This is the summed total of all the climbing within a route and is a good indicator of the strenuousness of a route.
Total Ascent
1740 m
An estimate of the time taken based on a derivation of Naismiths rules. Our calculation is based on the horizontal and ascent components of a climb, we do not make a reduction for descent.
Registered users can customise these walking times by specifying their own walking and ascending speeds. They can also add a fixed time period for stoppages.
Route Time
6 hrs
The horizontal distance of the route.
Route Distance
15.10 km
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.
You can click on the map name to purchase the map for £6.29 including postage which is one of the cheapest prices we have found.
Our summary will always contain one of easy, moderate or hard to indicate the severity of the route.
Notes
A strenuous route in places with short sharp ascents but relatively easy. Care is required in low cloud to attain the narrow ridge between Aonach Mor and Aonach Beag.
The route along the Allt Coire Giubhsachan can be very boggy in wet periods.
Here we provide the nearest town to the start of the route where you will find basic services.
We then give directions from that location to the route start. Your approach route may differ.
Travel Information
Head to: Fort William
Leave the Glen Nevis camp site NN124724 and follow the single track public road into Glen Nevis to its termination at a large car park.
Route Waypoint Map
The total ascent is 1,740 metres. Allow 6 hours to complete this 15.10 km route.
In winter months please check the local snow conditions at sais.gov.uk.
The hillphones service can inform you of stalking activities in the area.
Usually the shortest way to climb the mountain, making best use of tracks and paths to gain altitude. Route navigation requires map reading skills and an ability to navigate with a compass.
The information given here will enable you to annotate your map and plan your route. We do not give anecdotal descriptions on where to find the paths, worn by the feet of previous mountaineers.
Where the access routes are few or the ridge is narrow, paths are generally obvious. On open ground, following paths without using your compass may get you lost in poor visibility.
Route Information
Waypoint Detail
Follow the single track public road into Glen Nevis to its termination at a large car park
NN16776914
Distance
Altitude 150 m
1
Follow path ENE into the Nevis Gorge
NN17296929
Distance 0.55 km
Altitude 170 m
2
Follow path SSE alongside the Water of Nevis
NN17826853
Distance 0.94 km
Altitude 218 m
3
Follow the footpath ENE as far as the ruin (Steall)
NN18626877
Distance 0.88 km
Altitude 228 m
4
Follow the Allt Coire Giubhsachan N to where the gradient eases.
NN18396950
Distance 0.78 km
Altitude 411 m
5
Continue N alongside the burn
NN18147033
Distance 0.89 km
Altitude 496 m
6
Continue NNE to the bealach
NN18697228
Distance 2.22 km
Altitude 828 m
7
Where a ruined wall and fence cross the bealach, climb ESE up steep worn path to the ridge
NN19217219
Distance 0.54 km
Altitude 1130 m
8
From the easier slopes, the summit of Aonach Mor lies 750m ahead on a bearing of 5 degrees
NN19317296
Distance 0.78 km
Altitude 1221 m
9
Return on ridge, past your ascent point, to the col beyond
NN19317208
Distance 0.95 km
Altitude 1110 m
10
From the col climb the rocky slopes SSE to Aonach Beag summit
NN19667150
Distance 0.70 km
Altitude 1234 m
11
Descend SW on ridge, steep and slippery in the wet.
NN18897070
Distance 1.15 km
Altitude 970 m
12
Continue your descent S
NN18837015
Distance 0.65 km
Altitude 715 m
13
Descend to Allt Coire Giubhsachan and follow it S to Steall. Re-trace the approach route through the Nevis Gorge to the starting point at the car park
NN16776914
Distance 4.09 km
Altitude 150 m
A selection of weather forecasts local to this route.
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Rating & Reviews
Rating & Reviews
Rated:
from 5 votes
Click Stars to Vote
Your Rating
Written by
Craig Dunderdale
on 05 Jul 2006:
From Polldubh on a fantastic clear,but windy day. I'm reasonably fit and this took me 5.25hrs without stopping. Take the path on the West side of the Giubhaschan, stay on that side until just before the bealach. Turn East wall and fence, follow numerous paths up between the Aonachs. It's steep on some loose stones but nothing too bad which you can pick your way through. Climb Aonach Mor first then Beag. Follow the South West ridge down but take care with your navigation along the very broad ridge, aim for the Steall and you'll not end making a steep descent back to the Giubhaschan like I did!
Written by
Crofts Leo
on 16 Aug 2005:
Good hills with no hint of ski development. Open meadows give excellent views. Ground very boggy after wet weather. Make sure you go right immediately at ruined wall on col between Carn Mor Dearg and Aonach Mor otherwise you can end up on very steep and tricky ground near crags, path not obvious here. From Aonach Beag easier to follow tops and descend with care small crags not always visible from above, ground boggy. Ridge between Munros would require extreme caution in winter and bad visibility, watch for cornices!
Written by
Johannes Freund
on 29 Mar 2003:
Great approach through Nevis Gorge!
I've done this tour the other way around and included the other two tops of Aonach Beag: Stob Coire Bhealaich and Sgurr a' Bhuic. I descended directly into Coire Giubhsachan from between the two Aonachs and found this being quite steep and not recommendable when wet.
Disclaimer. The details provided above are an aid to planning an expedition, but all distances, altitudes and bearings must be considered approximate. You must navigate with the appropriate map,
a compass, your navigation skills and common sense, MunroMagic.com accept no responsibility for your interpretation of our route information.
lies 750m ahead on a bearing of 5 degrees
