Central Highlands
27.6km/17 miles 14 hours
1 NN167691 Follow the path through the dramatic wooded gorge to emerge at the hidden meadow of Steall, backed by its famous 100m waterfall. Stay with the path on the north side of the Water of Nevis for a further 3km. Having ascended to a broad shoulder scored with peat hags turn off right, crossing the river (needs care in spate) then making a steep pull beside a burn to reach the saddle between Binnein Beag and Binnein Mor. A path descends slightly to reach a burn draining into a lochan.
2 NN218671 Above rises the terminal spur of Binnein Mor’s north-east ridge. This is a climber’s route in winter conditions, so instead contour around the base of the ridge and cross a small corrie to pick up the mountain’s east ridge. This steepens towards the top, and care may be needed if the right edge carries a cornice, but the ground remains just within the realm of walking. The top of Binnein Mor is a dramatic narrow crest, with the high point at the north end. This requires a short out-and-back detour with some light scrambling. 3 NN212663 Follow the south ridge to an unnamed summit, spot height 1062m. Turn right here, following the main crest down into a saddle and then up to the higher of Na Gruagaichean’s twin tops. From this stony summit descend steeply into a sharp notch between the peaks before continuing up the narrow ridge onto the lower summit – a manoeuvre that feels quite serious for a mere ‘walk’. Gentler slopes descend west to a low col, from where it’s possible to escape north into Glen Nevis. An easy ascent now leads up to Stob Coire a’ Chairn, a broad peak that’s a great place for a mid-route high camp if you’re doing this route over two days (weather permitting).
4 NN185660 Stay with the main ridge as it drops south-west before climbing over a minor top – a section that feels airy in snowy conditions. Ahead rises the massive Am Bodach. A serious obstacle in winter conditions, especially if icy, its steep north-east flank is climbed direct, and needs great care. Drop west more easily along the crest to the next saddle, then ascend Sgurr an Iubhair. 5 NN165655 Crags bar a direct descent west, so to avoid them there’s a choice of descent path, one looping left and the other right. The latter is arguably more interesting. It first gains the high col between Sgurr an Iubhair and Stob Choire a’ Mhail before following an old stalkers’ path (potentially buried under snow) down to tiny Lochan Coire nam Miseach. Cross the outflow of the lochan to regain the main ridge. The east ridge of the magnificent Stob Ban is another steep climb that needs care in winter.
6 NN148654 To descend from the summit, follow the broad north ridge over a jutting shoulder. Just before reaching a minor peak, cut left down to the bealach above Coire an Lochan. Stay with the high ground over three minor summits to reach Mullach nan Coirean, westernmost of The Mamores. On the way there’s a short section of easy scrambling where the rim briefly narrows.
7 NN122662 From the summit a clear path heads north along the corrie edge to descend the north-east ridge. Lower down the crest broadens and a deer fence is followed down steep boggy slopes to a ladder stile leading into forestry. A vehicle track is soon met; turn right onto this, forking left at the first junction before zigzagging down to a lower junction. Turn right here to regain the Glen Nevis Road. Three kilometres of tarmac now leads back to the car.