Aonach Eagach Ridge (Meall Dearg Sgorr Nam Fiannaidh) - Glencoe - May 04

Aonach Eagach Ridge Information

The Aonach Eagach Ridge in Glencoe lays claim to be the trickiest and most daunting in mainland Britain, very true yet I feel it is a bit over hiped ( just my opinion ).  In the winter time I am sure it will stand up to its reputation but in a fine summers day poses little if any threat.  Still an excellent walk and definitely deserves its name "Notched Ridge" that was clear to see by any angle.  The exposure at times is amazing and having a phobia of heights is not too good a thing to have at this point so be warned.  The views you get from the ridge are quite remarkable especially of Bidean Nam Bian which I had climbed previously and of The "Big Yin"...Ben Nevis.  A very popular route and quite rightly so, and boosted my already huge fondness of Glencoe.  (By the way make sure you pack a good few rolls of film, you will go through them)

Aonach Eagach Ridge Route

To start off this walk head to the Alt-na-reigh and park at one of the three car parks ( big ones are on the left ).  Next walk up to the cottage and follow the path up the mountain side its a steep and kinda knackering path but you gain altitude quickly.  Soon you will get to a cliff face where the path forks and I don't know what happens if you go left but you want to turn right and skirt underneath the base of the cliff the path then begins to follow a small burn keep following the river and path ( where its there) the whole way up the the first summit of the day Am Bodach unfortunately is not a Munro take in the first images of the ridge, I thought this is a bit of a let down does not look anything like pictures ive seen before you can take a truck over there, ah don't worry the real guts of it has still to come.  This part of the ridge is called the chancellor and poses little difficulty except the initial descent off Am Bodach which involves you climbing down the rock face ( tiny ).  Follow the ridge over with Meall Dearg obvious in your sights as where your heading.  Once you have reached the top ahhh there's where the familiar pictures come.  it is a very daunting sight ( photo 1).  This is where the fun starts, get your hands at the ready your going to need them.  Scrambling takes place from the word go with the initial descent of Meall Dearg offering you your first piece of it.  It continues like this for quite some time going up, down, around over the bumps of the ridge.  The best part is near the end of the ridge before the accent of Stob Coire Leith, where pinnacles leave you climbing up cliff faces. ( not high, but steep).  Next its a bit of a slog up to the summit of Coire Leith and marks the end of any difficulties.  Forgot to mention before but looking south the views of Nam Bian and amazing throughout the whole of the ridge.  The final climb to the summit of the second and final Munro of the day, Sgor nan Fiannaidh is a gentle climb from the summit of Coire Leith, take in the amazing views of Loch Leven before heading off the ridge.  This can be done in two ways ( maybe more I dunno) .  You can either go south straight off the summit and back down onto the road or you can head west along the ridge a bit more and take what I have been told is a better path back down to the Clachaig Inn.  Due the fact that this would make a larger road walk back to the car park and since you've maybe realised I'm quite lazy coming off hills I took the straight approach... why oh why did I do that!.  Photo 4 sums up all of this and my feet still have not forgiven me.  It is constant stone and scree the whole way down.  My guide book said there is a light path, hmmmmmmmmmmmm where on earth was that?.  So if your crazy and take this route try and find the best way through the scree and if you manage to get out with 1 good ankle and less than 5 blisters give yourself a pat on the back.  The benefit of this route is however that it cuts the road walk down back to the car which I was not particularly looking forward to as you have to walk the entire length of the ridge again to get back to the car unless your smart and have 2 cars or something.  So in my opinion definitely take the Clachaig Inn route off the hill.   

The weather on this occasion was great and visibility was brilliant.  I recommend waiting for a day of this type of weather ( if you can ) so that you can get the full sense of the exposure when you are on the ridge and is definitely one the more memorable climbs, guaranteed !         

Aonach Eagach Ridge Photos / Images / Pictures

    The start of the Aonach Eagach Ridge from Meall Dearg          And looking back over the ridge from Sgor nan Fiannaidh

      Views down to Loch Leven from Sgor nan Fiannaidh          The "ankle buster" of a decent off the ridge ( my poor feet )