Scotland Via Ferrata Expeditions Alpine 4000 Nick Bullock Andy ...

Walk of the Issue
pocket mountains: northern highlands
Slabs and pinnacles
of Beinn Eighe
Beinn Eighe: Ruadh-stac Beag c (896m),
Spidean Coire nan Clach m (993m),
Sgurr Bàn (970m), Sgurr nan Fhir
Duibhe (963m)
Walk time 7h40 Height gain 1200m
Distance 15km OS Map Explorer 433
A circuit on the Beinn Eighe massif with
many sections of tricky scrambling. The
slabs on Spidean Coire nan Clach and the
pinnacles known as the Black Carls make
this a serious route in winter conditions.
Start from the Beinn Eighe Visitor Centre
at Aultroy, 1km north of Kinlochewe
(GR020630). Follow the green mountain
signs for the Upper Ridge Trail. This
leads westwards out of the trees, across a
bridge and along a burn. At a fork, continue
westwards along a path by the water,
gaining altitude steadily. At another junction
below a gate, continue west along the glen
and cross a stile. The path fades when it
reaches a plateau and a series of cairns,
which combine to form a strange
moonscape. Leave the plateau in a
southwesterly direction, losing some height
to ford the Allt Toll a'Ghiubhais. Aim directly
for the broad east face of Ruadh-stac Beag
and look for a series of caves just left of
centre. Climb scree here to reach smooth
● The eastern half of the Beinn Eighe massif from Meall a’Ghiubhais
rocks, which can be easily scrambled. One
tricky step is encountered before easy
terraces lead rightwards onto the ridge.
Continue south to the summit (GR973614)
(3h20). Drop southwards over terraces to
more scree: this makes for an awkward
descent to flatter ground. Keep to the east
side of the ridge below the lochan, and aim
for a short gully. Climb up alongside it to
reach vast slabs on the east side of Spidean
Coire nan Clach. These provide excellent
scrambling, though difficult when wet, and
lead to a point just short of the summit
(GR966597). Descend eastwards along a
prominent ridge, and over towers to the top
of Sgurr Bàn. Drop steeply east past the
northern corrie, a cathedral of organ pipes
and scree, and then climb to the summit of
Sgurr nan Fhir Duibhe (GR981600) (5h40).
The jagged pinnacles of the Black Carls on
the north ridge provide the final scrambling:
the harder sections are best avoided on the
east side, apart from the final two drops
which should be taken on the west. The
ground then undulates to Creag Dhubh,
the last point on the ridge. Descend a good
path to reach the east ridge. Further down,
at a knoll with a cairn, drop north into a
corrie. From here, the path follows the Allt
a'Chuirn, crossing a burn and deer fences
before reaching the road. This leads back
to the start via Kinlochewe (7h40).
pocket mountains
Northern
Highlands
Nick Williams
This is one of 40 circular routes which feature in Northern Highlands
by Nick Williams. Published by Pocket Mountains Ltd and available
from all good bookshops from June, priced £5.99.