The Aonachs: Big & Little

With a Stag Do in Aviemore starting on the Friday night, but with some superb weather forecast for the Friday day, the only sensible option was to set a 0500 Friday alarm and drive from Aberdeen to Fort William before the chaos commenced. The journey was seamless, and I rocked up at the far Glen Nevis car park just after 0900 and got parked no problem!

For many years I had planned on doing Aonach Beag and Aonach Mor with Carn Mor Dearg and possibly Ben Nevis – but as I needed to be in Aviemore by a reasonable time, my options for shortish day walks were limited and it seemed sensible not to overindulge. Saturday night would cover that particular pastime…

Spring has fully sprung


Given it was quite early the walk into Steall falls was peacefully quiet and just about too early in the year for midges. For whatever reason, no matter how many times I have done this section it always feels longer than I remember. The first glimpse of Steall Falls, from that frequently captured angle, remains impressive regardless.

That frequently captured angle


I had now been to Steall Falls on several occasions but never ventured further down the glen. There were plenty of people already stopped at the waterfall and a relatively obscene number of tents – it seems to be a popular spot for the “just about wild camping crew”. Find it hard to fully agree, or see the appeal, but each to their own, and if it is left as-is, then who can complain.

Paying less attention than I should of, I briefly lost the path as it quickly became boggy underfoot. I only know that I lost the path as on the return journey I had a solid path right to the car.

First glimpse of the initial climb, Sgurr a Bhuic


When I reached the Steall ruins I stopped to delayer and get as much water in my system as possible, as I fully expected this to be a sweaty climb.

Ruins up towards Sgurr a Bhuic


Looking back to The Mamores


Exactly as expected. The initial ascent up Sgurr a Bhuic was a tough and sweaty one, but the first few kilometres had warmed the legs up as best as possible, and I was making good progress. The perk of solo walking is you always seem to go much faster. Less talking and more thinking, I guess!

Looking up, aiming for the left side


Aonach Beag, the first Munro summit hiding in the clouds


The shoulder up to the 800m mark on Sgurr a Bhuic felt precariously steep and progress had now slowed right down. On the plus side, the view behind was exceptional and the rests to “stop and take in the view” were fully utilised.

The Mamores in all their glory. Steall falls looked tiny from up here! Had one of my best solo nights in the tent up on the Ring of Steall. That’s one of the best parts of good visibility – seeing previous adventures from another vantage point.

The view


Once above 800m the final section up towards the Munro Top of Sgurr a’ Bhuic was now obvious and not too daunting. I spotted a group just in front who appeared to be skirting around Sgurr a’ Bhuic.

At the time of this walk I hadn’t (yet) decided to “bag the tops”, but as time began passing through this first round, loose panic began to set in of what would I do when I do finish! For this trip, I had decided all along today to follow Walkhighlands recommendation and made the short detour up to the rocky summit.

Sgurr a’ Bhuic on the right


Sweaty selfie from or near the summit


Having savoured the views south to the Mamores, the views towards the Grey Corries were now taking over. Having done the Grey Corries a few years previous I didn’t recognise Sgurr Choinnich Beag from that outing, but also remembered I didn’t have any un-summited Munros to the west.

In hindsight it turns out to be a subsidiary top of Sgurr Choinnich Mor (the final Munro summit on my Grey Corries route). If I hadn’t been time pressured on this outing, I’d have been tempted for an out and back as it looked like an excellent route.

On the plus side as I’ve since started my Tops Journey – it’s a great reason to return!

Sgurr Choinnich Beag (far right (not politically…))


The Ben – cloudy, obviously…


The route towards Aonach Beag


The group that bypassed the Top


The way down from Sgurr a’ Bhuic was very loose underfoot and a little steep in parts. The sun was glistening off every rock and I remember wishing I’d taken my sunglasses. I had however taken sun cream, which is normally a curse for the weather, but I decided to take my chances here and reapply.

Looking back up Sgurr a’ Bhuic


Not sure how many freeze / thaw cycles this LARGE section has left where it is




That was somewhere near Coire a’ Bhuic on OS maps – won’t catch me going up there any time soon.

Next incline was the section up to Stob Coire Bhealaich which was on a solid well-defined path and seemed to go quickly. From the summit of Stob Coire Bhealaich it was clear that I was moving faster than the group of four ahead.

I didn’t want to pass them on the route up Aonach Beag as then get hit with the awkward and unjustifiable feeling that you need to walk faster than planned to build up a gap – it’s hard to describe, but sure you know what I mean. Decided to stop at Stob Coire Bhealaich and have my lunch.

Aonach Beag on the right, Ben Nevis hiding in the background


Left the group to rally on


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I didn’t stop too long for lunch, but most definitely long enough to require those layers back on. As I was setting off the cloud cover seemed to almost increase instantly. Thankfully it appeared to be sitting just about 1300m – annoying for those on the Ben, but good for us on the Aonach’s!

Making progress up Aonach Beag looking back at the route up. Notice how small Sgurr a’ Bhuic appears (bottom right)


I reached the summit almost exactly at the same time as the group in front. We stopped for a brief chat, and helped them out with a group photo, before deciding to batter on towards Aonach Mor.

Summit views towards Ben Nevis and Carn Mor Dearg


Carn Mor Dearg (zoomed)


The route between Aonach Beag and Mor seemed like nothing and took hardly any time. I did notice I had a missed call and voicemail. As there was hardly any wind, I decided to have a quick listen. It was a message asking me to phone to doctor “as soon as possible”. Classically they didn’t pick up when I returned the call (fair enough it was a Friday afternoon), but I then spent the next hour or so preparing for the worst!

It turned out to be an admin update… lesson learned – don’t listen to voicemails when out in the hills!

View from Aonach Mor (which I had pessimistically decided would be my last hill before my imminent demise!!!)


If the doctor wasn’t about to kill me off, I had to make sense of the steep and “treacherous” descent down to the bealach between Aonach Mor and Carn Mor Dearg. Retracing steps over the vast space between Aonach Mor and Aonach Beag, the route down to the bealach seemed impossible.

There was a lot of down and not a lot of distance to make that down…

A sole figure in front of me


Seeing someone else immediately sparked optimism that I could follow them and hope they were able to find the path.

On trying to find the path the route up to Carn Mor Dearg looked insanely appealing. Too appealing. Quick check of the watch and I was sure I had maybe just enough time. Maybe Aonach Mor wasn’t going to be my last summit!

The ridge up Carn Mor Dearg

Found the path – STEEP!


Finding the path was a relief and relatively easy in good visibility, but with very few features I can see what it would be a navigational challenge in the winter / cloud.

I didn’t see the sole figure from earlier but was clear this was the best route down so started to make slow and slippery progress. The path is clearly well trodden but looking back at photos it really doesn’t show how steep it feels in reality.

Nearly at the bottom


Looking back up – again doesn’t look as steep as it was


By now it was nearing 2pm. Carn Mor Dearg remained insanely inviting but my knees had taken a battering on the way down and I decided not to push it too far. A relatively enjoyable walk back out down through the Coire back to the Steall ruins.

Start of the long walk out


Looking back up (same direction just 20 minutes walking apart)




On the walk to the Steall ruins I didn’t see a single other person. Yet maybe a mere 1500m away there would be literally hundreds of people making their way up the tourist trap to the summit of the Ben. Amazing what a couple of extra metres height on a map can create. Give me this any day of the week!

I enjoyed my peace and quiet and bumped into a couple when had been just arrived back soaking their feet in the burn – this looked immensely tempting, but I had just started thinking about a fish supper, which clearly proved more tempting!

So, I battered on (pun intended…).

Waterfall near the ruins

Hopefully just an exercise


Arrived back at the car bang on 1530 – interestingly my stats showed only 40 minutes of non-moving time. This was definitely lower than normal!

Fish supper, smoked sausage chaser and a side of mushy peas – yes please.


Climbed enough “floors” to earn it


No comment on night one of the Stag Do but made it to bed in Aviemore at 0300, just 22 hours after first waking. Tiring day all round, but good for the soul!

I have no reason to back it up, but I had never particularly looked forward to either Aonach Beag/ Mor, and the ski centre side was never going to be used. However, after this trip they excelled. Once passed the Steall falls it was a proper feeling of remoteness surrounded by some giant hills. A superb day out, some perfect high camp opportunities, and I can’t want to get back to add on some of the Tops I missed out on this trip.

Anyway, thanks for reading
Andy

My route