Ben Nevis, The Aonachs and the Grey Corries: Aonach Mor (8) and Aonach Beag (7)

Walk date: 09/07/05
My Munro #'s: 37 and 38

One steep path onto the Aonach ridge!


One lucky woman's 284th Munro! Aonach Mor:


Watch your step around Aonach Beag:


Paul and Andrew walks 2005. 7 hours. We parked at the end of the Glen Nevis road and progressed with easy walking through the forest and along the glen to the Steall ruin. Here, due to ambiguity in my guide book, we crossed the bridge and started ascending our descent route from Aonach Beag instead of starting on the route to its neighbour alongside Allt Coire Giubhsachan. Before too long however, we had realised our mistake and were back on the right path. This right path soon turned out to be very wet indeed, soon coming out onto a hidden glen with a flat bottom of wet grassland and bog. Despite taking care with our routes, both Paul and I had soaked feet within minutes. The cloud on this day was very low, only just above the floor of this glen. Ahead of us disappearing into this misty ceiling we could make out a bunch of hikers and the sight gladdened our hearts, ensuring we were not mad to be out on such a day, or at least that we were not alone in our madness. We caught up with this group at the col between Carn Mor Dearg and the first target of our day. It turned out that one of their party was finishing ALL OF THE MUNROS with Aonach Mor! We wished them luck and moved ahead on nothing more than a bearing as initially no path was visible. One soon turned up however with attractive red earth, and led us onto the surprisingly wide ridge between the two Munros, but not before an impressively steep climb on its twisting route. We arrived at Aonach Mor to meet a second group of hikers who were waiting on their friends that we had passed earlier! They encouraged us to stay and we duly did, to be rewarded with a share in the champagne and whisky celebrations at 1221m! We bid farewell and started discussions as to how we would finsh if we ever got there, hardly noticing the arrival of Aonach Beag. A small spot of bother finding the descent of this hill got us focusing again and before too long we were back below the cloud and finding our ways back to Steall.

Ben Nevis, The Aonachs and the Grey Corries: Carn Mor Dearg (9) [and Ben Nevis (1)]

Walk date: 25/09/04
My Munro #s: 10/284

Approaching the climb to Ben Nevis:














This hike was also Day 8 of mine and Paul's West Highland Way and the only Munros of the trip (we did also attempt Ben Lomand, but were driven back by wind!). Having both done the tourist route before, we were eager to try 'The Ledge', but stupidly didn't realise that the best route from the Glen Nevis Youth Hostel onto this alternative route is to start on the standard path until you've passed Loch Meall an t-Suidhe, and then dip down into Allt a' Mhuilinn before hiking onto the ridge via Carn Beag Dearg. Instead, we believed that a better plan was walking around the road until past the Ben Nevis distillery and then up through the forest overlooking the golf course. This hurt. Our departure time from the Youth Hostel was 08:30 but our actual hike (off the road) didn't start until ~10:15. The initial climb was then good, but our route up to Carn Beag Dearg was ridiculous, leaving us contending with very wet bog on a high-incline, which meant that four-season boots or no we were very soaked very quickly. Having spoken to others it seems that drier options are available so be careful with bee-lines on this slope if there's been rain (and let's face it there will have been!). Once on the ridge the walking was very enjoyable, although at times a little sharp for the unaccustomed, with the summit of Carn Mor Dearg ("caarn more jerrack") soon being reached. We were in heavy cloud for this and took great care on navigation, but due to the nature of ridge walking you're ok as long as you don't cross the crest! The climb up to Ben Nevis was sharp but nice and honest - very satisfying. Our descent was down the tourist route and through boredom this became a run - fun but not recommended if you have dodgy knees!

Ben Nevis, The Aonachs and the Grey Corries: Ben Nevis (1)

Walk date: 1984. Aged ~7
My Munro #s: 1/284


















Well, why not start your Munro bagging with the big one? Here I am as a youngster on my first trip to Scotland. Having already seen us up Snowdon, my Dad reckoned we were perfectly ready for the highest hill in the land. At this age we of course went up the tourist route, starting at the Youth Hostel. I remember it quite vividly; thinking we were almost there at Loch Meall an t-Suidhe, and then the endless zig-zagging in the cloud until it finally stopped and ended on a bare and flat wasteland with the (wisely) abandoned observatory, my Dad making soup, the rain starting as soon as we started down, and crying constantly for the last 1000 feet as we returned to a water-logged tent. Built character so I'm told! Well, it must have planted something in me. 1 down, 283 to go!