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Carn Eighe

Munro

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
1183 m (3881 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.
NH12362619
An indication of this mountains height rank within its class. Where two mountains share the same height they are ordered alphabetically.
Stature
12 of 282 Munros
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
File hill
 

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
  25   Glen Carron & Glen Affric
 

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

 Description
Carn Eighe and Mam Sodhail are twin peaks on a crescent shaped ridge of mountains which enclose Gleann a' Choilich. Carn Eighe has a triangular pyrimidal summit cone at the convergence of three ridges.

The NNW ridge connects to Beinn Fionnlaidh via a col above Coire Lochan. The short SSW ridge connects to Mam Sodhail via a narrow col above Loch Uaine and is a normal ascent route. The long winding E ridge leads to Tom a Choinich 4.5km away, but after 2.5km, a descent SE to the path in Gleann nam Fiadh is possible.

Hazards you may encounter on Carn Eighe include
 Steep slopes on or near ascent routes.
 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 Carn Eighe

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)
West Highlands
by Met Office
Ladhar Bheinn
by Metcheck
Carn Eighe Area Map
Legend  Munro  Corbett  Graham  English/Welsh Top  Accommodation

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

 Where to Stay
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sponsored accommodation listings for this area.

The summary information of one or more ascent routes that include Carn Eighe.

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

 Routes that include Carn Eighe
  Ascent Distance Time Including... Description Rating
1 1994 m 32.05 km 10 hrs Carn Eighe, Mam Sodhail and Beinn Fhionnlaidh [Glen Affric]  Strenuous route with good approach path but some steep slopes to ascend.  
 

Pictures submitted by members on the summit of Carn Eighe

 Baggers Gallery for Carn Eighe

Rupert the dog with me on my 230 Munro I think Rupert has done around 190

© Kevin Mckeown

Image by Kevin Mckeown

A good day with Mam Sodhail visible in the background. 26/06/2012.

© Eileen Stark

Image by Eileen Stark

James enjoying the views from Carn Eighe Trig point with the ridge behind leading to Tom a Choinnich which is just visible in the distance. 26/06/2012.

© Eileen Stark

Image by Eileen Stark

29 April 2011. Jorja completes her 50th Munro at the top of Carn Eige. Skye the weimaraner crashes the official souvenir photie. :0)

© Scott Blair

Image by Scott Blair
View All 11 Baggers Images for Carn Eighe
The logging section stores any entries for Carn Eighe in your own log. From here you can
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 Logging
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Recently Climbed By
Michael Mcmillan on 22 Aug 2023
Graham Mcmillan on 22 Aug 2023
Graeme Mcphee on 23 Jul 2023
Neil Houston on 21 Apr 2023
Alan Dobson on 08 Apr 2023
Alan Dobson on 08 Apr 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.

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 Shared Members Track Logs

Post a few words about Carn Eighe or read what others have had to say.

 Comments
 
Showing the most recent 5 of 6 comments. Would you like to view all 6?
Joseph Buchanan
wrote on
June 10, 2013
Must thank Mullardoch boatman Angus Hughs. He took us to Glen Affric car park the previous night to drop our car off, then brought us back to Cannich.He picked us up in the morning and took us along the loch to the foot of Beinn Fhionnlaidh. We took a route up east of the Allt Coire an Lochain when the ground eases cross the Allt Coire an Lochain and take to the NE spur of Beinn Fhionnlaidh. Across the tops of Beinn Fhionnlaidh, Carn Eighe and Mam Sodhail. Descended via Sgurr na Lapaich down to meet the land rover track that takes you down to Affric lodge. Excellent service from Angus.
Alex Bryce
wrote on
April 3, 2010
Climbed clockwise on 2nd April 2010. Magnificent views under clear blue skies all day. The Beinn Fhionnlaidh extension seemed to take ages in deep powder snow. On descent, the pinnacle ridge section along the ridge from Carn Eighe looked tricky under the snow so I cut down just before it where the corrie wall is shallow. This made for an easy descent but some wet walking through the saturated glen floor. Was impressed - and relieved - with the quality of the track across the moor on the way back.
Ian Moncur
wrote on
July 26, 2008
My advice is to walk this route in an anticlockwise direction ascending to the bealach below Sron Garb as the path is obvious from the river path. (I certainly was unable to find it on the way down). It is also safer to ascend the steep eroded path onto the ridge. The best descent is from Sgurr na Lapaich as the views down to Loch Affric are fantastic, it is also a much shorter walk back across the moor from here. This is a great ridge walk on large majestic hills well away from the crowds.
Julian Stark
wrote on
May 20, 2008
Did the 3 on a misty but dry-windless day. Took 8.5 hours but didn't hang around on the way. Did route exactly as is - don't think the 3rd distance measurement is 6 miles though. Tough navigation to find stalkers path on way down from point 1131 in mist so beware - also I missed the river crossing (a ford I believe)but was too tired to do anything but get wet. Didn't find it too hard to include Fionnlaidh though doing the reverse would have allowed a traverse of Carn Eighe on way to Mam Sodhail thats not an option doing it clockwise (not as far as I could see anyway!).
Russell Mullen
wrote on
May 27, 2003
Climbed these hills in one very long day, much loger than the 5.5 hours suggested. The decision to push onto include Beinn Fhionnlaidh isn't easy and the return climb back up Carn Eighe was exhausting. Then descended vis Gleann nam Fiadh, which was very wet and boggy, a very tireing end to the day, the gladdest i've been to get back to the car!
 
 

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

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 Route Write-Ups
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