Aonach Beag [Nevis region] and Aonach Mor Route Information

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Aonach Beag [Nevis region] & Aonach Mor

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

2025 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

7 hrs

The horizontal distance of the route.

Route Distance

16.11 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

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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

Moderate climb with some steep ascents and many crags either side of the summit ridge, Navigate with care. Excellent views of Ben Nevis and Carn mor Dearg.

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. N.B. Aonach Mor can be climbed via the ski lift access road. The route described here avoids the clutter of the ski slopes.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 2,025 metres. Allow 7 hours to complete this 16.11 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 end of road through Glen Nevis
		NN16786913	Distance	Altitude 150 m

1	Follow path E through gorge, past wire bridge and waterfall to Steall ruin
		NN18626877	Distance 2.42 km	Altitude 230 m

2	Cross river and ascend NE to Sgurr a' Bhuic
		NN20407017	Distance 2.38 km	Altitude 963 m

3	Continue NNE to Stob Coire Bhealaich
		NN20617087	Distance 0.79 km	Altitude 1048 m

4	Follow ridge W
		NN20057089	Distance 0.56 km	Altitude 1046 m

5	Continue NW above An Aghaidh Gharbh to summit of Aonach Beag
		NN19667150	Distance 0.77 km	Altitude 1234 m

6	Descend NW turning NNW to col at 1100m
		NN19317207	Distance 0.72 km	Altitude 1100 m

7	Ascend broader slopes of Aonach Mor to summit
		NN19317296	Distance 0.96 km	Altitude 1221 m

8	Descend S from Aonach Mor and locate descent path
		NN19237222	Distance 0.73 km	Altitude 1097 m

9	Descend towards 1100m col. Before reaching lowest point descend W on ridge
		NN18687215	Distance 0.61 km	Altitude 828 m

10	Follow watershed of Allt Coire Giubhaschan
		NN18257063	Distance 1.66 km	Altitude 557 m

11	Rejoin approach path near the Steall ruin
		NN18626877	Distance 2.09 km	Altitude 230 m

12	Follow approach path W to return to the start
		NN16786913	Distance 2.42 km	Altitude 150 m

A selection of weather forecasts local to this route.

Weather

West Highlands
by MWIS (PDF format)

West Highlands
by Met Office

Aonach Beag
by Metcheck

Images of Aonach Beag [Nevis region] & Aonach Mor

Cornices on Aonach Mor plateau above Coire an Lochain (Feb 2007)

Image by Mark Stevens

The Nevis Range seen from Neptunes' Staircase at Banavie, with Aonach Mor on the left and The Ben on the right

Image by Alistair Craig

Aonach Beg with Aonach Mor behind, seen from the east (Grey Corries) in Feb 2007.

Image by David Harbottle

Aonach Beag from Sgurr Chonnich Mor.05.08.03

Image by David Singleton

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 1 vote

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Your Rating

Written by Ian Swann on 23 Feb 2003:

Great views of Ben Nevis and the Ring of Steall at first. Note the small summit cairn of Aonach Beag - in poor visibility this was confusing and increased the difficulty of navigation down to the Bealach and on to Aonach Mor. In the winter conditions ice axe and crampons were necessary above 2000 feet. Returning via the Coire Giubhsachan allowed easy walking on the frozen bogs but the total walk from the Pollubh car park took me 8 hours (middle aged munroist in poor condition)

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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