The Aonach Eagach

We where heading back up from a trip down south for a wedding (congratulations again Chrissie and Andrew) and decided to spend a couple of nights in Glen Coe, it's not far from the Hostel but we wanted to prolong our holiday for a bit longer.

We hadn't seen a forecast but we awoke to what appeared to be a pretty good day so we decided to have a go at the Aonach Eagach ridge. The Aonach Eagach ridge is listed in at least 3 books we own and is described as either a very difficult walk, a grade 2 scramble or a Mod grade rock climb depending on which one you read. Whatever you decide to class it as, it is definitely one of the great Scottish mountain ridges and a great day out.



Jen has done the ridge before but it was a long time ago and said she couldn't really remember much apart from the "horrible descent" back down so was happy to do it again. The ridge begins with a slightly tricky 15 metres or so down-climb but soon eases and navigates over and around various pinnacles along a narrow ridge. You would think navigation would be easy along the ridge but Jen still managed to find a slight detour involving a very awkward down climb which would definitely not fall under the category of "very difficult walk". We both really enjoyed the ridge and Jenny's fears soon vanished when we found a half decent way down at the end of it.

After collecting the van we stopped in at the Clachaig Inn for a pint and met a few other people who we had seen (overtaken!) on the ridge. Jenny was very pleased when they told her she was very speedy and looked very confident on the ridge, maybe that meant that I didn't?

Anyway, we are back home now, there's nothing like half a dozen nights sleeping in the back of a van on a punctured thermarest to make you appreciate the 4 star luxury of Invergarry Lodge.

--Matt