Scrambles in Lochaber

A guidebook to scrambling in the Lochaber area around Glen Coe and Ben Nevis and throughout the Western Highlands. Includes Loch Laggan hills, Ben Alder, Mamores, Etive Hills, Blackmount, Cruachan, Appin hills, Ardgour, Loch Lochy area, Knoydart and South Glen Shiel. Well-known and hidden routes.

The guide describes some of the best scrambles to be found within 45km radius of the town of Fort William, an area which includes not only Ben Nevis and Glen Coe, but also Ben Alder to the east, Ben Cruachan to the south, Garbh Bheinn to the west and The Saddle to the north. Most of this area falls within the Lochaber Area of the Highland Council. It is the most popular area in the whole of Scotland with hillgoers, and justifiably so, for it contains some of the most varied and spectacular mountain scenery in the Highlands.

Fort William is readily accessible by road and rail, and serves as the centre for the tourist and outdoor enthusiast alike. Looming over the town is the highest mountain in the British Isles, Ben Nevis. ‘The Ben’ attracts the attention of peak-baggers from many nations, but the normal route to the summit is one of the dullest and most crowded up any mountain in the country. This guide is for those who seek more interesting routes than this.

A number of scrambles described here have been popular for years and are fairly well worn, but many others are little frequented and consequently have a certain pioneering atmosphere about them. Some experience of route finding will be useful in such cases. The majority of scrambles involve lengthy sections of hillwalking in approach or descent, and this should be taken into account when planning an outing.