The descent down its western flank is steep and forms the most difficult section of the whole traverse. Nothing quite gets a hillwalker's heart racing like a ridge walk. 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. This is the first Munro of the day, at 953 metres, and is famous as being the final Munro climbed by the Reverend A.E. 2 – (NN 16838 58020) Its from the summit of Am Bodach that things really start to get exciting. I had a memorable experience on it in winter, however, don't try and emulate it. Turn left along the ridge, which climbs steeply to reach the Munro 'Top' of Am Bodach where the direct option is joined. The ridge towers at 953m high and is often thought of as the UK’s toughest ridge walk, and with good reason, as its tricky to traverse and has drop offs that’ll leave you needing to promptly change your underwear. Trail magazine and the British Mountaineering Council present Britain's Mountain Challenges. , he was very knowledgeable about the flora and fauna. You can also check out good value accommodation nearby on Booking.com here. The Aonach Eagach is the rocky ridge on the north side of Glen Coe. Cneifion Arête 21 Aug 2020. The Aonach Eagach is widely regarded as being the finest ridge walk on the UK mainland. Aonach Eagach ridge We had a very memorable day on the Aonach Eagach ridge guided by Ben from west coast mountain guides. 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 Aonach Eagach ridge is located in Glen Coe, which is in western Scotland and forms part of the Scottish Highlands. The Pinnacles is a 500 m long very exposed section of the ridge and provides some fantastically committing and sustained scrambling. Viewed from Glencoe below, the Aonach Eagach ridge appears as a narrow crest with a series of small towers. Pinterest. Although some parties may opt to abseil, can you really say you’ve done the whole thing if you do? Robertson, who became the first man to complete the Munros here in 1901. This car park is often full, in which case there is a larger car park a short distance further west along the road. 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). I was proud that I was over half way, and then I saw the pinnacles. Want a website thank ranks in Google Search. 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! … 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. The Aonach Eagach has all the ingredients for a great day out and is a real mountain challenge in every respect. It connects two Munros, boasts an anorexic spine and some stomach-churning exposure. This is the true Aonach Eagach, or 'notched ridge'. The difficulties then end when the Munro 'Top' of Stob Coire Leith is reached. 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. A guided traverse of the Aonach Eagach, famously dubbed the narrowest ridge on the British mainland. If this isn’t an option, you can at least condole yourself with the presence of a pint on the way back. 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. 1045 – Traverse the Aonach Eagach ridge! The finest ridge walk in mainland Britain - but not for the faint hearted . Some of the best in Scotland. Almost immediately after leaving the summit of Am Bodach, we scramble down an exposed section; some might say this is the hardest part of the entire ridge. Viewed from Glencoe below, the Aonach Eagach appears as a narrow crest with a series of small towers. Updated Friday, 24th March 2017, 11:09 am. 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. We set out to walk it in perfect Scottish sunny conditions… did we agree with these accolades? This website contains route information submitted by real people like you, accounting the facts and personal tales of their experiences. Once your at the road, pick up your car and go and order yourself a pint. The Aonach Eagach ('Notched Ridge') is one of the UK's finest ridge traverses. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Competent summer scramblers have plenty of time to reverse the ridge and descend Am Bodach, saving a walk back up the glen. New Topic Reply to Topic. I had some reservations about the ridge from what I’d read/youtubed. 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. Click for details, Hear pronunciation Press to hear pronunciation. It is only once onto the crest that the scale and size of the ridge of becomes apparent. These cookies do not store any personal information. Scotland is under national lockdown. Usually reached as part of the hard scramble along the ridge en route to Sgorr nam Fiannaidh, it can be ascended on its own by vertigo sufferers by an approach from the north side. Instead head west along the ridge. Learn more about working with UK Scrambles here. The advice is to walk south from the Sgorr, or continue on to the Pap of Glencoe for a safer route off the ridge. The best guidebook for this route is found in the Cicerone Scrambles in Lochaber book, which is available via Paperback or Kindle Book here. This stony path eventually becomes clearer and works its way down the broad slope that links the ridge with the Pap of Glencoe. Aonach Eagach is a very exposed ridge walk. Once you’ve climbed down from the summit of Am Bodach, getting off the ridge before Stob Coire Leith would at best be incredibly arduous and at worst be terminally easy. Friday 7am and we set off for walk number 1 which would be the famous grade 1/2 Aonach Eagach ridge. From the summit descend the path westwards, with the main event now clearly in view – ‘The Pinnacles’. If you have a route you could contribute, submit it to us today. The path is initially a little eroded but soon joins a section which has been repaired. It includes two Munros - Meall Dearg and Sgorr nam Fiannaidh. Summary: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.Terrain:Hard, exposed scrambling along the ridge between Am Bodach and Stob Coire Leith - experience and a good head for heights is required.. My confidence was finally building. You have been warned! 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). 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). The Aonach Eagach is a rocky ridge lying to the north of Glen Coe in the Scottish Highlands, boasting two Munro summits. 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 … I saw the Pinnacles condole yourself with the Pap of Glencoe path further down the increasingly exposed ridge the... 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