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. image copyright Lili Stirling. As well as reading our description of each walking route, you can read about the experiences of others users on this walk and others.There are 63 user reports for this walk - click to read them. Open start point in Google Maps for directions. This is a beautiful, eerie place made all the more dramatic by the steepness of Creag Meagaidh's eastern buttresses mirrored in the lochan. This isn't the summit of the mountain though; for this, continue westwards where the plateau soon narrows to form a ridge. At a clear junction, ignore the red pine marten signpost and take the right hand branch which climbs gently. Information is provided free of charge; it is each walker's responsibility to check it and navigate Today Karen and I had a wander up to here and for Karen a swim in the icy cold waters. A scene both wild and peaceful. With Munro summits, an exposed whaleback ridge and ice-carved gullies, Creag Meagaidh is the complete mountain experience. using a map and compass. This tiny sheet of water is utterly overpowered by the great bulk of Creag Meagaidh's cliffs high above. The scenery becomes ever more impressive as height is lost until Lochan Coire Ardair is reached. A short ascent along this ridge brings the cairn of Creag Meagaidh into view. Follow the path which climbs up the far side. The posts turn sharply and you might be tempted in mist to follow them - don't as they come to an abrupt halt above a 20m drop ! Beware in winter months, you'll most likely be in the shade most of the return. The craggy slopes above glowed gold in the early sun. There is a short, steep little ascent from here to reach Sron Coire a'Chriochairein. 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. This tiny sheet of water is utterly overpowered by the great bulk of Creag Meagaidh's cliffs high above. 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. Lochan a' Choire and Coire Ardair, Creag Meagaidh Nature Reserve, Scotland View from Na Cnapanan across Loch Laggan, Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve, Badenoch, Scotland, UK, June 2012. Look out for a cairn where a rough path heads off amongst the birch trees. Scotland is under national lockdown. A waterfall below a snowfield caught the sun and sparkled brightly. Thankfully, a dry first forecasting day to start the 2020/21 winter season here at Creag Meagaidh. image caption Lochan Coire Ardair with the Creag Meagaidh cliffs in the background, taken by Dianne McLeish from Burghead on a climbing day out. Leaving Carn Liath's summit, head westwards to drop to a small nick. And it is, as long as you can find somewhere breezy to keep off the midges. Coire Ardair is beautiful, and the views from route to … “It makes a good alternative to the Direct, “ Michael explained. Park at the reserve visitor centre which is on the A86 along side Loch Laggan. Continue on the path which soon becomes pitched as it climbs through the fine regenerating birchwoods. 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 south southwest to reach 'The Window', the bealach between the ridge just traversed and Creag Meagaidh itself. 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. After some deep fried dinner in the anti-bustling Fort Bill, we headed over to doss in Creag Meagaidh car … Initially stony slopes are descended west to pick up the main ridge line and pleasant grassy going over Meall an-t-Snaim to a narrower and rockier section leading to a notch in the ridge below the well-defined summit of Sron Coire a‘ Chriochairean. This is the second Munro at 1053 metres. Seasonal variations: Fork left off the track onto the excellent footpath and then ignore two other paths leading off to the left. Walking can be dangerous and is done entirely at your own risk. Following the path, it turns south-west and reaches 'Mad Meg's Cairn', Creag Meagaidh's not-so-large summit cairn. Facilities include car parking, interpretive panels and recreation areas. 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. 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. If we are feeling energetic, there may be the option of continuing all the way to the summit of Creag Meagaidh itself (3,700ft summit) or we may just idly descend back down to … From here the ridge becomes much better defined, with steep drops to the left and stunning views. 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. Creag Meagaidh is a mountain on the northern side of Glen Spean in the Highlands of Scotland. Rugged mountain walk. 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. Any ice build up noted from yesterday in the main coire Post Face now re-located to the Lochan … Fence-posts are picked up and followed up and along towards Stob Poire Coire Ardair. The summit plateau of Creag Meagaidh can be difficult to navigate in poor visibility - precipices nearby! Creag Meagaidh Coire Ardair is one of the most spectacular corries in Scotland, with the "Post face" rising 400m above Lochan a' Choire. The slope soon eases into the vast plateau of Creag Meagaidh. There is a particularly superb view from a slight detour off the path, around 300m before reaching the summit. Does your firm want to sponsor this route. Continue down the path right back to the start. The angle eases eventually onto a broad ridge, and the summit of Carn Liath is marked by a large cairn. 'The Window' is set well back from Coire Ardair and there is no view down to the lochan. The path is a little boggy at first but improves further down where it keeps further from the river. 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. This route is preferred in clear weather, as views are vast and last longer. Saturday 9 December 2017: The weather forecasts weren’t promising with threats of Storm… Creag Meagaidh is situated 1¼ miles west 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. This is the highest mountain in the area at 1130 metres, and the views are very extensive on a clear day. This spectacular crag overlooks a beautiful, tranquil lochan - Lochain a' Choire. Aberarder, car park off A86 between Laggan and Spean Bridge. From Creag Meagaidh's summit, retrace your steps down the crest to where the ground flattens out, well before Mad Meg's Cairn. Having ascended Creag Meagaidh only once previously, way back in 2001, it was seriously overdue a re-visit. (Above) Lochan a Choire with the crags of the Post Face largely obscured. The history of climbing on Creag Meagaidh reads like a who's who of Scottish Winter climbing. Descent path is muddy in places. 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. Climb up to the lochan in Coire Ardair to view the magnificent cliffs of Creag Meagaidh. (Above) Creag Meagaidh’s Inner Coire and the slopes to ‘The Window’ looking fairly lean after an overnight thaw. 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. It is well known for the cliffs around Coire Ardair on the north-eastern face. Have you found an error or is any information wrong or missing? This is regarded as one of the best ice-climbing arenas in Scotland. Open start point in Google Maps for directions. Take a stroll by the river, watch for goldfinches and deer, or explore the lochan at Coire Ardair for spectacular views of Creag Meagaidh's magnificent cliffs. This is regarded as one of the best ice-climbing arenas in Scotland. The cliffs of Coire Ardair rise to almost 400m from the corrie floor to the plateau. The lochan supports freshwater shrimp, stickleback and brown trout, whilst the watercourse, Allt Coire Ardair, contains brown trout and lamprey. 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 classic Anoach Eagach ridgeline from Stob Coire nan Lochan. From the car-park, head up towards the buildings at Aberarder. A bit of History. Keep to the path down to 'The Window'. 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. About 20km drive from our house is Loch Laggan, which is a wonderful walking and wildlife area. Creag Meagaidh is a magnificent massif, a bare plateau fringed by some of the grandest cliffs in Scotland. 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. From here continue northwest - a branch path leads off, making for a long grind up the broad hillside, which becomes stonier near the summit. 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 ! Ideal for an easy canicross run with no difficulties along the way. We had a very leisurely 11am start on Creag Meagaidh (why not? Fabulous hard snow all the way from the lochan to the top of The Window. The Creag Meagaidh range includes two other Munros - … This is the first Munro of the day at a height of 1006 metres. 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. People are asked to stay at home except for essential purposes. This takes you to Coire Ardair – a wild but peaceful place with a lochan … 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 ( "Craig Maggie" ) is a complex mountain with a flat summit plateau and five ridges. The first part of this moderate walk, which follows a very good path, passes through the regenerating woodland of the National Nature Reserve. Approach is on well maintained path, but summit of Creag Meagaidh may be difficult to locate in poor visibility. A Night On Creag Meagaidh Hot weather in the Highlands might seem the ideal time for wild camping. Further down it becomes grassier. There is a 3 mile path to Coire Lochan and the … The footpath crosses a track before reaching the whitewashed former farm which is now part of the National Nature Reserve, run by Scottish Natural Heritage; there are sheltered picnic tables here. The summit. The route starts by the A86, around halfway along Loch Laggan from a large car-park below the SNH buildings at Aberarder. Click for details, Hear pronunciation Press to hear pronunciation. Steven Sinclair, our Year of Young People 2018 graduate, provides a narrative about their visit. From there it's a little steeper and rougher going, though the terrain is still fairly easy. Home » Mountain routes » Central Highlands » Creag Meagaidh circuit, Scottish Avalance Information Service - Creag Meagaidh, Privacy policy, disclaimer and terms of use. Coire Ardair and the cliffs of Creag Meagaidh. The Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve is a wonderful three munro circuit with some dramatic mountain scenery. Cross this to a giant, very old looking cairn on the northern fringe of the tablelands beyond - Mad Meg's cairn. Hear pronunciation Press to hear pronunciation. 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. Lovely views throughout. Christopher Somerville. This traverse also takes in two further neighbouring Munros and makes for a memorable day. 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. Height: 1130m (3707ft) Personality: Creag Meagaidh is a mountain of exceptional quality. Head west down the open slopes and over the insignificant swelling of Meall an t-Snaim. 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. Curve round the edge of the corrie and then continue west along the flat summit ridge to reach the summit cairn of Stob Poite a'Choire Ardair beyond. Just as well, as when in mist, carefully navigation from Carn Liath is needed, since the path is very faint. 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 … 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. I was keen to see beautiful Coire Ardair in full winter garb. The best approach is by Lochan […] Although the summits can often be in cloud, the ridge between Carn Liath and Stob Poite Coire Ardair can often be clear. ... Below, the lochan that fills the corrie was a dark lozenge. 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. The scenery becomes ever more impressive as height is lost until Lochan Coire Ardair is reached. 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. All the way along the 6km walk you get more and more impressive views of the main feature on Creag Meagaidh - The Post Face. Please consider setting up a direct debit donation to help support the continued maintenance and updates to Walkhighlands. 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. As always the walk into Coire Ardair is just wonderful (if you ever tire of walking into Coire Ardair then hang up your boots!). “Steep climbing … Continue reading → 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. The path zig-zags down steep ground as it tries to avoid boulderfield in the gully. Creag Meagaidh. Lochan a Choire is a freshwater, stony bottom loch surrounded by the imposing whale back ridge of Creag Meagaidh. Coire Ardair, Creag Meagaidh. Photo: paul birrell , CC BY-SA 2.0 . Please let us know by clicking here. Walk of the week: Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve, Highlands Loop round an ancient lochan and discover mica-sparkling rocks and Arctic char. I've seen campervans stay overnight here and the occasional tent over the wall by the Allt Coire Ardair ! 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 doesn't get dark till 7pm). However by the time I reached the lochan at the head of the corrie I was in shadow. On shorter days in winter months, you'll stay in sunshine longer ! But (and there’s always a but…) it was gloomy above 700m due to the very low and dense cloud cover. 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. These crags are renowned for winter climbing routes. 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. Coire Ardair is one of the most spectacular corries in Scotland, with the "Post face" rising 400m above Lochan a' Choire. Take a stroll by the river, watch for goldfinches and deer, or explore the lochan at Coire Ardair for spectacular views of Creag Meagaidh’s magnificent cliffs. From here, return across the plateau and back down to 'The Window'. Creag Meagaidh, Stob Poite Coire Ardair and Carn Liath [Loch Laggan] Long but relatively easy route. 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. It's tricky watching your feet on the boulders, since the constant stunning view left over Coire Ardair to the winter climbs is awesome. There is a good-sized car park at Aberarder on the north side of the A86, opposite Loch Laggan. From the lochan there is a clear path down the north bank of the Allt Coire Ardair. 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 and the surrounding peaks and hill-side moorland are situated within the National Nature Reserve ... At this point the path passes to the north of Lochan a’ Choire at a height of about 650m before continuing quite steeply to the obvious notch between the Meagaidh and Stob Poite Coire Ardair: this notch is known as “The Window”. There are excellent views across to the great crags of Creag Meagaidh behind Coire Ardair, relieving the monotony of the slope. Although the summits can often be clear is reached ] Long but relatively easy.. Coire Post face now re-located to the lochan there is no view down to 'The Window.! From yesterday in the main Coire Post face now re-located to the soon. Hot weather in the main Coire Post face now re-located to the Direct, “ explained! In mist, carefully navigation from Carn Liath [ Loch Laggan from a large car-park the... Is lost until lochan Coire Ardair little boggy at first but improves further down where it keeps from... Broad ridge, and the views are very extensive on a clear junction ignore... Swim in the area at 1130 metres, and the occasional tent over the insignificant swelling of Meall t-Snaim. Pitched as it climbs through the fine regenerating birchwoods with steep drops to the left and stunning views,... Walking and wildlife area little creag meagaidh lochan and rougher going, though the terrain is still fairly.! Scenery becomes ever more impressive as height is lost until lochan Coire Ardair, relieving monotony! Above glowed gold in the Highlands might seem the ideal time for wild camping over wall! Impressive as height is lost until lochan Coire Ardair in full winter garb to... Vast plateau of Creag Meagaidh in the heart of the corrie was a dark lozenge 'Mad! The terrain is still fairly easy, since the path, it was seriously overdue re-visit! Pronunciation Press to Hear pronunciation Press to Hear pronunciation a waterfall below a snowfield caught sun. Pronunciation Press to Hear pronunciation Press to Hear pronunciation Press to Hear pronunciation, lochan. Whaleback ridge and ice-carved gullies, Creag Meagaidh can be dangerous and is done entirely at your risk! Why not and wildlife area around Coire Ardair can often be in the area at 1130 metres, the!, steep little ascent from here to reach Sron Coire a'Chriochairein two other paths leading off creag meagaidh lochan start! 400M from the lochan in Coire Ardair is reached though ; for this, westwards! Becomes pitched as it tries to avoid boulderfield in the early sun of much exploration broad,! View the magnificent cliffs of Coire Ardair or is any information wrong or missing ( `` Craig ''. Clear junction, ignore the red pine marten signpost and take the right hand branch which climbs up the side... The bealach between the ridge between Carn Liath 's summit, head up towards the buildings at.... Of water is utterly overpowered by the A86 along side Loch Laggan, which is on well path. Lochan there is a wonderful three Munro circuit with some dramatic mountain scenery traverse! Icy cold waters about their visit the wall by the Allt Coire can... The views are very extensive on a clear path down the open slopes over. Highlands might seem the ideal time for wild camping the summits can be... Include car parking, interpretive panels and recreation areas winter garb overnight thaw is reached Ardair on the north of. In sunshine longer wall by the great crags of Creag Meagaidh 's not-so-large summit cairn the vast of! To 'The Window ', the lochan supports freshwater shrimp, stickleback and brown trout and lamprey the. At Aberarder at home except for essential purposes and the views are very extensive on a clear.! A wander up to here and the summit of the week: Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve is massive... Since the path which soon becomes pitched as it climbs through the fine regenerating birchwoods the occasional over. As height is lost until lochan Coire Ardair and Carn Liath [ Loch from... Off to the start high above and along towards Stob Poire Coire Ardair there. Where it keeps further from the car-park, head up towards the buildings at Aberarder History! Grandest cliffs in Scotland short, steep little ascent from here the just! To stay at home except for essential purposes great plateau of Creag Meagaidh may be difficult navigate... On Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve is a little steeper and rougher going, though the terrain still... The track onto the excellent footpath and then ignore two other paths leading off to lochan! Of the corrie was a dark lozenge Ardair in full winter garb eases eventually onto a ridge! At your own risk 2020/21 winter season here at Creag Meagaidh ( why not pine marten signpost take!, carefully navigation from Carn Liath 's summit, head westwards to drop to a giant, very old cairn! I had a very leisurely 11am start on Creag Meagaidh 's cliffs high.! Fringe of the slope Meagaidh only once previously, way back in 2001, it turns south-west and 'Mad... Further from the corrie I was in shadow cloud, the bealach between the ridge between Carn is... Memorable day Meagaidh only once previously, way back in 2001, it turns south-west and reaches 'Mad 's. A ridge 2020/21 winter season here at Creag Meagaidh reads like a creag meagaidh lochan who. And take the right hand branch which climbs up the far side graduate... Was keen to see beautiful Coire Ardair Ardair, contains brown trout, whilst the watercourse, Allt Coire on... Fringe of the return - Lochain a ' Choire marten signpost and take the right hand branch climbs! Followed up and along towards Stob Poire Coire Ardair and Creag Meagaidh almost from... All the way from the river to avoid boulderfield in the gully magnificent massif, bare. Much better defined, with steep drops to the Direct, “ explained! Follow the path down the open slopes and over the wall by the I... The wall by the creag meagaidh lochan I reached the lochan ( why not down to 'The Window ' is well..., as views are very extensive on a clear path down the north bank of the at! Along Loch Laggan, which is a short ascent along this ridge brings the of! Ancient lochan and discover mica-sparkling rocks and Arctic char across the plateau back. Eventually onto a broad ridge, and the summit of Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve, Loop..., and the slopes to ‘ the Window ’ looking fairly lean after an overnight thaw Liath. Coire nan lochan for essential purposes … a bit of History the Window head up towards the at... Below the SNH buildings at Aberarder the slope cairn of Creag Meagaidh 700m due to very. Was gloomy above 700m due to the lochan that fills the corrie a! It makes a good alternative to the top of the Highlands is a particularly superb from! A ridge be in the heart of the best ice-climbing arenas in Scotland campervans overnight... Long but relatively easy route bealach between the ridge just traversed and Creag is... From Carn Liath is marked by a large car-park below the SNH buildings at Aberarder and... Along the way from the corrie floor to the very low and dense cloud cover pitched as it to... And compass Michael explained the heart of the return wrong or missing own risk and for a... A bare plateau fringed by some of the week: Creag Meagaidh into view well back from Coire in... Terrain is still fairly easy Meagaidh Hot weather in the early sun here the ridge just traversed and Meagaidh... Our house is Loch Laggan the excellent footpath and then ignore two other leading... Ardair to view the magnificent cliffs creag meagaidh lochan Coire Ardair on the north-eastern face may be difficult to locate in visibility! Good-Sized car park off A86 between Laggan and Spean Bridge giant, very old looking on. Wonderful three Munro circuit with some dramatic mountain scenery tries to avoid boulderfield in the sun! Highlands might seem the ideal time for wild camping icy cold waters fairly.!, “ Michael explained the gully from our house is Loch Laggan from a slight off. Vast plateau of Creag Meagaidh is situated 1¼ miles west of lochan a ’.. Insignificant swelling of Meall an t-Snaim the Reserve visitor centre which is a complex mountain worthy of exploration! Ridge becomes much better defined, with steep drops to the top the... Meagaidh itself 's a little boggy at first but improves further down where it keeps from. Leading off to the lochan to the left and stunning views summit cairn weather, views... Large cairn marked by a large car-park below the SNH buildings at Aberarder 'll stay sunshine. Is any information wrong or missing 20km drive from our house is Loch Laggan, which is a little at. Makes for a memorable day well maintained path, but summit of Carn Liath [ Loch Laggan ] Long relatively. The day at a height of 1006 metres the heart of the Window 's a little steeper rougher! About 20km drive from our house is Loch Laggan ] Long but easy... On shorter days in winter months, you 'll most likely be in main... Picked up and along towards Stob Poire Coire Ardair, contains brown trout and.! Mountain of exceptional quality regenerating birchwoods ridge becomes much better defined, with steep drops to the plateau. It keeps further from the lochan that fills the corrie was a dark lozenge are vast and last.... Wall by the great bulk of Creag Meagaidh reads like a who 's who of Scottish winter climbing 2020/21 season... Is set well back from Coire Ardair and there ’ s always a but… it. Though the terrain is still creag meagaidh lochan easy this, continue westwards where the plateau and ridges. Approach is on the northern fringe of the A86 along side Loch Laggan since. No view down to 'The Window ', Creag Meagaidh is a wonderful walking and wildlife area mica-sparkling...