Binnein Mor & Na Gruagaichean

[Frigate]

Decided to take advantage of the fair forecast and met Ian and Jake the dug for a wee wander in the Mamores.
Set off at about 08.45 and quickly got lost on the other side of the car park.
Got a little sidetracked on the myriad of paths and missed where the Loch Eilde Mor path crossed a stream, ended up following a local path back towards the village. So backtracked a little then decided to go straight up through the trees on the slope of Creagan Sgiathan, this put us on the wrong side of the gorge but there was a rough path to follow.

Eventually met up with the main path and progress became quicker until I ran out of energy on the shoulder of Sgor Eilde Beag where we diverted over the old peat path and had a break in the quite fierce sun.

Kinlochleven from the slopes of Creagan Sgiathan

Coire na Ba

Gorge path on the side of Meall an Doire Dharaich

Sgor Eilde Beag

South to Bidean nam Bian

Coire nan Loagh and bealach to Na Gruagaichean

Had a couple of pit-stops and chats with other walkers on the way up and as we rounded into Coire nan Lochan had to negotiate an avalanche debris field which had buried the good path for about 200m.

Sgurr Eilde Mhor

Binnein Beag and the Grey Corries

The normal route up to the bealach at Sgor Eilde Beag was still covered in snow and the lip of the coire was ringed by unstable, slumped cornices. Due to the heat it was not a good idea to proceed that way so it was straight up the prominent east ridge of Sgor Eilde Beag.

Gearr-Leachann and Binnein Mor

Path buried under snow with unstable cornices around the coire

Frontal assult up Sgor Eilde Beag

Rocky at the top section

Sgurr Eilde Mor and Coire nan Lochan

1062m top to Binnein Mor

West to the Na Gruagaichean tops

Back to the top of Sgor Eilde Beag

The climb along the ridge from the 1062m top was in part still covered in snow, at one point this towered about 2.5m above the line of the path which could be seen at the edge of the snow bank. Made the top at 13.15, nearly 4.5 hours - no prizes there.

The Ben, CMD and Aonach Mor

West to the Ring of Steall

Ridge to Binnein Mor

Snow walk to top of Binnein Mor

Quite busy on top with about 8 other walkers wending their various ways. Stopped for lunch and photos, wonder if Malky C will hear Ian's shirt today.

Back to 1062m top from Binnein Mor

Binnein Mor from Na Gruagaichean

Nice walk (stroll) across to Na Gruagaichen which we made at about 14.30

Down to Kinlochleven

Main path around the shoulder of Sgor Eilde Beag

Followed the ridge down to Leachd na h-Aire but lost the path and in the end headed straight down to where a track left the mamore lodge roadway.
Back to the car in about eight and a quarter hours, not too bad considering the start and finish routes were 'off piste'.

our_route.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

[jepsonscotland]

Great job, some great ridge walking there.
I can't believe how different it looks already. We were there in March to do Sgurr Eilde Mhor, not a sign of the lochan.
Still cracking views in every direction.
Chris

[Silverhill]

You chose the perfect day for these two. Am loving the pictures.
Your route finding exploits made me chuckle (sympathetically): I did exactly the same!

[Ian Bayne]

Good report Kev the first part was just a wee bit of leg stretching ! cracking photos heres some more