walkhighlands

Share your personal walking route experiences in Scotland, and comment on other peoples' reports.
Warning Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. Summer routes may not be viable or appropriate in winter. See winter information on our skills and safety pages for more information.

Finishing off The Mamores with The Ring of Steall

Finishing off The Mamores with The Ring of Steall


Postby Johnny Corbett » Tue Sep 06, 2011 9:38 am

Route description: The Ring of Steall, Mamores

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

Date walked: 28/08/2011

Time taken: 7.3 hours

4 people think this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).

Today the weather wasn't the best and the views were mixed with no views at all from the summits, but in my opinion you didn't need views as there was enough interest in the ridge to keep your mind occupied. The ridge is narrow in places, rocky at times and damn good fun,if you enjoy the scrambling side of it but in no way dangerous. As with all narrow and rocky ridges you just take your time and watch your footing, we were also extra carefull due to it being wet.
The route we took was up the steep path to Sgurr a' mhaim, this is a steep ascent with a few faulse tops and as you gain height the path becomes stoney, with loose scree. It's a case of one step forward and half a step backwords once on the scree path.
After this initial ascent and you reach the summit of Sgurr a' Mhaim, the fun begins. From Sgurr a' Mhaim you take the narrow ridge, this was the narrowest section of the ridge and doesn't involve scrambling but is only a very short section, towards Sgorr an Lubar and round to Am Bodach. From Am Bodach, the descent is pretty steep and rocky with a bit of scree as well. You then head up towards Stob Coire a' Chairn with no "difficulties" at this section and onto The Devils Ridge towards An Gearanch, the rocky scrambling section and as i said great fun with no great danger. After The Devils Ridge is negotiated it's a short stoll to An Gearanach and down the well defined path to the Water of Nevis. The fun isn't quite over yet as you still have the wire bridge to cross, which poses no problems and is quite enjoyable, unless you're like Mo who decided to take the river option for fear of falling off the bridge.
On return to the Water of Nevis you get a stunning view of the spactacular waterfall running down of An Gearanach.The last bit of the walk is along the Water of Nevis and back to the car park. This section is full of tourists, not the friendliest bunch, with a polite hello being met with a stare as if you were a alien and not even a wave to say thanks for stepping onto the verge on the road section to allow them past in their cars. Thankfully very few of them climb hills.
The final part of this report is which is the best route to do this walk. People will have their own opinions, so here's mine. I say the way we went, purely because going up Sgurr a' Mhaim is probably easier than coming down and secondly once you get off An Gearanach it is extremely boggy getting over to the path towards the mountain rescue hut. All thats left to say now is, enjoy The Ring of Steall.

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


P1010491.JPG
Water of Nevis in full flow

P1010492.JPG
Sgurr a' Mhaim

P1010493.JPG
Glen Nevis

P1010494.JPG
Sgurr a' Mhaim summit with Jimmy

P1010495.JPG
Jimmy & Mo on The Devils Ridge i think

P1010496.JPG
A rocky section

P1010497.JPG
The narrowing ridge towards Sgorr an Lubhair, the demoted Munro.

P1010498.JPG
Am Bodach

P1010499.JPG
Alt Coire a' Mhail

P1010500.JPG
Am Bodach summit

P1010501.JPG
Coming off Am Bodach

P1010502.JPG
The next two Stob Coire a' Chairn & An Gearanach

P1010503.JPG
The route off Am Bodach

P1010504.JPG
The next section to Stob Coire a' Chairn

P1010505.JPG
The final climb to Stob Coire a' Chairn

P1010506.JPG
Sgorr an Lubhair

P1010507.JPG
Stob Coire a' Chairn summit

P1010510.JPG
An Garbhanach

P1010511.JPG
Binnien Beag

P1010512.JPG
The rocky ridge

P1010513.JPG
Mo & me on An Gearanach

P1010514.JPG
Glen Nevis

P1010516.JPG
More of Glen Nevis

P1010517.JPG
The waterfall

P1010519.JPG
Jimmy on the wire bridge
Last edited by Johnny Corbett on Tue Sep 06, 2011 4:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Johnny Corbett
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 2983
Munros:25   Corbetts:214
Fionas:168   Donalds:74
Sub 2000:302   Hewitts:1
Islands:14
Joined: May 14, 2010
Location: Livingston

Re: Finishing off The Mamores with The Ring of Steall

Postby Alastair S » Tue Sep 06, 2011 12:59 pm

Great stuff Johnny, despite the fine August weather.

Yet to do this classic - the advice about which way round to go is appreciated - although the wire bridge bit still looks the scariest bit to me so maybe I'd like to get this over with first :lol: That said I have done the walk up the glen and crossing the river a bit further up didn't look like it would be much of a problem.
User avatar
Alastair S
Hill Bagger
 
Posts: 1283
Munros:78   Corbetts:13
Fionas:6   
Sub 2000:13   
Islands:22
Joined: Dec 14, 2008
Location: Banchory, Aberdeenshire

Re: Finishing off The Mamores with The Ring of Steall

Postby Steve B » Tue Sep 06, 2011 1:24 pm

I would recommend doing the scramble onto Sgurr a' Mhaim and then doing the round. You do the wire bridge twice, I had a long think about going over to start with as the river was in full spate. But it's OK.
I did it a couple of years ago and the snow was starting to go so was in mixed condition. The last top was made more interesting by these conditions and due to snow starting to fall again.
The route is described in the Cicerone Lochaber Scrambles book.
Steve B
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 334
Munros:282   Corbetts:16
Hewitts:62
Wainwrights:40   Islands:9
Joined: Oct 25, 2010
Location: Glasgow

Re: Finishing off The Mamores with The Ring of Steall

Postby Johnny Corbett » Tue Sep 06, 2011 1:42 pm

I'd agree with you Steve, wished i'd realised about taking that route up as it saves 2km of road walking with the added attraction of scrambling rather than the long slog up Sgurr a' Mhaim from Polldubh.

Alistair,the wire bridge looks worse than what it is, though in full spate it would be a different story.If you enjoy scrambling i'd look at Steves recommended route.
User avatar
Johnny Corbett
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 2983
Munros:25   Corbetts:214
Fionas:168   Donalds:74
Sub 2000:302   Hewitts:1
Islands:14
Joined: May 14, 2010
Location: Livingston

Re: Finishing off The Mamores with The Ring of Steall

Postby Alan S » Tue Sep 06, 2011 1:55 pm

Great report and pics johnny 8)
I am hoping that i will get this route done this year so thanks for the report
I also cannot wait to see gammy leg walker tackle that wire bridge, I know stretch will be waiting with the camera :lol:

Cheers
Alan
User avatar
Alan S
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 1482
Munros:216   Corbetts:4
Fionas:4   Donalds:1
Sub 2000:4   
Islands:13
Joined: Nov 10, 2008
Location: Braco
Walk wish-list

Re: Finishing off The Mamores with The Ring of Steall

Postby audreywaugh » Tue Sep 06, 2011 3:49 pm

Great report and pictures Johnny, well done its a fantastic horseshoe, but can I just point out that the Devil's Ridge is actually that narrow section between Sgurr a'Mhaim and Sgorr an Lubhair the demoted munro, although I would say the ridge on An Gearanch is devilish too! :lol: :lol:
User avatar
audreywaugh
Wanderer
 
Posts: 193
Munros:196   Corbetts:46
Fionas:14   Donalds:13
Sub 2000:25   Hewitts:48
Wainwrights:47   Islands:20
Joined: May 10, 2009
Location: Glasgow

Re: Finishing off The Mamores with The Ring of Steall

Postby pollyh33 » Tue Sep 06, 2011 4:04 pm

Ohh I loved this report JC. I would look forward to doing this walk just for the wire bridge- fantastic!

Your gloves are amazing- do they glow in the dark? :lol:
User avatar
pollyh33
Walker
 
Posts: 2577
Munros:282   Corbetts:18
Fionas:5   Donalds:2
Sub 2000:1   
Joined: Mar 30, 2011
Location: Rutherglen

Re: Finishing off The Mamores with The Ring of Steall

Postby Johnny Corbett » Tue Sep 06, 2011 4:25 pm

Thanks Alan and thanks for pointing that out Audrey, that would be the Devils Ridge on Photo 5 then? I found that bit ok.

Thanks Polly, the gloves come in handy when we get lost, mountain rescue allways find me first :D
User avatar
Johnny Corbett
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 2983
Munros:25   Corbetts:214
Fionas:168   Donalds:74
Sub 2000:302   Hewitts:1
Islands:14
Joined: May 14, 2010
Location: Livingston

Re: Finishing off The Mamores with The Ring of Steall

Postby pollyh33 » Tue Sep 06, 2011 4:29 pm

Johnny Corbett wrote:Thanks Alan and thanks for pointing that out Audrey, that would be the Devils Ridge on Photo 5 then? I found that bit ok.

Thanks Polly, the gloves come in handy when we get lost, mountain rescue allways find me first :D


:lol: :lol: As long as they don't mistake you for an alternative mime act :D
User avatar
pollyh33
Walker
 
Posts: 2577
Munros:282   Corbetts:18
Fionas:5   Donalds:2
Sub 2000:1   
Joined: Mar 30, 2011
Location: Rutherglen

Re: Finishing off The Mamores with The Ring of Steall

Postby morag1 » Tue Sep 06, 2011 5:05 pm

impressive stuff :thumbup:

Really racking up the Munro count Johnny, feel sure you will go on to compleat them all :D
morag1
 

Re: Finishing off The Mamores with The Ring of Steall

Postby Bod » Tue Sep 06, 2011 7:19 pm

Yet another great walk Johnny, looks like great fun was had by all. Interesting doing it the opposite way round to which we did it last summer....... :D
User avatar
Bod
Walker
 
Posts: 1548
Munros:282   Corbetts:67
Fionas:34   Donalds:21
Sub 2000:44   Hewitts:27
Wainwrights:51   Islands:25
Joined: Jul 30, 2010
Location: Cowdenbeath

Re: Finishing off The Mamores with The Ring of Steall

Postby PeteR » Tue Sep 06, 2011 7:38 pm

Not a bad way to finish off the Mamores :D But then, is there a bad way on these hills :D Pity about the weather, but you seem to have had a great day. Glad you enjoyed it :D
User avatar
PeteR
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 2107
Munros:282   Corbetts:173
Fionas:121   Donalds:89+52
Sub 2000:200   Hewitts:3
Islands:9
Joined: Jan 27, 2010
Location: North Ayrshire

Re: Finishing off The Mamores with The Ring of Steall

Postby Johnny Corbett » Tue Sep 06, 2011 9:18 pm

Thanks guys and thankyou Morag, i hope you are right :D
User avatar
Johnny Corbett
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 2983
Munros:25   Corbetts:214
Fionas:168   Donalds:74
Sub 2000:302   Hewitts:1
Islands:14
Joined: May 14, 2010
Location: Livingston

Re: Finishing off The Mamores with The Ring of Steall

Postby Graeme D » Tue Sep 06, 2011 9:40 pm

Nice stuff Johnny. Lots of fine looking pointy peaks in that lot. Still not done these ones either (rained off in May the day I was planning them with Kev - it was an absolute howler!). Looking forward to them someday soon after this one. :thumbup:
User avatar
Graeme D
 
Posts: 3996
Munros:251   Corbetts:123
Fionas:75   Donalds:22
Sub 2000:59   Hewitts:36
Wainwrights:28   Islands:6
Joined: Oct 17, 2008
Location: Perth

Re: Finishing off The Mamores with The Ring of Steall

Postby Johnny Corbett » Wed Sep 07, 2011 1:46 pm

Thanks Graeme, you should be able to take your dog as well, i don't foresee any problems for her except getting over the wire bridge :D
User avatar
Johnny Corbett
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 2983
Munros:25   Corbetts:214
Fionas:168   Donalds:74
Sub 2000:302   Hewitts:1
Islands:14
Joined: May 14, 2010
Location: Livingston

4 people think this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).

Next



Can you help support Walkhighlands?


Our forum is free from adverts - your generosity keeps it running.
Can you help support Walkhighlands and this community by donating by direct debit?



Return to Walk reports - Scotland

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: cambflatlander, desmondo1, dougiebroon, m1rossi, malky_c and 68 guests