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The Ring of Steall - Autumn wonderland

The Ring of Steall - Autumn wonderland


Postby johnbythell » Wed Nov 01, 2023 2:01 pm

Munros included on this walk: Am Bodach, An Gearanach, Sgùrr a' Mhàim, Stob Coire a' Chàirn

Date walked: 30/10/2023

Time taken: 8 hours

Distance: 17.4 km

Ascent: 1825m

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It was a short couple of days weather-window on the forecast, so I decided to make the most of it on the Ring of Steall. There was still quite a strong easterly though, so I was planning on taking the low bypass to the west to avoid the scrambling on the An Garbhanach ridge and missing out Sgurr a' Mhaim and the Devil's Ridge by dropping down into Coire Mhusgrain if necessary. I was convinced of this option when I felt the fierce (I'd guess 40 mph) crosswinds coming up the north ridge of An Gearanach, but the wind miraculously quieted down by the time I reached the summit, so I kept going and in places on An Garbhanach it dropped to nothing at all, with eerie quiet. It was windy again on the Devil's Ridge, but apart from one section above a scoop just before the bealach that was funnelling the wind, it was fairly light and didn't impede progress (I crabbed my way along that one exposed section). The reward was an autumn wonderland with fantastic light and views that went on forever.


Ring of Steall 30 Oct 2023.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts



01.jpg
Crossing the bridge at the Lower Falls for an early (7:30) start


02.jpg
I opted to do the road walk up to the upper car park at the start rather than end of the day, and in any case it was a very pleasant warm-up walk with little traffic at that time in the morning. The path beyond the upper car park up to Steall Falls is also pretty magical.


03.jpg
Steall Falls


04.jpg
The wire bridge is insane. I was more nervous crossing that than on any part of the ridge later on!


05.jpg
The Ben looking magnificent today


06.jpg
Looking up Glen Nevis, with Binnein Beag centre, from the summit of An Gearanach. By now the winds had quieted down


07.jpg
..and I opted to press on, here the first scrambling section on An Garbhanach


08.jpg
An Garbhanach


09.jpg
A slightly unnerving break in the ridge, looking west towards Sgurr a' Mhaim


10.jpg
Looking back at the An Garbhanach- An Gearanach ridge from Stob Coire a' Chairn


11.jpg
Stob Coire a' Chairn


12.jpg
On the approach from this direction, the ascent up Am Bodach looks impossibly steep (it is steep, but not as bad as it looks)


13.jpg
Looking back along the way travelled from Am Bodach


14.jpg
Loch Leven and beyond from Am Bodach


15.jpg
The rest of the route, with the Devil's Ridge centre


17.jpg
Lunch stop in a mini-cave out of the wind, Wonderful views to the south


18.jpg
Getting closer to decision time, whether to press on to the Devil's Ridge. Here the wind was howling up and over the lip of the coire, so it wasn't looking good


19.jpg
Sgorr an Lubhair


20.jpg
As I'd hoped the wind had dropped a bit by the time I got to the crossroads and I decided to press on, here on the easy start section of the ridge


21.jpg
Looking back to the Bealach a' Chip and the main difficulties on the Devil's Ridge. The only nervy section was the grassy arete above the short scrambling section, where the winds were being funnelled up a chute and I was reduced to crabbing my way down that short, exposed section. The rocky section was thankfully in the lee


22.jpg
And it was a gorgeous place on the far side, sheltered from the wind, to sit and meditate in the warm sunshine!


23.jpg
Fort William and Ben Nevis from Sgurr a' Mhaim


Overall, a wonderful autumn day with the winds adding a bit of spice and nervous tension, making the completion feel even more special. The bone-jarring and relentless descent down the northwest ridge only managing to put a slight dent in the warm glow. A perfect autumn day in Glen Nevis.
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johnbythell
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Re: The Ring of Steall - Autumn wonderland

Postby jmarkb » Wed Nov 01, 2023 3:54 pm

That looks like a lovely day out - some great pics there!

johnbythell wrote:The bone-jarring and relentless descent down the northwest ridge only managing to put a slight dent in the warm glow.


An interesting alternative is to take the NE ridge and the old stalkers path through Coire Sgorach to rejoin the normal descent at about 650m: this at least avoids the worst of the scree. My knees still suffered the last time I did it though! This path is certainly a better option if heading up this way, except in winter when it banks out readily where is crosses some steep slopes.

If heading back to the top car park, it is also possible to cut the corner by carrying on down the sloping shelf from the bottom of the old path and making for the footbridge at NN158684 but the bottom section is quite rough going, not sure I'd really recommend it.
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Re: The Ring of Steall - Autumn wonderland

Postby johnbythell » Wed Nov 01, 2023 4:35 pm

jmarkb wrote:That looks like a lovely day out - some great pics there!

johnbythell wrote:The bone-jarring and relentless descent down the northwest ridge only managing to put a slight dent in the warm glow.


An interesting alternative is to take the NE ridge and the old stalkers path through Coire Sgorach to rejoin the normal descent at about 650m: this at least avoids the worst of the scree. My knees still suffered the last time I did it though! This path is certainly a better option if heading up this way, except in winter when it banks out readily where is crosses some steep slopes.

If heading back to the top car park, it is also possible to cut the corner by carrying on down the sloping shelf from the bottom of the old path and making for the footbridge at NN158684 but the bottom section is quite rough going, not sure I'd really recommend it.


Thanks - hard to believe that was only 2 days ago, looking at the clag and snow on the tops now. Good to know about the Coire Sgorach option (hard to tell how the ridge is from the map), though I can see it will be in the firing line in winter!
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Re: The Ring of Steall - Autumn wonderland

Postby dogplodder » Wed Nov 01, 2023 4:41 pm

Great photos of a fabulous route and weather looking pretty good for what's turning out this year to be storm season. :thumbup:
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Re: The Ring of Steall - Autumn wonderland

Postby johnbythell » Wed Nov 01, 2023 4:48 pm

dogplodder wrote:Great photos of a fabulous route and weather looking pretty good for what's turning out this year to be storm season. :thumbup:

Thanks, yes the last couple of days have definitely been rare diamonds (though the photos don't show the wind, which was pretty fierce in places) but stunning skies and views.
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Re: The Ring of Steall - Autumn wonderland

Postby jmarkb » Wed Nov 01, 2023 5:32 pm

johnbythell wrote:Good to know about the Coire Sgorach option (hard to tell how the ridge is from the map),


It's fine: one little steepening which may require hands out of pockets, but much easier than the other scrambly bits on the round.
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Re: The Ring of Steall - Autumn wonderland

Postby Bonzo » Thu Nov 02, 2023 7:12 pm

jmarkb wrote:That looks like a lovely day out - some great pics there!

johnbythell wrote:The bone-jarring and relentless descent down the northwest ridge only managing to put a slight dent in the warm glow.


An interesting alternative is to take the NE ridge and the old stalkers path through Coire Sgorach to rejoin the normal descent at about 650m: this at least avoids the worst of the scree. My knees still suffered the last time I did it though! This path is certainly a better option if heading up this way, except in winter when it banks out readily where is crosses some steep slopes.

If heading back to the top car park, it is also possible to cut the corner by carrying on down the sloping shelf from the bottom of the old path and making for the footbridge at NN158684 but the bottom section is quite rough going, not sure I'd really recommend it.


Having read this and noticed the path you mention is shown on the 1:25000 maps I had a look on Google Earth and there it is in all its glory. Looks a really interesting route.
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