Hills of Britain and Ireland

OS Map of Carn Dearg (SW) (Carn Dearg (South))

2022 Scotland Winter (19)
2022 Scotland Winter (19)

07-Jan-22 • Wellington School OW flickr

54100098288

2022 Scotland Winter (20)
2022 Scotland Winter (20)

07-Jan-22 • Wellington School OW flickr

54100182199

2022 Scotland Winter (21)
2022 Scotland Winter (21)

07-Jan-22 • Wellington School OW flickr

54099842606

Versie 2
Versie 2

30-May-18 • JelleWillebrords flickr

scotland blackwhite 54152405242

Climbing the southern slopes of Ben Nevis. Right, the rocky slopes of Carn Dearg. Centre Mullach nan Coirean. Top left. peaks of Beinn a Bheithir. Top right, Loch Linnhe and the mountains of the Isle of Mull, Lochaber, Inverness-shire, Scotland.
Climbing the southern slopes of Ben Nevis. Right, the rocky slopes of Carn Dearg. Centre Mullach nan Coirean. Top left. peaks of Beinn a Bheithir. Top right, Loch Linnhe and the mountains of the Isle of Mull, Lochaber, Inverness-shire, Scotland.

Commentary. In this image I am around the 600 metres (2,000 foot) mark on the south side of Ben Nevis. Having started in Glen Nevis near the gorge, I followed the torrential burn, the Allt Coire Eoghainn. It is a series of 30-40° cataracts and waterfalls gushing, leaping and pounding down bare rock to the Waters of Nevis. After a steep two-hour climb, one enters the vast amphitheatre of the corrie called Coire Eoghainn. This makes up much of the south side of Ben Nevis and at its upper sections includes a vast boulder field of ice-shattered rock with some boulders measuring 3-4 metres across. This shot was taken just as I entered the lip of the corrie. In the foreground are the rock-strewn slopes of Carn Dearg, 1020 metres (3,347 feet). The large wooded corrie on the west side (left) of Glen Nevis is Coire Dearg. The smaller corrie (top right) is Coire Riabach. The peak, between these two corries, dead centre, with the cairn is Mullach nan Coirean at 939 metres (3,081 feet). Looming above this ridge are two of the peaks, across Loch Leven, that make up the Horseshoe known as Beinn a Bheithir. Left at 1,024 metres (3,360 feet) is Sgorr Dearg. Second left is Sgorr Donhuill at 1,001 metres (3,284 feet). Loch Linnhe was now visible (top right) where Morvern (headland) turns right or north-west up the Sound of Mull from Loch Linnhe. The mountains (top right) are on Mull, west of Glen More. The small “hyphenated” island is Liath Sgeir, a rock near the southern end of the Island of Lismore, which is just out of sight. The haul up the slope of Ben Nevis is hard-going and relentless. Two kilometres at 30-40° with 20-30kg. on my back. But when you start to see the map open up in front of your eyes, in reality, it all becomes worthwhile!

25-Jul-11 • Scotland by NJC. flickr

54168654945

OS Map

This is OS mapping. In some areas, OpenStreetMap shows more footpaths

Spatial NI has online OSNI mapping. Click "Basemap Gallery" (4 squares icon at the top).

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Photos

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Please tag your photos and upload them to the British and Irish Mountains group on Flickr

The other photos have been geo-tagged as on or around the summit. For less busy mountains, it can be a little hit and miss.

2022 Scotland Winter (19)
2022 Scotland Winter (19)

07-Jan-22 • Wellington School OW flickr

54100098288

2022 Scotland Winter (20)
2022 Scotland Winter (20)

07-Jan-22 • Wellington School OW flickr

54100182199

2022 Scotland Winter (21)
2022 Scotland Winter (21)

07-Jan-22 • Wellington School OW flickr

54099842606

Versie 2
Versie 2

30-May-18 • JelleWillebrords flickr

scotland blackwhite 54152405242

Climbing the southern slopes of Ben Nevis. Right, the rocky slopes of Carn Dearg. Centre Mullach nan Coirean. Top left. peaks of Beinn a Bheithir. Top right, Loch Linnhe and the mountains of the Isle of Mull, Lochaber, Inverness-shire, Scotland.
Climbing the southern slopes of Ben Nevis. Right, the rocky slopes of Carn Dearg. Centre Mullach nan Coirean. Top left. peaks of Beinn a Bheithir. Top right, Loch Linnhe and the mountains of the Isle of Mull, Lochaber, Inverness-shire, Scotland.

Commentary. In this image I am around the 600 metres (2,000 foot) mark on the south side of Ben Nevis. Having started in Glen Nevis near the gorge, I followed the torrential burn, the Allt Coire Eoghainn. It is a series of 30-40° cataracts and waterfalls gushing, leaping and pounding down bare rock to the Waters of Nevis. After a steep two-hour climb, one enters the vast amphitheatre of the corrie called Coire Eoghainn. This makes up much of the south side of Ben Nevis and at its upper sections includes a vast boulder field of ice-shattered rock with some boulders measuring 3-4 metres across. This shot was taken just as I entered the lip of the corrie. In the foreground are the rock-strewn slopes of Carn Dearg, 1020 metres (3,347 feet). The large wooded corrie on the west side (left) of Glen Nevis is Coire Dearg. The smaller corrie (top right) is Coire Riabach. The peak, between these two corries, dead centre, with the cairn is Mullach nan Coirean at 939 metres (3,081 feet). Looming above this ridge are two of the peaks, across Loch Leven, that make up the Horseshoe known as Beinn a Bheithir. Left at 1,024 metres (3,360 feet) is Sgorr Dearg. Second left is Sgorr Donhuill at 1,001 metres (3,284 feet). Loch Linnhe was now visible (top right) where Morvern (headland) turns right or north-west up the Sound of Mull from Loch Linnhe. The mountains (top right) are on Mull, west of Glen More. The small “hyphenated” island is Liath Sgeir, a rock near the southern end of the Island of Lismore, which is just out of sight. The haul up the slope of Ben Nevis is hard-going and relentless. Two kilometres at 30-40° with 20-30kg. on my back. But when you start to see the map open up in front of your eyes, in reality, it all becomes worthwhile!

25-Jul-11 • Scotland by NJC. flickr

54168654945

Ben Nevis summit to the Hebrides. Eigg, Rum and Skye. Awesome! Lochaber, Inverness-shire, Scotland.
Ben Nevis summit to the Hebrides. Eigg, Rum and Skye. Awesome! Lochaber, Inverness-shire, Scotland.

Commentary. It is not always true that the best views are from the highest vantage points. Too often, they are shrouded in cloud. Indeed, it is fortunate to summit Ben Nevis on a clear day. Also, a panorama in wide-angle is desirable in one sense, but all scale and grandeur can be destroyed in a toy-town image. On 25/07/2011, my birthday, I was lucky! From dawn until dusk, over 18 hours, the sky was clear, or only tinged, on the edge of the stratosphere, by Alto-Stratus clouds. It took me a full 13 hours to ascend and descend “The Ben” on its southern side from Glen Nevis car park. It is an incessant 3-kilometre slope of 30-35° with a massive boulder field to negotiate in the last kilometre, just when you are at your most weary. I only spent 20 minutes at the summit, so as to avoid any descent in semi-darkness. Descents are notoriously more dangerous than ascents, particularly if darkness catches us out. In addition, I was weighed down by a 30 kg. rucksack containing photographic equipment, food, drinks, maps, first-aid kit and a whistle! Also, time was taken to stop, rest, take refreshment, check bearings and of course, take photographs. That must have added at least two hours to the adventure. This image is from the rocky summit at nearly 4,500 feet. One can see a glimpse of Loch Linnhe on the left, and the whole of Loch Eil, a sea-loch up to 50 miles inland from the open sea. The mountains stretch from Loch Shiel and Glenfinnan to Knoydart, Glen Shiel and the Affric Mountains. On the far left, on the horizon, are the graceful, undulating peaks of the Isle of Rum, 20 miles beyond the West Coast and 60 miles from “The Ben.” Far right, on the horizon, is the ragged, serrated ridge of the Black Cuillin of Skye, and extreme right the more rounded granite hills of the Red Cuillin, both over 70 miles distant! Dare I say, on exceptional days, when the light is right, it is possible to see landmarks in Ireland, over 120 miles away! I could have happily spent two hours recording every mountain visible, but needs must. After the descent I was the most exhausted I have ever been, but so delighted to have seen what I had seen. And……I have never enjoyed a pint so much as the one I had a bit later on!

25-Jul-11 • Scotland by NJC. flickr

54175228564

Ben Nevis summit to the Hebrides. Awesome! Lochaber, Inverness-shire, Scotland.
Ben Nevis summit to the Hebrides. Awesome! Lochaber, Inverness-shire, Scotland.

Commentary. It is not always true that the best views are from the highest vantage points. Too often, they are shrouded in cloud. Indeed, it is fortunate to summit Ben Nevis on a clear day. Also, a panorama in wide-angle is desirable in one sense, but all scale and grandeur can be destroyed in a toy-town image. On 25/07/2011, my birthday, I was lucky! From dawn until dusk, over 18 hours, the sky was clear, or only tinged, on the edge of the stratosphere, by Alto-Stratus clouds. It took me a full 13 hours to ascend and descend “The Ben” on its southern side from Glen Nevis car park. It is an incessant 3-kilometre slope of 30-35° with a massive boulder field to negotiate in the last kilometre, just when you are at your most weary. I only spent 20 minutes at the summit, so as to avoid any descent in semi-darkness. Descents are notoriously more dangerous than ascents, particularly if darkness catches us out. In addition, I was weighed down by a 30 kg. rucksack containing photographic equipment, food, drinks, maps, first-aid kit and a whistle! Also, time was taken to stop, rest, take refreshment, check bearings and of course, take photographs. That must have added at least two hours to the adventure. This image is from the rocky summit at nearly 4,500 feet. One can see a glimpse of Loch Linnhe on the left, and the whole of Loch Eil, a sea-loch up to 50 miles inland from the open sea. The mountains stretch from Loch Shiel and Glenfinnan to Knoydart, Glen Shiel and the Affric Mountains. On the far left, on the horizon, are the graceful, undulating peaks of the Isle of Rum, 20 miles beyond the West Coast and 60 miles from “The Ben.” Far right, on the horizon, is the ragged, serrated ridge of the Black Cuillin of Skye, and extreme right the more rounded granite hills of the Red Cuillin, both over 70 miles distant! Dare I say, on exceptional days, when the light is right, it is possible to see landmarks in Ireland, over 120 miles away! I could have happily spent two hours recording every mountain visible, but needs must. After the descent I was the most exhausted I have ever been, but so delighted to have seen what I had seen. And……I have never enjoyed a pint so much as the one I had a bit later on!

25-Jul-11 • Scotland by NJC. flickr

54102131394

The Mamores and Argyll Highlands from over 1200 m. up on Ben Nevis, Lochaber, Inverness-shire, Scotland.
The Mamores and Argyll Highlands from over 1200 m. up on Ben Nevis, Lochaber, Inverness-shire, Scotland.

Commentary. Thirteen hours and nearly nine thousand feet of steep climb and descent, laden with 25kg. of equipment, I am exhausted. Why do I do it? Why do I climb to mountain summits? Is it an inferiority complex? Do I need this God-like position to boost my self-esteem? No, probably not. I just like the view. We peer over “The Mamores,” Aonach Eagach ridge, Glencoe and the Bidean nam Bian Range as far as Ben More, Stob Binnein and Ben Cruachan in Argyll. “The Ben,” commands views of over 120 miles. Yet it is the “toy aspect” of nearby sites that bemuse- Nevis Gorge, Steall Falls, Waters of Nevis. They flesh out a sense of scale. The southern slopes are relentless, but the view more than compensates!!!

25-Jul-11 • Scotland by NJC. flickr

54046426756

Allt Coire Eoghainn plunges, roars and tumbles down the slopes of Ben Nevis in a dramatic cataract. It plummets from a giant corrie, Coire Eoghainn, and is fed by five tributaries often referred to as
Allt Coire Eoghainn plunges, roars and tumbles down the slopes of Ben Nevis in a dramatic cataract. It plummets from a giant corrie, Coire Eoghainn, and is fed by five tributaries often referred to as "Five Finger Gully." Glen Nevis, Scotland.

Commentary. On the south side of Ben Nevis there is an enormous corrie or “glacially eroded bowl” called Coire Eoghainn. Steep, rocky and dangerous, this corrie has five burns descend its slopes, hence its nickname, “Five Finger Gully.” These five tributaries combine to make the Allt Coire Eoghainn just before the stream plunges over the lip of the corrie. Particularly after a prolonged period of rain the Allt Coire Eoghainn plummets, surges and roars down a 30° plus slope into Glen Nevis. It can be heard long before it can be seen from the glen below. This raging cataract falls over 1,300 feet. It is so steep, so powerful, so attritional and abrasive that its course down this slope is over bare rock and one proper 30-foot waterfall. I have climbed Ben Nevis three times via this cataract and twice by the Tourist Route from Fort William. This route is a harder, steeper and rockier climb but provides endless stunning views in all directions.

09-Apr-90 • Scotland by NJC. flickr

54080293919

Videos

  • CIC Hut, Ben Nevis - Fort William - Then and now - Late 1940s and September 2023

    This is a remake of a photograph of the Scottish photographer W.S. Thomson taken late 1940s – The Mountaineers' Hut and Carn ...

  • Camping at a Harry Potter Location

    scotland #hiking #glennevis On this winter trip I met up with fellow YouTubers in Glen Nevis where Harry Potter's Quidditch ...

  • Brilliant Bidean nam Bian (76) & Stob Coire Sgreamhach (77), 13.10.14
    Jimmy McC, Feb-24

    Trip 45, to Bidean (76) & Stob Coire Sgreamhach 77, 13/10/2014, 5.9 hours, 11 km/ 6.9 miles, Ascent of 1320m. Time for another ...

  • Notes