Route guide
Soaring high above Glen Nevis, the Ring of Steall is one of the best – and most exciting – horseshoe ridges in the Scottish Highlands
MANY of the best ridge routes in the UK are to be found in the West Highlands, but some require difficult scrambling to complete. The Ring of Steall offers all the excitement – thrilling summits, sharp ridges, surprising views – without as much of the exposure, although there are still plenty of easier scrambly moments to enjoy.
This challenging route rises to the south of
Glen Nevis, and forms part of the Mamores range. The Ring of Steall makes use of two out-and-back extensions to the main range, forming a worthwhile circuit around the famous waterfall of An Steall Bàn, and takes in four classic Munros.
ROUTE DESCRIPTION
1 START/FINISH Car park at end of Glen Nevis road
GR: NN168691
The walk begins at the car park at the end of the narrow road through Glen Nevis. Several popular walks begin here, and most start by climbing the footpath (rough at times) through the wonderful Nevis Gorge – a place of leaping waterfalls and dense woodland that is cared for by the John Muir Trust. Continue until the path breaks out into a broadening meadow with the Steall Falls ahead.
Cross the Water of Nevis, either by wading 2 (not advisable in spate or after heavy rain) or via the infamous wire bridge. This can be either exciting or scary depending on your point of view – it bounces, so take your time and cross carefully, with no more than one person on the bridge at once. Once on the other side, traverse east through woodland and cross the burn right at the bottom of the waterfalls. The going’s rough and boggy and soon the path begins a steep zig-zag ascent.
The climb may seem remorseless, but there 3 is a good view back to the Steall Meadows; and at about the 600m contour you’ll break out to the right and begin climbing a broader shoulder of An Gearanach. After joining the mountain’s main ridge you’ll soon arrive at this Munro summit (982m/3222ft). The crest to An Garbhanach and down to the next bealach is exposed and requires some easy scrambling. Take care on the descent of the steep SW 4 ridge. The next Munro is Stob Coire a’ Chairn (981m/3219ft) – a less difficult proposition, but still steep and loose, with excellent views as your reward. There’s a fantastic section of ridge ahead before the bigger climb up to Am Bodach (1032m/3386ft). The next peak, Sgurr an Iubhair 5 (1001m/3284ft), is not a Munro. Turn N here, careful not to continue W along the main crest, and descend to the beginning of the “Devil’s Ridge” – a spectacularly exposed but technically easy crest. Care needed in high winds!
After negotiating the dramatic ridge, arrive 6 at the 1099m (3606ft) summit of Sgurr a’ Mhaim, the day’s final Munro. This is a bulky but graceful peak, pyramidal in profile, and the upper slopes are covered in a distinctive pale quartzite scree. After admiring the views of Ben Nevis’s southern flanks dominant across the glen, descend the NW ridge – at first gently on rocky terrain, and later on much steeper grassy slopes. This is a knee-grinder of a descent, dropping almost back down to sea level, so you may find trekking poles useful.
The descent joins a boggy path coming 7 down from Coire a’ Mhusgain to arrive at the lower car park in Glen Nevis. From here it’s a walk of 2.5km (1.6 miles) back along the road to the upper car park. Alternatively, you could catch the bus back to Fort William (bus N42, summer only at the time of writing; the last bus back to Fort William leaves at 5pm).