Although the summits can often be in cloud, the ridge between Carn Liath and Stob Poite Coire Ardair can often be clear. The first part of this moderate walk, which follows a very good path, passes through the regenerating woodland of the National Nature Reserve. While it looks dull from the road – there's little to distinguish it from all the other rounded lumps as you drive past along the A86 – the concealed Coire Ardair is home to one of the finest mountain walls in Scotland, a multi-buttressed face rising above the waters of Lochan a' Choire. The great plateau of Creag Meagaidh in the heart of the Highlands is a massive complex mountain worthy of much exploration. Facilities include car parking, interpretive panels and recreation areas. Photo: paul birrell , CC BY-SA 2.0 . Coire Ardair is beautiful, and the views from route to … After some deep fried dinner in the anti-bustling Fort Bill, we headed over to doss in Creag Meagaidh car … Out of the woodland and further up the path levels out just to the west of the fine vantage point of Na Cnapanan, On the path, aim initially north-east around some steep ground, gradually turning north-west and hike up to Carn Liath's broad summit crest. A short ascent along this ridge brings the cairn of Creag Meagaidh into view. To the east of Puist Coire Ardair, the crest narrows, with the path making a way - there are some fine vantage points above Coire Ardair. Descend the steep slopes leading east from the Window; the path is steep, stony and eroded and keeps to the left on the way down at first, before switching to the right on the second steep section. Creag Meagaidh, Stob Poite Coire Ardair and Carn Liath [Loch Laggan] Long but relatively easy route. A scene both wild and peaceful. There are excellent views across to the great crags of Creag Meagaidh behind Coire Ardair, relieving the monotony of the slope. People are asked to stay at home except for essential purposes. 'The Window' is set well back from Coire Ardair and there is no view down to the lochan. Continue on the path which soon becomes pitched as it climbs through the fine regenerating birchwoods. Information is provided free of charge; it is each walker's responsibility to check it and navigate The summit. A waterfall below a snowfield caught the sun and sparkled brightly. Having ascended Creag Meagaidh only once previously, way back in 2001, it was seriously overdue a re-visit. From the car-park, head up towards the buildings at Aberarder. Lovely views throughout. Coire Ardair is one of the most spectacular corries in Scotland, with the "Post face" rising 400m above Lochan a' Choire. This is a beautiful, eerie place made all the more dramatic by the steepness of Creag Meagaidh's eastern buttresses mirrored in the lochan. Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve in the Monadhliath Mountains is a rocky landscape of ice gorged summits, plateaus and ridges that extends from north-east Lochaber into the Cairngorms. The Creag Meagaidh range includes two other Munros - … On arrival at the Creag Meagaidh car park, I decided to wear my four-season Sportiva boots and take my DMM crampons leaving my three-season Meindls and Grivel crampons in the car. This takes you to Coire Ardair – a wild but peaceful place with a lochan … From car park at Aberarder (NN 48301 87297) - Lochan a'Choire - The Window - Creag Meagaidh East Top - Creag Meagaidh - The Window - Stob Poite Coire Ardair - Stob Poite Coire Ardair East Top - Sron Coire a'Chriochairein - Meall an-t-Snaim - Carn Liath - Na Cnapanan. Easy path to the lochan, lots of loose scree between here and The Window. The summit plateau of Creag Meagaidh can be difficult to navigate in poor visibility - precipices nearby! The path zig-zags up through some scree, then levels out - it's perhaps worth heading a bit east to look back down into Coire Ardair. From the lochan there is a clear path down the north bank of the Allt Coire Ardair. The slope soon eases into the vast plateau of Creag Meagaidh. It doesn't get dark till 7pm). The path zig-zags down steep ground as it tries to avoid boulderfield in the gully. I was keen to see beautiful Coire Ardair in full winter garb. using a map and compass. Lochan a Choire is a freshwater, stony bottom loch surrounded by the imposing whale back ridge of Creag Meagaidh. With Munro summits, an exposed whaleback ridge and ice-carved gullies, Creag Meagaidh is the complete mountain experience. The 2017-2018 SNH graduates took to the Scottish Highlands in a cold December to learn more about reserve management, and volunteering at Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve. Further down it becomes grassier. Car park at the entrance to Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve, NN482873 Nearest town: Newtonmore or Fort William Terrain: A well-constructed trail gives quick access to Lochan a' Choire. A 14k there and back route along a good and mostly gently ascending path to the Lochan a’Choire in Coire Ardair and the magnificent cliffs of Creag Meagaidh. Creag Meagaidh. Creag Meagaidh circuit Circular hillwalking route on Creag Meagaidh, Carn Liath and Stob Poite Coire Ardair In the Central Highlands, Creag Meagaidh is a vast and stunning mountain dominating the view northwards above Loch Laggan. There is a good-sized car park at Aberarder on the north side of the A86, opposite Loch Laggan. As always the walk into Coire Ardair is just wonderful (if you ever tire of walking into Coire Ardair then hang up your boots!). Look out for a cairn where a rough path heads off amongst the birch trees. Park at the reserve visitor centre which is on the A86 along side Loch Laggan. The scenery becomes ever more impressive as height is lost until Lochan Coire Ardair is reached. From here, return across the plateau and back down to 'The Window'. From there it's a little steeper and rougher going, though the terrain is still fairly easy. Follow the path which climbs up the far side. From the skiers point of view, there's a great high level tour round the tops of the corrie, but there are some fantasctic long descents to be had into Coire Ardair itself. This route is preferred if you need a quicker descent, to get out of westerly winds and just want to follow an obvious path all the way back. There are two cairns on Stob Poite Coire Ardair's summit crest, the top, Leaving Stob Poite Coire Ardair's summit behind, continue following the path hugging the posts south-west and begin to lose height. To get a real sense of what makes Creag Meagaidh special, keep walking up the glen from the high point of the Allt Dubh Trail. The Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve is a wonderful three munro circuit with some dramatic mountain scenery. image copyright Lili Stirling. A bit of History. However by the time I reached the lochan at the head of the corrie I was in shadow. Open start point in Google Maps for directions. There is a 3 mile path to Coire Lochan and the … “Steep climbing … Continue reading → The route starts by the A86, around halfway along Loch Laggan from a large car-park below the SNH buildings at Aberarder. Creag Meagaidh ( "Craig Maggie" ) is a complex mountain with a flat summit plateau and five ridges. Aberarder, car park off A86 between Laggan and Spean Bridge. For keen Munro-baggers, and if transport can be arranged between start and finish points, extending this route further to include nearby Beinn a'Chaorainn and Beinn Teallach make for an excellent long day's hiking ! All the way along the 6km walk you get more and more impressive views of the main feature on Creag Meagaidh - The Post Face. On shorter days in winter months, you'll stay in sunshine longer ! Cross this to a giant, very old looking cairn on the northern fringe of the tablelands beyond - Mad Meg's cairn. Michael Barnard and Ewan Gourlay visited Creag Meagaidh on March 31 and climbed Centre Post, Right-Hand (V,5), the steep icefall on the right wall of Centre Post. Coire Ardair, Creag Meagaidh. Lochan Uaine and the coire of Uisge nam Fichead from ascent to Creag Meagaidh Legend has it that during the 18th century, a local lassie committed suicide … The best approach is by Lochan […] Have you found an error or is any information wrong or missing? Creag Meagaidh is a magnificent massif, a bare plateau fringed by some of the grandest cliffs in Scotland. This traverse also takes in two further neighbouring Munros and makes for a memorable day. The path is very boggy at first through the woods, and continues up the rough hillside to just west of Na Cnapanan, with great views back over Loch Laggan. Creag Meagaidh, Stob Poite Coire Ardair & Carn Liath [Loch Laggan] Quick Facts This is the summed total of all the climbing within a route and is a good indicator of the strenuousness of a route. Just as well, as when in mist, carefully navigation from Carn Liath is needed, since the path is very faint. The ridge offers a steady ascent to the stony summit plateau, a large cairn and fine views of the Creag Meagaidh cliffs at the head of Coire Ardair. This is the first Munro of the day at a height of 1006 metres. The classic Anoach Eagach ridgeline from Stob Coire nan Lochan. Head west down the open slopes and over the insignificant swelling of Meall an t-Snaim. Coire Ardair and the cliffs of Creag Meagaidh. This tiny sheet of water is utterly overpowered by the great bulk of Creag Meagaidh's cliffs high above. The lower part of the glen is clothed with a wonderful remnant of the ancient forest, and further still are the regenerating areas helped by the National Nature Reserve. The craggy slopes above glowed gold in the early sun. This tiny sheet of water is utterly overpowered by the great bulk of Creag Meagaidh's cliffs high above. Creag Meagaidh is a mountain on the northern side of Glen Spean in the Highlands of Scotland. (Above) Creag Meagaidh’s Inner Coire and the slopes to ‘The Window’ looking fairly lean after an overnight thaw. Any ice build up noted from yesterday in the main coire Post Face now re-located to the Lochan … From the skiers point of view, there's a great high level tour round the tops of the corrie, but there are some fantasctic long descents to be had into Coire Ardair itself. Click for details, Hear pronunciation Press to hear pronunciation. This is the second Munro at 1053 metres. The reserve extends from the shoreline of Loch Laggan to the high summits of the hills that form the whaleback ridge surrounding the ‘great bowl’ of Coire Ardair. This isn't the summit of the mountain though; for this, continue westwards where the plateau soon narrows to form a ridge. The scenery becomes ever more impressive as height is lost until Lochan Coire Ardair is reached. Follow a sign-posted route following a well constructed path around the right of the house, over a bridge, up to and past a wall to just before the birch forest. Today Karen and I had a wander up to here and for Karen a swim in the icy cold waters. Walking can be dangerous and is done entirely at your own risk. There is a particularly superb view from a slight detour off the path, around 300m before reaching the summit. Rugged mountain walk. Fabulous hard snow all the way from the lochan to the top of The Window. Seasonal variations: The angle eases eventually onto a broad ridge, and the summit of Carn Liath is marked by a large cairn. Open start point in Google Maps for directions. This spectacular crag overlooks a beautiful, tranquil lochan - Lochain a' Choire. Descent path is muddy in places. There is a short, steep little ascent from here to reach Sron Coire a'Chriochairein. Christopher Somerville. But (and there’s always a but…) it was gloomy above 700m due to the very low and dense cloud cover. The path is a little boggy at first but improves further down where it keeps further from the river. Leaving Carn Liath's summit, head westwards to drop to a small nick. If joining the route at this point following an ascent from the lochan, be sure to head to the west end of the Window, as a faint path heading up Creag Meagaidh from the east end is uncomfortably steep. Ideal for an easy canicross run with no difficulties along the way. The Creag Meagaidh circuit is one of the classic walks in the Highlands and allows no fewer than three Munros to be climbed relatively easily in one day. Keep to the path down to 'The Window'. About 20km drive from our house is Loch Laggan, which is a wonderful walking and wildlife area. Hear pronunciation Press to hear pronunciation. This is regarded as one of the best ice-climbing arenas in Scotland. Continue down the path right back to the start. Creag Meagaidh is situated 1¼ miles west of Lochan a’ Choire. Walk of the week: Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve, Highlands Loop round an ancient lochan and discover mica-sparkling rocks and Arctic char. And it is, as long as you can find somewhere breezy to keep off the midges. Please let us know by clicking here. We had a very leisurely 11am start on Creag Meagaidh (why not? Fence-posts are picked up and followed up and along towards Stob Poire Coire Ardair. Combining Creag Meagaidh with these peaks makes for a fine circuit with options of returning through Coire Ardair or staying high over Puist Coire Ardair for long-lasting views. From Creag Meagaidh's summit, retrace your steps down the crest to where the ground flattens out, well before Mad Meg's Cairn. From here the slopes begin to narrow to form a ridge, and old iron rusty fence posts point the way towards the peculiar trench-like bealach of Uinneas Min Choire. This is the highest mountain in the area at 1130 metres, and the views are very extensive on a clear day. The ground and steepness ease as height is lost and the path reaches the east bank of Lochan a'Choire, Continue following the path back out through Coire Ardair and its birch forest, meet up with the cairn. Instead, mindful of needing an easy route to help contemplation, I opted for the Aberarder path leading towards Creag Meagaidh, but only as far as Lochan a' Choire in Coire Ardair. “It makes a good alternative to the Direct, “ Michael explained. This route is preferred in clear weather, as views are vast and last longer. image caption Lochan Coire Ardair with the Creag Meagaidh cliffs in the background, taken by Dianne McLeish from Burghead on a climbing day out. (Above) Lochan a Choire with the crags of the Post Face largely obscured. Steven Sinclair, our Year of Young People 2018 graduate, provides a narrative about their visit. At a clear junction, ignore the red pine marten signpost and take the right hand branch which climbs gently. Scotland is under national lockdown. 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