Ring of Steall...

Yesterday (30th Aug 2018) me and Dougal finally made the drive North up to

Glen Nevis. After weeks of chatting about it we decided that it was the best day to do the mighty Ring of Steall. Hoping that with the summer holidays over and it being midweek the route would be less busy.

Myself on the Steall bridge...

Making good time up by Loch Lomond and through Glencoe we arrived in the carpark just shortly before 10:00. We immediately donned rucksacks and headed off along the track towards Steall Falls. After passing a group tourists fully clad in midge spacesuits (totally unnecessary) we were up against our first objective of the day. The Steall wire bridge. With one wire for feet and one for each hand we bounced across the river with little difficulties as the paparazzi watched on. From here it was just a short walk to Steall falls. Here we had to boulder hop across the river below the falls before reaching the swamp of a foot path from which our day would eventually commence.

Dougal on the Steall bridge...

With the swamp now behind us we were now on the excellent path zig-zagging South-West before reaching the South ridge of An Gearanach. Once here we passed a curious couple of chaps making sandwiches and dressed in their finest denim. An initial slog to start with we reached the summit at 11:45. Within two hours of leaving the car. Our first Munro of the day at a height of 982 metres. The English translation of this peak, apparently, is 'The Complainer' and I can assure you that there was a complaint or two on the ascent of this particular mountain.

Dougal on the crest of An Garbhanach...

Once here we had a quick break to refuel and allow Dougal to eat his devilishly expensive, green welly acquired, beef and horseradish pieces. Devastating when you forget to pack your home made lunch! With fantastic visibility all around we set off once more. Heading South we sampled our first scrambling of the day over the top of An Garbanach before arriving down at the bealach a Chadha Riabhaich. From this low point it was a fairly straight forward ascent before we arrived on our second Munro of the day at 12:32. At 981 metres Stob Coire a Chairn is Scotlands 171st highest mountain. From the top we were rewarded with excellent views in every direction. Able to make out all of the Mamore Munros and with a fantastic view to the North of the mighty Ben Nevis.

Looking back to An Gearanach from ascent of Am Bodach...

From the summit we headed South-West descending to the base of our third Munro of the day, Am Bodach 1,032 metres. A steep path with the odd piece of grade 1 scrambling thrown in we make quick progress and arrive on the summit at 13:22. Within an hour of leaving our last one. We have now managed to bag three Munros and done a fair chunk of the route within three and a half hours of leaving the car. We set off this time heading West-North-West.

Dougal approaching the 'Devils Ridge'...

Myself having a leap on the 'Devils Ridge'...

Our next summit is unfortunately not a Munro but a Munro top. Sitting at the lofty height of 1,001 metres Sgor an Iubhair was demoted in 1997. You can thank those pesky buggers at the Scottish Mountaineering Club! A separate mountain and a sure Munro in my eyes. Anyhow, we manage to reach the summit at 13:59 where we stop for a well deserved second lunch (Merry and Pippin would oblige). From here the views West to Stob Ban really highlight the rugged beauty of this mountain. One for the future. Looking south the serrated ridge of the Aonach Eagach is unmistakeable. We now have the menacingly titled 'Devils Ridge' between us and our final summit of the day.

Putting a cairn on Sgurr a' Mhaim...

Sticking to the crest of this ridge provides the odd move and short section of classic grade 1 scrambling. Although the scrambling is of good quality it is much tamer than the name would imply. We make quick progress and take on the difficulties with the odd tiger leap before arriving at the Bealach a' Chip. From here we start the last steep ascent of the day (or so we think) and arrive at the summit of Sgurr a' Mhaim at 14:53. At a height of 1,099 metres this is our fourth, and highest, Munro of the day. We sit down and have a ponder about the descent from here and back to the car. We decide that the North-West ridge is probably the safest descent. Don't quite fancy falling down An Steall waterfall today.

After placing the customary stone on the summit cairn we start our descent of this quartzite capped mountain and make our way slowly back down to Glen Nevis. We eventually arrive at the lower falls car park some time later. After watching a couple of hippies taking a lunge off the Nevis falls we begin our 3km trek over undulating terrain along the minor road back towards the car park. We arrive shortly after 17:00, 7 hours and 40 minutes after leaving the car earlier in the day.

Descending the quartzite capped summit of Sgurr a' Mhaim...

Another classic Scottish mountain day in the bag. Perhaps only bettered if it was in winter conditions.

Distance - 16km's.
Height Gain - 1,600 metres.
Munros (4) - An Gearanach 982m
                     Stob Choire a' Chairn 981m
                     Am Bodach 1,032m
                     Sgurr a' Mhaim 1,099m
Time taken: 7 hours 40 minutes from car to car.