At 4,006 feet, Aonach Mòr is one of the 282 “Munro” peaks in the Scottish Highlands. These 3,000 feet+ peaks were first listed by Sir Hugh Munro in 1891, and “Munro bagging” has become a fashionable activity among climbers pretty much ever since.
The Gaelic name of Aonach Mòr translates as “Big Ridge” and the mountain can be found two miles north-east of Scotland’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis. The nearest large town is Fort William.
There are two ways of looking at Aonach Mòr. On the one hand, the purists regard the ski lift (gondola style) and associated developments on the north-western side as a scar on the landscape; on the other hand, those not in the first flush of youth, like yours truly, can enjoy wonderful views from half way up without having to do much more than walk along the mainly flat path to the Victoria View point.
Like most Scottish mountains, after about 1,600 feet the tree-line has been left behind and rugged moorland is left exposed to the elements, which can be savage. Wind over 140 mph has been recorded, and in secluded areas snow can last all year.
We, of course, visited in summer. A bus from Fort William deposited us at the base station of the Nevis Range Gondola, and from the upper station at a height of 2100 feet, we turned left and walked along the ridge to the view point.
Westward you look towards Loch Eil and Glenfinnan.
Northwards lie Spean Bridge and Loch Lochy.
Towards the north-east rises the bulk of The Grey Corries while the summit of Aonach Mòr itself blocks the view east and south towards Aonach Beag and Ben Nevis.
The views are spectacular, as I hope you can tell from my photographs.
Although we were nowhere near the top and hadn’t climbed much anyway, it felt like a worthwhile achievement and a suitable high point (pun intended) of our cruise aboard Hebridean Princess.
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