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
1748 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
6.5 hrs
The horizontal distance of the route.
Route Distance
16.85 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
This is "The Ring of Steall" strenuous due to steep slopes (ascent and descent) and excellent ridge walks with moderate exposure.
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
From Fort William (A82), at the Nevis Bridge roundabout, follow signs to Glen Nevis. Follow the Glen Nevis road to its termination at a large car park.
Route Waypoint Map
The total ascent is 1,748 metres. Allow 6.5 hours to complete this 16.85 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
Start from carpark at the end of the road through Glen Nevis
NN16776914
Distance
Altitude 145 m
1
Follow path W through gorge to wire bridge (3 wires 1 to walk on 2 to hold)
NN17766847
Distance 1.64 km
Altitude 215 m
2
Cross bridge and ascend on path past Steall Waterfall to An Gearanach summit
NN18776698
Distance 3.36 km
Altitude 982 m
3
Continue SSW over An Garbanach to Stob Coire a' Chairn
NN18566606
Distance 1.08 km
Altitude 981 m
4
Follow ridge SW to Am Bodach
NN17656509
Distance 1.50 km
Altitude 1032 m
5
Return to path and head WNW to Sgurr an Iubhair (no longer a Munro!)
NN16526551
Distance 1.35 km
Altitude 1001 m
6
Head NW to the start of the Devils Ridge
NN16306595
Distance 0.53 km
Altitude 895 m
7
Head N over the Devils Ridge to Sgurr a' Mhaim
NN16486673
Distance 0.84 km
Altitude 1099 m
8
Descend WSW to path
NN15416636
Distance 1.25 km
Altitude 510 m
9
Continue NNW on path to reach carpark by road (leave car 2 here!)
NN14566837
Distance 2.60 km
Altitude 58 m
10
Return along road to start
NN16776914
Distance 2.72 km
Altitude 145 m
A selection of weather forecasts local to this route.
Looking back at the ridge walk from An Garbhanach to the summit of An Gearanach. Narrow and some fun scrambling. Buachaille Etive Mor and Creise are in the background.
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Rating & Reviews
Rating & Reviews
Rated:
from 10 votes
Click Stars to Vote
Your Rating
Written by
David Harbottle
on 20 Nov 2007:
Here's a video diary of my traverse of The Ring of Steal (June 2007), with my son Mark:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2h0vz_glencoe-jun07-day-1-ring-of-steall_family
Written by
David Harbottle
on 03 Jul 2007:
Excellent walk! The scrambling on the Devil's Ridge is very straight forward and minimal (two small steps). A sheep in wolf's clothing. I'd love to do this in winter conditions sometime, where it would be a little more difficult.
Written by
Mike Watson
on 07 Jan 2007:
Had to ford the burn that the waterfall feeds as we could see no easy route as it was in spate. No-one seems to mention this!
We went up the 1st three (missed out Sgurr a' Mhaim & travered to the south of Sgurr an Iubhair as we'd been up it before and the weather wasnt too good).
Also OS map is incorrect, stalkers path to the south of Sgurr an Iubhair has a big dogleg in it not shown on either the 1:50000 or 1:25000 but correct on Harveys map. Caused a bit of a Nav issue...
Written by
Rob Jeffries
on 02 Sep 2005:
The wire bridge is far more perilous than either of the ridges. As regards the descent from a'Mhaim, there is a well defined path leading roughly NW from the summit that rejoins the Mhusgain path about 0.5km from the car park. Initially it is fairly easily sloped, then onto some quartzite scree for 100m down, then really steeply angled zigzags straight down the NW ridge.
Possibly better than the posted route, but better as an ascent? However, going anti-clockwise around the R-o-S not recommended because the drop NE from Am Bodach is very steep and loose and better ascended.
Written by
Sianann Watt
on 27 Jun 2005:
A very rewarding route. Wire bridge not for the faint hearted but great fun,if the bridge makes you nervous best not try the rest of"The Ring of Steall". The top of AnGearanach has great views in all directions. The ridge between here and AnGarbhanach involves a fair bit of scrambling but worth it,looking back from StobCoire a Chairn. Devils ridge is nerve racking too with sheer drops on each side but the path is easy to follow.The descent from Sgurr a'Mhairn left me confused, the path disappeared and we ended up scrambling down marshy hillside to the road.
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.
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