Sgorr nam Fionnaidh from Stob Coire Liath: Glencoe with Buchaille Etive Mhor prominent from Sgorr nam Fionnaidh: Wednesday 10 July 2013 Ascent: 1115 metres Distance: 10 … Once your at the road, pick up your car and go and order yourself a pint. The path is initially a little eroded but soon joins a section which has been repaired. Glen Coe's Aonach Eagach ridge is the most legendary Grade 2 scramble in Scotland. Aonach Eagach is consistently ranked as the best ridge walk and scramble in the UK and in the top few across the world by National Geographic (allegedly). It is not technically difficult but the section between Meal Dearg and Stob Coire Leith ('The Crazy Pinnacles') is particularly airy and exposed and is not for the remotely faint-hearted. Be the first to rate this post. Let us guide you along the Aonach Eagach ridge, this is one of the most sought after ridges in Scotland, and rightly so, with its sharp pinnacles, knife edge traverses and steep drops make this a committing outing. By accessing any page on ukscrambles.com you agree that you have read, understand, and will fully comply with the following pages: Terms | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Affiliate Disclosure. Aonach Eagach is a grade 2 scrambling route. No votes so far! The best guidebook for this route is found in the Cicerone Scrambles in Lochaber book, which is available via Paperback or Kindle Book here. Aonach Eagach or curved ridge or an tellac or cr. West Coast Mountain Guides: Aonach Eagach ridge walk. It is situated in Glencoe and from the tops you get phenomenal views across the Glen. It is only once onto the crest that the scale and size of the ridge of becomes apparent. Meall Dearg is a good viewpoint for the other Glencoe peaks, but all walkers eyes will be drawn to the ridge ahead - a frightening prospect for many! "The Aonach Eagach is arguably the most desirable ridge in Mainland Scotland to do in winter. We set out to walk it in perfect Scottish sunny conditions… did we agree with these accolades? Meall Dearg (Aonach Eagach) Hear pronunciation Press to hear pronunciation. Before the ridge climbs slightly to two small cairns, bear slightly right to pick up an initially indistinct path, with a stunning view ahead over the Ballachulish narrows. Eventually the ridge becomes better defined and before you know it you’re stood on the top. … The Aonach Eagach (appropriately meaning 'notched ridge') runs along the northern side of Glencoe and is probably the most famous ridge in the country. For the website to function properly you, accounting the facts and personal of. Most legendary Grade 2 scramble in Scotland climbing, considered by many to be more! 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