Aonach Meadhoin

Aonach Meadhoin
Ross-shire, Inverness-shire
Aonach Meadhoin (R) and Sgùrr an Fhuarail (L) from Sgùrr a' Bhealaich Dheirg
Range:	Glen Shiel Hills
Summit:	3,284 feet NH048137 57°10’21"N, 5°13’50"W

Aonach Meadhoin is a mountain in the Glen Shiel Hills, the district packed with high hills where Ross-shire and Inverness-shire meet near the west coast. It stands on the border of the two shires, which reaches a height of 3,284 feet at its summit, and so it qualifies as a Munro. in the Kintail region on the northern side of Glen Shiel some 19 miles southeast of Kyle of Lochalsh.

It has a subsidiary peak named Sgùrr an Fhuarail ("Peak of the Cold Place") at NH054139, reaching 3,238 feet. Sgùrr an Fhuarail is listed as a Munro Top

Overview

Aonach Meadhoin reaches a height of 3,284 feet and along with the Munros of Sàileag and Sgùrr a' Bhealaich Dheirg it forms a group of mountains sometimes referred to as the North Glen Shiel Ridge. The group are also known as the "Brothers of Kintail" in a nodding acquaintance to the better known Five Sisters of Kintail just to the northwest.

The mountain is shaped like a horseshoe with the summit ridge lying centrally between the two ridges on either side of Coire na Cadha which lies between the mountain and the A87 road a mile and a half to the south.

The name Aonach Meadhoin translates from Gaelic as "Middle Ridge".

Geography

Looking down the south-east ridge from Sgùrr an Fhuarail towards Loch Cluanie

Aonach Meadhoin’s north and south faces are steep as they drop to the corries of Coire nan Eun (north) and Coire na Cadha (south); the northern face is craggy and holds snow well into summer.

The mountain is made up of three main ridges which radiate from its summit; the western ridge connects to the adjoining Munro of Sgùrr a' Bhealaich Dheirg which lies a mile and a half away. Another ridge goes north east for half a mile to the subsidiary top Sgùrr an Fhuarail, where it splits, the northern spur going for a mile and a half to the Munro of Ciste Dhubh, while the south-eastern ridge descends to the Cluanie Inn on the A87. Sgùrr an Fhuarail is a fine viewpoint towards the east including an aerial view of Loch Cluanie, which is better than from the main summit.

All drainage from Aonach Meadhoin goes to the east coast, 44 miles away, even though the mountain only stands nine miles from Loch Duich on the west coast. The mountain's two main corries are major gathering grounds for Highland rivers: to the north Coire nan Eun is the source of the River Affric which eventually finds its way to the Beauly Firth, while to the south Coire na Cadha supplies much of the water for the hydro reservoir of Loch Cluanie, eventually reaching the Moray Firth by way of the River Moriston and Loch Ness.

Ascents

Ascents of Aonach Meadhoin are usually started from the Cluanie Inn on the A87 road. When viewed from the inn, the main summit is hidden behind Sgùrr an Fhuarail. The direct ascent goes up the south east ridge passing over Sgùrr an Fhuarail before reaching the summit. The mountain is quite often climbed in conjunction with other peaks, and the SMC’s Munro guide recommends climbing it with Ciste Dhubh, two miles to the north, however it is often scaled with all the other two Munros of the North Glen Shiel Ridge; this latter walk begins a mile west of Cluanie Inn at NH054114 and uses two subsidiary ridges to ease the climb and descent onto and off the main ridge.

References

• The Munros, Scottish Mountaineering Trust, 1986, Donald Bennett (Editor) ISBN 0-907521-13-4
• In the Hills of Breadalbane, V.A. Firsoff, no ISBN
• The Munros, Scotland's Highest Mountains, Cameron McNeish, ISBN 1-84204-082-0
• The Magic Of The Munros, Irvine Butterfield, ISBN 0-7153-2168-4
• Hamish's Mountain Walk, Hamish Brown, ISBN 1-898573-08-5