Highland | Laggan | Full day walk | ★★★★
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[Coire Ardair, Creag Meagaidh] |
Creag Meagaidh (which translates as the rather unflattering
boggy crag) is the highest summit in a sprawling massif slightly adrift of the Monadliath range above Loch Laggan. This circuit also takes in a further pair of less memorable Munro peaks (and several other minor summits) overlooking the north side of the captivating glen cut by the Allt Coire Ardair. The higher terrain is a vast plateau dotted with a few curious, rocky clefts; the contrast with the regenerating forest and burbling burn at glen level couldn't be greater. But the real highlight of the day has to be Coire Ardair: a sparkling lochan encircled by mighty crags adored by ice climbers in winter and by golden eagles year-round.
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[Walking back out along the stunning Allt Coire Ardair] |
📌 Walk: Mad Meggy & her ugly sisters
★★★★
Start / finish at car park for Craig Meagaidh NNR, A86 midway along Loch Laggan, G.R.: NN 483873 ///deep.shallower.simmer
▶ 21 km / 13 mi | ▲ 1080 m | ⌚ Full day |
⬤ Tough
Features: Creag Meagaidh NNR; △ Carn Liath (1006 m, Munro); △ Meall an t-Snaim (970 m); △ Sròn Coire a' Chriochairean (993 m); △ Stob Poite Coire Ardair (1054 m, Munro); △ Creag Meagaidh (1128 m, Munro); Coire Ardair
Terrain: Excellent path to Aberarder, and from Coire Ardair to the finish. Faint paths for much of the rest of the walk - including the main ascents - but some pathless sections on the plateaus. Steep, loose boulders and scree to descend into Coire Ardair.
Route & map
Car park - Aberarder - path junction at G.R.: NN 474883 - Carn Liath - Meall an t-Snaim - Sròn Coire a' Chriochairean - Stob Pointe Coire Ardair - west entrance to The Window - Creag Meagaidh - return to The Window - lochan in Coire Ardair - Aberarder - start
Route credit: Walkhighlands
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On our visit
Wildlife: Enormous slugs, millipedes and small birds low down in the forest; lots of bees on the plateau! Fish in Lochan a' Choire.
Weather: Unbroken sunshine, gentle breeze and temperature into low twenties at the base. Snow patches above 900 m or so.
Chronological photo guide
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[Aberarder is half a mile in and has toilets] |
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[Great views over Loch Laggan on the ascent] |
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[Part of the climb to Carn Liath is on a rough, muddy path] |
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[Ascending Carn Liath] |
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[Early views of Coire Ardair] |
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[Loch Laggan] |
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[Carn Liath summit] |
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[Looking back to Carn Liath from Meall an t-Snaim] |
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[Uinneag Mìn Choire] |
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[View back to Meall an t-Snaim] |
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[Coire Ardair from Sròn Coire a' Chriochairean] |
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[Ridge to Stob Poite Coire Ardair] |
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[View back along the ridge] |
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[Stob Poite Coire Ardair] |
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[Looking into the heart of the Monadhliath] |
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[Coire Ardair from Stob Poite Coire Ardair] |
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[Coire Ardair cliffs] |
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[Lochans below Creag Meagaidh's northern slopes] |
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[Looking down the Allt Coire Ardair from the ascent of Creag Meagaidh] |
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[Looking northwest] |
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[Mad Meg's Cairn; Creag Meagaidh's true summit beyond] |
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[Creag Meagaidh summit] |
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[The Window] |
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[Descent into Core Ardair] |
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[Looking back towards The Window] |
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[Coire Ardair] |
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[Rapids below Coire Ardair] |
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[Allt Coire Ardair] |
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[View back up the glen] |
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