46,45: Na Gruagaichean and Binnein Mor

More Mamores!   5th August 2009


After a week or so at home, and with the weather forecast looking a bit more settled, we headed north once again on Tuesday 4th August - this time aiming to "compleat" the Mamores.  

Caolasnacon camp site on Loch Leven

Where to camp?  The site at Glencoe village looked a bit up-market, so we drove on towards Kinlochleven, and stopped at Caolasnacon.  A lovely spot at the narrowest point of Loch Leven, looking across to the hills.  The grass was a bit muddy, the track down rough and rutted, and the facilities a bit basic, but we were won over by the beautiful location and view.  So... tent up!


Next morning, we were up at 8.30am, and drove round through Kinlochleven, then up the narrow road to Mamore Lodge, which looked rather bleak and forlorn.  Paid the parking fee(!), and set off up the track at 10am.  Nice to be starting at 200m above sea level.

view back to Kinlochleven from high on the zig zag path up Na Gruagaichean

Followed the track, then excellent stalkers' path up into Coire na Ba - surrounded by the steep slopes of Am Bodach to the left, Stob Coire a'Chairn ahead, and Na Gruagaichean to the right.  Soon, we struck up to the right on a poorer path, boggy at first, then improving higher up, which doubled back in a huge zig-zag up the western slopes of Na Gruagaichean. 

Am Bodach from the slopes of Na Gruagaichean

The view across the coire to Am Bodach's steep east face was most impressive.


The path ran horizontally for a while, then eventually steepened, and led out onto a windy bealach at 783m.  It didn't feel like August - more like November!


Superb views all around.

Ben Nevis and CMD behind An Gearanach and An Garbhanach
from the upper slopes of Na Gruagaichean

From the bealach we followed a steep path on loose rock and scree to Na Gruagaichean's NW top (12.45).   Along the short narrow windy ridge, we met a large group of Outward Bound students, struggling along with large packs.  


Passing them, we made the short steep 30m descent into the nick between the NW top and the main summit of Na Gruagaichean ("the maidens").


(right) looking back to the NW top from the nick (windy!) between the two summits


The wind was fierce and surprisingly cold on the broad main summit, so we descended towards Binnein Mor, down the east ridge, to find a sheltered spot for lunch (13.05 - 13.25). 

Binnein Mor (and south summit) from Na Gruagaichean's east ridge

A rocky descent led to the bealach at 950m, followed by an easy walk on grassy slopes over the south summit to Binnein Mor (14.30).  


We wobbled our way along Binnein Mor's summit, an arete of giant boulders, for the view down the north ridge to Binnein Beag.  Excellent views across upper Glen Nevis to Ben Nevis, the Aonachs and the Grey Corries.

Anne on the summit of Binnein Mor

Returning to the south summit, we continued south east to Sgor Eilde Beag, the last top of the day. 




(right) Sgurr Eilde Mor above the bizarrely shaped lochan, viewed from Sgor Eilde Beag 




Once again, we appreciated the superb network of engineered stalkers' paths which criss-cross the Mamores.  A series of evenly spaced zig-zags led us down to join the main path below, which led us south west towards Kinlochleven.  


Off the summits, the wind dropped, and the sun came out for the last hour or so as we followed the path, then track, back to the car at Mamore Lodge.


2 Munros + 3 Tops
13km walk
1150m ascent
8 hours