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From Bridge or Orchy, take the road west from the hotel. This small road looked as though it's been recently re-surfaced, as the road was in good condition. It runs past Loch Tulla to your right, passing the Inveroran hotel. Park at the Victora Bridge car park, just before the bridge. Walk across the bridge and take the path to your left, just before the forest lodge, heading west.
- Forest Lodge-Start of Walk
The path follows the Abhainn Shira. unfortunatley we saw a dying Stag. We wernt sure what to do under these circumstances? We presumed the laws of nature would take course.
- Stag
After 20-25 mins you will see the Clashgour hut, a small tin bothy. At this point take the path heading north. This track is quite mucky in places, and well worn.
- Track to Stob a Choire Odhair
Follow this path, you will see a large waterfall just beside the Aonach Eagach.
- Waterfall
You should also see the route up to Stob a'Choire Odhair which zig-zags up its ridge. Take this path, past the ford (253447). it heads up the ridge quite steeply at first, and eventually starts to level off after 1/2 hour.
- Track up the ridge of Stob a Choire Odhair
At this point the terrain becomes more rocky (and snowy!). Keep heading up, and a small cairn marks the top. Great views of Rannoch Moor and the surrounding hills were seen from here, although the wind chill was biting!
- Rannoch Moor
- Summit of Stob a Choire Odhair
Head west towards the bealach between Stob Ghabhar and Stob a'Choire Odhair for a well deserved lunch, a path is available to follow. From here the route of Stob Ghabhar looks quite intimidating and steep.
- Bealach and Stob Ghabhar
However, the closer you get to it, the easier it looks. Keep to the path, which heads towards the Coirein Lochain, and turns southwards going straight up the face of Stob Ghabhar. It isn't really a scramble, but it does require some steadying with hands in places. The path heads up the face, and should present no difficulty.
- Route up North face of Aonach Eagach
If you look closely, you can see people on the pic above to give u an idea of scale. Eventually, the path will lead you to the top of the Ridge, the Aonach Eagach.
- Beginning of AE ridge
Follow the ridge in a westerly direction. It will quickly become apparent that it narrows quickly, and looks exposed. However again, looks can be deceiving. Once you are on the ridge, there is plenty of path to make your way over it, and the exposure at either side shouldn't cause a difficulty if you concentrate on the path and not the exposure. There are no moves that are exposed and in no time at all, the ridge is over. Bit of a shame really, as I was expecting something more sinister. It reminded me a bit like Striding Edge in Helvellyn, except not as long.
- start of ridge
- Views along ridge
Again, the pic above gies an idea of scale with the people in it.
- Coirein Lochain
After the ridge continue up the broader ridge to the top. From here we saw fantastic views of the hills around Glencoe and further afield.
- Towards Glencoe
- Looking out westward from the summit
We even saw the sea it was that clear! After 15mins of admiring the view, we headed back down the broad ridge SE, and followed the metal fence posts for a while, eventually making our way back down, back to the path, tracing our steps back.
- Route back down following posts SE
- Back down to snow-free territory
- Full Moon
All-in-all a very enjoyable day with fantastic views from start to finish, the first of the winter snow, and a bit of excitement on the mini-me Aonach Eagach!