Mamores range hillwalking route

In Nevis Forest belowMullach nan Coirean

In Fort William, just north of the Lochaber Leisure Centre, there is a small roundabout.

Take the turning into Glen Nevis and head up here for 7km to the Lower Falls car-park just after Achriabhach farm buildings and just before the bridges over the Water of Nevis (there is a charge to park here).

Summit of Mullach nan Coirean

From the car-park, walk back along this road for 350m, over a bridge to some buildings by some forestry where a track heads south into the forest.

Start up this forestry track and notice the path of left at the edge of the deer-fence. Take this path uphill through the forest.

The path aims directly uphill and meets the forestry track again . Signposted, turn right (west) and follow the track for around 500m.

You'll find a small cairn denoting a path heading uphill on your left.

The path is in the main well constructed as is makes a way through the recently felled forest.

The path reaches the edge of the forest, then turns into a wet boggy affair as it continues aside a deer-fence onto the north-eastern arm of Mullach nan Coirean. This fence is followed up to around c640m, where it turns sharply south-east .

Leave the fence at this point, continue south-wests and cross some gentle ground aiming uphill. The ground narrows, steepens and becomes bouldery with a path picking a route avoiding the roughest of the terrain.

Follow this path to the summit plateau, around Coire Dearg and to the large cairn on the Mullach nan Coirean's summit . What this Munro lacks in height, it makes up for in quality of views.

Sgurr Ban from Mullach nan Coirean

Leave Mullach nan Coirean and head south-south-east on a very faint path on grass-covered terrain. The path becomes very obvious lower down and continues south-east.

Uphill over Mullach nan Coirean's south-east top (marked 917 on the OS map) , follow the path as it turns eastwards and the terrain becomes rougher.Turning north-east, a rocky minor summit is reached. From here, rather than sticking to the crest, a direct line can be taken to the next bealach.

The remnants of an old wall are met, then, after crossing some grassy ground on a path, bouldery ground is ascended using a path zig-zagging uphill to Stob Ban's summit . Take care in winter as this summit can dramatically cornice over on its eastern side above massive cliffs !

Sgurr a' Mhaim above the Devil's Ridge

Walk a few paces south from Stob Ban's summit, then look for a path that drops and turns east sharply. Follow this path down with occasional easy scrambling to the grassy ground below.

The path meets up with the stalker's path coming up from Achriabhach and Coire a'Mhusgain and just after this, splits into two. Take the left fork and head to Lochan Coire nam Miseach below Sgurr Iubhair - a good place to refill water-bottles.

From the lochan, follow a stalkers path up to the bealach between Sgurr Iubhair and Stob Coire a'Mhaill, then head north along a path keeping slightly to the west of the crest.

The path then sticks to the narrow grassy crest over Stob Coire a'Mhaill, then heads down to a narrow gap called the Devil's Ridge. Don't let the name put you off, there are no real difficulties (outwith winter conditions) - as you approach the gap, look down to your left (west) for a path on loose ground. Down this, then climb up the other side of the gap, still keeping to the west of the crest.

Continue north on the path on the crest. After another drop, there's a brief section of easy scrambling to reach the bealach below Sgurr a'Mhaim, from where it's a simple slog up a path over grass and higher up through boulderfield to Sgurr a'Mhaim's summit .

Am Bodach above the slopes of Sgurr an Iubhair

Retrace your steps back to the bealach below Sgurr Iubhair and then get up the short section of path through boulderfield to Sgurr Iubhair's summit . Sgurr Iubhair is a significant summit and was promoted to Munro status in 1984, only to be demoted back to a Munro Top in 1997 !

A path heads south-east from Sgurr Iubhair's summit. Though obvious and easy to walk on, this path seems to be quite tricky to run on - the rocks just seem to be awkwardly spaced.

The path reaches the bealach then makes a direct ascent up Am Bodach without any difficulties being encountered.

Stob Coire a'Chairn from Am Bodach

Getting off Am Bodach to continue a traverse of the Mamores can be slightly rough and some people find the next section challenging !

Aim north-east down steep and very loose ground on bits of worn path. Be careful with your footing as you pick your way down on the gravel using rocks as 'islands of safety'. Some small bits of easy scrambling are encountered, then some scree boulders as the bealach above Coire a'Bhodaich is approached.

Now onto grassy ground, follow the path up over one bump (marked 909m) , then up to the bouldery summit of Stob Coire a'Chairn . Although a fine vantage point, this summit feels more part of An Gearanach than a Munro summit in its own right.

An Garbhanach and An Gearanach

A worn path heads initially north from the summit of Stob Coire a'Chairn. Zig-zagging through some scree, it drops just over 100m to the bealach below the steep climb of An Garbhanach.

Climb up the path on the right (east) side of the crest, then cross over to the left (west), then back over to the right (east), before clambering up onto the crest - the route is pretty obvious. Some sustained but straightforward scrambling lies ahead up to and over An Garbhanach as the route sticks to the crest - there are slightly exposed bypass paths on the east side of the crest.

Passing the top of An Garbhanach (no cairn), there's a slight drop, and An Gearanach lies ahead - just a walk over a grass covered crest reaches the summit. The small cairn on An Gearanach's summit is an excellent place to stop and take in the views.

Heading over Na Gruagaichean's minor west top

Return along An Gearanach and An Garbhanach to the bealach below Stob Coire a'Chairn, then head south-east, initially dropping a few metres. Pick up a faint path on the wet grassy ground to pick a route between boulders and climb gently and reach the main Mamores ridge around 500m east of Stob Coire a'Chairn's summit.

In winter, it might be more advisable to aim directly up Stob Coire a'Chairn to gain the ridge, as the area north of the crest can cornice over.

Continue on a path over grassy ground to start climbing, at around c850m scree and loose gravel are encountered on Na Gruagaichean's north-western side.

A peak is reached (1041m) , however the main summit lies beyond another dip. This dip is followed by a sharp gap, although this is crossed without difficulty (outwith winter). Some more loose gravel and stone is ascended on a twisting path to reach Na Gruagaichean's summit .

At the col between Na Gruagaichean and Binnein Mor

Leave Na Gruagaichean's summit and head east clambering down boulders. A path can then be traced that hugs the crest to the next bealach.

The path then keeps to grassy ground slightly below the crest on its south side as it climbs up to Binnein Mor's south top (1062m) . At the small cairn on this minor summit, turn north, drop slightly and follow an obvious path.

The path aims directly for Binnein Mor's summit , encountering some boulders as the small cairn on its summit is neared. This is the highest point in the Mamores.

Descending Sgurr Eilde Mor, looking to Binnein Mor

As this route finishes in Glen Nevis, Binnein Beag is ideally left for the last peak on the day. Therefore, about turn and re-trace your steps to Binnein Mor's south top .

Head south-east over easy, grass covered and pathless ground to Sgor Eilde Beag (which can cornice over in winter).A small cairn marks the starting point of a path dropping north-east down steep ground grassy shoulder to the lochans below Sgurr Eilde Mor.

Head around the northern side of the main lochan on a faint path and start to make a direct ascent of Sgurr Eilde Mor. The path gets more obvious with height as it turns north-east then southwest, with the terrain becoming loose and bouldery higher up.Once onto the crest of Sgurr Eilde Mor's western shoulder, there are no real difficulties in getting up to the summit .

Binnein Beag from Binnein Mor

Retrace steps and as the path begins to turn south-west, leave it and aim directly west on steep grassy ground to the burn in Coire a'Bhinnein below.

Cross the burn and pick up and follow the stalkers path the lochan at the southern foot of Binnein Beag.

Keep to the south side of the lochan and pick up a path to follow up through boulders and scree onto the summit of Binnein Beag . Though lower than the last 8 Munros, this is a fine little peak and worthy as the day's last stop to take in the views back over the Mamores.

Falls of Steall from Glen Nevis

From Binnein Beag's summit, head due west and you should be able to pick up a rough path aiming down the steep ground over boulders and through scree to the heathery ground below.

Aim north-west to drop to the Water of Nevis. At a suitable point, cross the burn (possibly challenging in spate) and pick up the path heading through Glen Nevis. Aim west and follow this path past the spectacular waterfalls 'Falls of Steall' - the second highest waterfall in the UK. A path then meanders down the north side of the Nevis Gorge, take care here as a slip will hav eserious consequences !

The road-end is reached, from where a 3km walk or jog downhill will take you back to Achriabhach.