Walkhighlands

Was planning on doing 2 hills, but a few reports here showed 4 were possible and most people I met were doing the 4. Saves an extra car journey so good for the environment Sunny but not too warm, ideal conditions apart from swarms of flying insects reactivated after Winter.

Intended to park at the lodge but 2 new signs: no unauthorised vehicles & gate may be locked at any time. Didn't risk it but there were cars parked at the lodge and the stalkers cottage is in use so it seems very unlikely that the gate would ever be shut.


Easy to follow road then landrover track, missed the path that goes round Sgor Eilde Beag so doubled back. View back down the path:

Met a guy who had camped between Sgor Eilde Beag and Sgurr Eilde Mor, warned that descent from Binnein Beag was very loose so probably better to go up and down the same way to avoid falling rocks.

Got to bealach between Sgor Eilde Beag and Sgurr Eilde Mor, 4 now seemed possible as quite a bit of height gained already, over to Sgurr Eilde Mor:

Binnein Beag, bit of a walk but not too much ascent:

Bit rocky up to Sgurr Eilde Mor, sense of balance got tested a few times. Great views from summit, over to Sgor Eilde Beag:

Descent was tricky here too, flat red rocks at the start which weren't stable underfoot. Then grey rocks, some covered with moss. Had a look at path, quite a bit of descent/reascent:

Easy going on the way down to the burn, then the path continued up on a comfortable gradient. Route up & down Binnein Beag:

Binnein Mor from summit, another walker had come down the ridge on the right but said grass was wet & slippy. We noticed 2 walkers making for the closest ridge which looked a bit of a scramble. I went for the easy option on the right.

Bit boggy walking to the ridge then a slog up the steep grass initially, then going got easier on the ridge.


View back down, Grey Corries behind Binnein Beag:

Bit of a scramble higher up, could bypass this on a path to the right though. Looking towards Na Gruagaichean:

Walk from here was fine, closer to Na Gruagaichean it looked like a steep ascent but actually wasn't bad. Other Mamores:

Looking down to Glencoe from Na Gruagaichean:

Descent ridge:

Initially this was easy then steep grass. On the way up I'd noticed a new fence closer to the path, I couldn't see any stiles and it would have blocked the WH descent route. There's a gate on the landrover path where the fence meets it, decided to head further south than the WH route on my GPS to meet this. Improvised route took me down some craggy bits and I soon remembered that descending steep grass isn't my favourite part of a walk. Looking down to Kinlochleven and the track:

Great weather & views, legs feeling it today though and as it turns out hillwalking isn't the best cure for a cold

We were on the Ring of Steall today so weren't too far from you. We looked over to where you were and debated if it was possible to do all four so you've solved that mystery

Fudgie wrote:We were on the Ring of Steall today so weren't too far from you. We looked over to where you were and debated if it was possible to do all four so you've solved that mystery

After Binnein Beag you're at 750m and the other 2 are on the way back anyway so might as well include them. Ring of Steall was looking good, might go for that next.

Was the chap that joined you on binnein beag a stocky bald man?
I was doing Sgurr Choinnich Mor and the Aonachs and saw him heading up from next to me...it looked no fun!
Good report, I did these a few weeks ago in the snow.

Nice photos gman, am heading up these in July so hope I get a similar day to yours.

Probably be doing the same route except I might start from Kinlochmore instead of the lodge, and depending on how I feel on the day I might try that scrambly ridge up to Binnein Mor. Glad the snow's gone too!

Great pics you got for your day. well done.
That scrambly bit you mention on Binnein Mor, my wife had a bad fall there in winter past. We made our way up the ridge you mention then traversed round to the right above the scree area. She was making her way up through a gap in some crags when she slipped, slidding a few hundred feet in the process.

Meatball wrote:Was the chap that joined you on binnein beag a stocky bald man?

No, tall guy from East coast - he started from Kinlochmore but went round the opposite way from me. Your description sounds more like me, but I was incognito in a hat

davetherave wrote:Great pics you got for your day. well done.
That scrambly bit you mention on Binnein Mor, my wife had a bad fall there in winter past. We made our way up the ridge you mention then traversed round to the right above the scree area. She was making her way up through a gap in some crags when she slipped, slidding a few hundred feet in the process.

Sorry to hear that & hope she's recovered OK, the ridge looks tempting but I wasn't sure if it would be possible to scramble all the way up.