Walkhighlands

"Has anyone tried this route? It seems eminently doable (in a long day) but looks like it would be amazing - certainly when you're driving down Glencoe it looks that way - 45 degree slopes in every direction!!

The other interesting proposition for me is Liathach and Beinn Eighe - anyone done this (26km, 2440m ascent)?

Alterknacker"

I can now answer my own question. We did this route on 23rd August, and were really lucky with the weather - the mist was lying at about 900m but it cleared a minute or so after we arrived on Bidean.



We took it very steadily, and it took us about 10.5 hours. Fabulous if you're OK with a bit of scrambling and exposure. Like pretty well everywhere in the highlands, spectacular views the whole way - not perfectly clear, but very atmospheric in the mixed cloud and mist.

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After a steep ascent but surprisingly little scrambling given the steepness of the slope, we reached the ridge. This view is looking back at Aonach Dubh with Aonach Eagach in the background.
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IMG_0018. Looking towards Stob Coire nan Lochan from Aonach Dubh. Looks pretty enticing!!

IMG_0020. Dr Frank on the ascent from Stob Coire nan Lochan to Bidean nam Bian. Quite straightforward, and it would be OK in clag because of the sharp definition of the ridge.

IMG_0021. That most popular of pics: the summit in clag!

IMG_0026. The clag regularly cleared and then closed in again. In one of the clear moments: view looking North West towards Stob Coire nam Beith (1107m). We didn't visit it, though in hindsight I wish we had.

IMG_0027. The route from BnB to Stob Coire Sgreamhach: sharp ridge, not too tricky, hard to lose one's way.

IMG_0032. On the descent from BnB, the view looking more or less West towards the Buachailles.

IMG_0033. More fantastic views as we headed along the ridge: this from the bealach between Bidean and SCS looking North into the Lost Valley.

IMG_0034. Looking back, BnB on the LHS, Sob Coire nan Lochan on the RHS.

IMG_0036. And a bit further along...

IMG_0037. Bidean from the summit of Stob Coire Sgreamhach.

IMG_0039. View looking along the Beinn Fhada ridge from the summit of Stob Coire Sgreamhach.

After Stob Coire Sgreamhach, we took this ridge along the East side of the Lost Valley to Beinn Fhada and beyond, then, after about 1.5 km, dropped down the side of a gulley into the Hidden Valley. This is quite a steep descent, and it's not so straightforward to pick out a route - it's a very steep glen side, and most of it is adorned with serious cliffs, so I'd say one best left for the kind of clear weather we had.

IMG_0040. Looking back at Bidean and Stob Coire Sgreamhach.

IMG_0042. But eventually we reach the bottom of the Lost Valley.

From where it's a beautiful walk down to Glencoe.

IMG_0043. Ahead the main road, and behind, Am Bodach and Aonach Eagach.

IMG_0047. We lunched a hundred or so metres up from the main road, where the view is pretty spectacular!

Then on up to Am Bodach, and along the Aonach Eagach. Just as we get to the scrambly bit, a couple of folk with a Scottish Terrier come off the ridge. We assumed, therefore, that the scrambling wouldn't be too daunting, and so it proved.

IMG_0052. Aonach Eagach ridge from Am Bodach.

IMG_0053. On Aonach Eagach.

IMG_0054.

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IMG_0057. Still on Aonach Eagach ridge...

IMG_0061.

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IMG_0065. Clachaig Inn in sight (LHS)...

IMG_0067. Looking back up the Clachaig Gulley. This was not a good descent route - very steep and a lot of scree, so always the risk of sending a boulder crashing down, potentially on someone below.

But we arrived, appropriately thirsty at the Clacaig for a half of shandy. Or 2.
IMG_0069.
I would recommend this to anyone as a great day out.

3D Route View.

I can now answer my own question. We did this route on 23rd August - see report.

I have planned but not executed a similar route in the past.
We have dragged the dogs over the AE ridge one afternoon 18ths ago-incidentally that same morning we also completed the scramble up the sron of Creise
As for Bidean nam Bian I can also recommend going along the Beinn Fhada ridge.

Well done on completing a big round, would love to do a round very similar to this .
Thanks. DAVE

davetherave wrote:I have planned but not executed a similar route in the past.
We have dragged the dogs over the AE ridge one afternoon 18ths ago-incidentally that same morning we also completed the scramble up the sron of Creise
As for Bidean nam Bian I can also recommend going along the Beinn Fhada ridge.

Well done on completing a big round, would love to do a round very similar to this .
Thanks. DAVE

We met some guys coming off EA with a dog just as we were getting to the top of An Bodach, and we couldn't believe it. At every bit of serious scrambling we were asking each other, "how on earth did the dog manage this???" Several mazings! How do the dogs do it??

BTW thanks for drawing my attention to Sron na Creise. Looked it up, and ridgerunner's report of 24/07/2011 has some extremly seductive pictures. I'll definitely put this on the list.
Incidentally, pretty hard going to do AE and and SnC in one morning - you must have been running???

Alter Knacker

Sorry you may have misunderstood me. We did snc and the other munro in the morning.had some lunch at our glen etive wild campsite. Then moved on to A and E ridge in the afternoon. If I recall it took us about 10hrs total.

Have a look at my trip reports and you will get an idea of our day.

Cheers dave.