Aonach Eagach
| Aonach Eagach - Sgor nam Fiannaidh | |||
| Argyllshire | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 The Aonach Eagach above the A82, looking up Glen Coe | |||
| Range: | Glen Coe | ||
| Summit: | 3,172 feet NN141583 | ||
The Aonach Eagach is a rocky ridge to the north of Glencoe in the Argyllshire, a vast comb of rock reaching above 3,000 feet, on whose length are several lofty summits. In length the full ridge continues for 6 miles from the Pap of Glencoe at the west to the eastern end at the Devil's Staircase.
The central section, some mile and a half in length, is very rocky and the route along it requires scrambling ability. The slopes to each side are extremely dangerous, with steep grass and scree slopes hiding even steeper slopes which end in cliffs on both north and south sides of the ridge.
Its name is Gaelic and means "Notched Upland".
Main summits
Two of the summits on the ridge are listed as Munros in their own right:
- Sgorr nam Fiannaidh, 3,172 feet, NN14065830;
- Meall Dearg, 3,126 feet, NN16135835
Traverse of the ridge
The Aonach Eagach is usually regarded as the most difficult horizontal 'scrambling' ridge in mainland Great Britain, though it vies with Liathach (and, in winter, An Teallach) for this title. In his book "Scrambles in Lochaber", local climber Noel Williams warns that there are no other ridges in the area that are "so narrow and so difficult to escape from once committed. Some sections are extremely exposed. This makes it a difficult outing to grade, because the technical difficulties are not great".[1] Williams settled on grade 2, implying it is easier than the grade 2/3 approach scramble up A'Chailleach, but added a further warning (in bold type) that "there are no safe descents on the south side of the ridge".[2]
The Aonach Eagach is normally tackled from the Glen Coe (south) side in an east–west traverse. From Allt-na-reigh near the head of Glen Coe a good path ascends Am Bodach (a subsidiary Munro top) and continues westwards along the ridge to the first Munro proper, Meal Dearg.
From here the summit of Sgorr nam Fiannaidh lies only a mile and a half to the west, but a number of pinnacles must be scrambled over, and it is not uncommon for parties to take more than two hours to cross this seemingly short distance. There are a couple of sections where the use of a rope may prove prudent.
In winter, the ridge is a fine expedition, though considerably harder than in summer and many parties will go roped for some sections. Because of the short winter days, benightment on the ridge or its approaches is also not infrequent.
Descent
Competent summer scramblers have plenty of time to reverse the ridge and descend Am Bodach, saving a walk back up the glen.[2]
From Sgorr nam Fiannaidh, the most direct descent is to head south by southwest, down a steep zig-zag path leading by the side of Clachaig gully. This 'path' is exceptionally steep and extremely loose in places, and has many small rock steps; it approaches close to the main gully in several places and so is potentially dangerous (fatal accidents have occurred here). A gentler alternative is to continue along the ridge, until reaching the bealach between Sgorr nam Fiannaidh and the Pap of Glencoe. From here a track heads down the hillside, ending on the road just outside Glencoe village. It is also possible to retreat approximately 200 yards east from the summit of Sgorr nam Fiannaidh and descend directly down the scree slope to Loch Achtriochtan, taking care to avoid being drawn into gullies further down. This descent also requires care, particularly near the top, but is still far safer than the Clachaig Gully descent.
Alternatively, the two Munros may be climbed individually by simply descending by the route of ascent. However it is for the traverse that the Aonach Eagach is best known.
Devil's Staircase
A path known as the Devil's Staircase crosses the range about 4 miles east of Meall Dearg. Today, as part of the West Highland Way, it is used primarily by walkers and mountain bikers travelling between Kinlochleven and Glencoe.
The Devil's Staircase was given its name by the soldiers who were part of the road building programme of General Wade, because of the difficulties of carrying building materials up that stretch of the road. Later, however, the road lived up to its name when workers building the Blackwater Dam chose to travel to the Kingshouse Hotel after they had been paid, rather than walking down to Kinlochleven. The journey to the pub often proved to be more difficult than they realised and on the return trip, after a few drinks on a cold winter's night, the devil often "claimed his own".[3]
In 1692, this same way was the route chosen by troops coming from Kinlochleven to provide reinforcements for the Massacre of Glencoe.
References
- ↑ Williams, Noel (1996). Scrambles in Lochaber. Milnthorpe, Cumbria, UK: Cicerone Press Ltd. p. 88. ISBN 978-1-85284-234-5.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Williams, Noel (1996). Scrambles in Lochaber. Milnthorpe, Cumberland: Cicerone Press Ltd. p. 90. ISBN 978-1-85284-234-5.
- ↑ Anon. "Great walks:Devil's Staircase". Discover Glencoe and Lochleven. Glencoe and Lochleven Marketing Group. Archived from the original on 16 December 2009. http://web.archive.org/web/20091216225426/http://www.glencoe-scotland.net/walks.html. Retrieved 16 December 2009.
- Aonach Eagach on Walkhighlands