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Sgurr a' Mhaim
Quick Facts
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
1227 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
4.5 hrs
The horizontal distance of the route.
Route Distance
10.16 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.

OS Landranger Maps Required
  41   Ben Nevis, Fort William & Glen Coe
Only £6.29  (£13.49 Laminated) from  

A brief summary of this route.

Our summary will always contain one of easy, moderate or hard to indicate the severity of the route.

 Notes
A strenuous climb on steep slopes and an excellent ridge walk.

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 Nevis Bridge roundabout take road to Glen Nevis as far as Achriabhach.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 1,227 metres. Allow 4.5 hours to complete this 10.16 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 Achriabhach
  NN14566837 Distance
Altitude
145 m
1
Follow path SSE to where it starts to ascend ENE
NN15416636 Distance
2.60 km
Altitude
510 m
2
Leave path and continue ENE to summit of Sgurr a' Mhaim
NN16486673 Distance
1.25 km
Altitude
1099 m
3
Head S over Devils Ridge to Stob Coire a' Mhail
NN16346598 Distance
0.77 km
Altitude
990 m
4
Continue SSW to Sgurr an Iubhair (no longer a Munro!)
NN16536550 Distance
0.55 km
Altitude
1001 m
5
Head SW to join path
NN16366527 Distance
0.29 km
Altitude
948 m
6
Follow path W to junction
NN15736536 Distance
0.73 km
Altitude
760 m
7
Descend NNE on path to rejoin approach route
  NN14566837 Distance
3.98 km
Altitude
145 m

A selection of weather forecasts local to this route.

 Weather
West Highlands
by MWIS (PDF format)
West Highlands
by Met Office
Ben Nevis
by Metcheck
Images of Sgurr a' Mhaim
Route Area Map
Legend  Munro  Corbett  Graham  English/Welsh Top  Accommodation

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

 Where to Stay
We currently have no
sponsored accommodation listings for this area.

Rating & Reviews

 Rating & Reviews
Rated:
 from 3 votes
Click Stars to Vote
Your Rating
Written by John Walker on 25 Aug 2003:
It is much better to leave the Mhusgain path at GR147677, where there is a small metal fence post, and take the NW ridge. It is a challenging, unrelenting plod on a clear path, but takes you straight to the summit. The quartzite scree on the last 150m ascent is strength sapping........ It's all made up for by the great views and the Devil's Ridge, which although exposed, is easy enough, (and I've no head for heights)!
 
Written by Peter Seely on 12 Apr 2003:
My wife and I walked this route on 10 April 2003. The weather was fantastic. We followed the recommendation to come off the path and ascend on the grass and scree to the summit of Sgurr a Mhair but abandoned the idea after a while since it was a steep, boulder strewn slope and we felt it was too dangerous for our level of expertise. We took about 7 hours to walk the route but this includes several stops to sit and look at the spetacular views over a cup of hot chocolate! Strenuous walking is a good description but it is worth every bit of exertion. It was an excellent day out.
 
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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