Aonach Beag trail head at Nevis Range Ski Centre.
Towards the Aonachs from top of gondola.
Route to Aonach Beag from Aonach Mor.
| Aonach Mor & Aonach
Beag from ski-centre Aonach Mor Aonach Beag |
| Estimated net time | 4-5 hours | ||
| Difficulty | No difficulties, but be aware of cornices in the saddle between the tops and above Aonach Beag's east wall. | ||
| Drinking water | You're likely to find running water several places through the forest, and from the stream above the forest. | ||
| GSM coverage | Coverage throughout the route, but a little patchy between the tops (June 2014). | ||
| Parking | Room for many cars at ski-centre car park. | ||
| Start height | 99 metres (655m if using the gondola) | ||
| Vertical metres | 1400 metres for the roundtrip (845m if using the gondola up and down). | ||
| Trip distance | 15.4 km (10.0 km if using the gondola up and down) | ||
| GPS-file | X | ||
| Map |
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| Route photo |
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From the town Fort William drive approximately 2.0 km (1.3 mi) north on road A82, to the A830/A82 round about. Continue 5.1 km (3.2 mi) on A82 and turn right where signed for Aonach Mor and Nevis Range. Drive 2.2 km (1.4 mi) up to the car park at the ski-centre and park here.
From the ski-centre you can either take the gondola up to 655m (£11.50 for a return ticket per 2014), or walk on the right hand side of the ski-centre buildings and follow the path up to the upper gondola station at 655m. From here head off-path uphill a little towards right and aim for the right slopes coming down from Aonach Mor. You will pick up a path from a little below 900m, which fades away at around 1120m. From here continue uphill to Aonach Mor's long summit plateau, and then continue almost 1 km south to the summit cairn.
From Aonach Mor continue south on the path towards Aonach Beag, up to the small summit cairn.
Descend by reversing your ascent route.
We were spending the week in North Ballachulish and with reasonably good weather this Monday we left our house immediately after breakfast. I drove Elisabeth, Njål and Sigurd up to the Ben Nevis trail head and then continued to the Nevis Range ski-centre. In order to save time I took the gondola up to 655m and then continued on foot up Aonach Mor's gentle south slopes, and across to Aonach Beag on a fine path. From here I enjoyed the excellent views of the Mamores before heading back down on foot. I then drove back up to the Ben Nevis trail head where I waited some 30 minutes for Elisabeth and the boys to return from their hike to Ben Nevis.