A strenuous route in Glen Nevis. Check the GPS track on Outdooractive for full details of the route, waypoints, and terrain.
Starting Point: North Face Car Park (NN 144 764)
Terrain: East Highland Way through gate, path winding steeply through woods, felled woods (amazing views), good clear winding path along stream, Ben Nevis Trail (very boggy, hard climbing, height gained quickly), higher up boggy becomes solid but steep ascent continues, easier going, final steep climb, gentler few hundred metres, ridge walking (scary drops if acrophobic - 15m visibility in cloud), retrace entire route.
This is an outstanding but challenging out-and-back walk to Carn Mor Dearg, my 9th and final Scottish 4000ft mountain. The original plan was a spectacular circular over the Arete to Ben Nevis, but weather conditions forced a sensible decision to return the same way, though others did continue over the Arete i wasn't prepared to take the rik. The route begins on the East Highland Way before taking the left path winding quite steeply through woods where eventually the first amazing views of Ben Nevis's North Face appear. The good clear path meets Allt a'Mhuilinn stream before joining the Ben Nevis Trail where conditions change dramatically - very boggy ground with hard climbing gaining height quickly. Higher up, the bog sturns to gravel and scree but the steep ascent continues around Carn Beag Dearg's side (Mor meaning big, Beag meaning small in Gaelic) with amazing views of the North Face, valley below, and Loch Linnhe until cloud descended - or I ascended into it - reducing visibility to 15 metres. The going eases before a final steep climb and gentler approach to Carn Dearg Meadhonach Munro Top at 1179m. Ridge walking continues where drops to the left would be amazing and scary for acrophobes if visible, but sensing them through the cloud meant keeping a safe distance. The mighty Carn Mor Dearg's very poor cairn only became visible in the last few steps at the summit - completing all 9 Scottish 4000ft mountains and ticking all the big stuff in Scotland off my list. The decision not to attempt the Arete in poor weather proved sensible, cutting the corner past Carn Dearg Meadhonach on the return before retracing the entire Ben Nevis Trail. Still happy with the achievement despite the weather.