Mountain Challenges in The Scottish Highlands

Tranter’s Round – Glen Nevis

Highland Guides associate Nick Carter made the second successful winter traverse of this substantial round of 18 Lochaber Munro’s in a continuous push of 29 hours 23 minutes in January 2001. That time has been improved on now but the winter round still awaits a 24 hour completion – perhaps it will get one this coming winter. Any takers?

It is more often, although still not very frequently, completed in summer with the traditional approach aiming to finish the round in one sub 24 hour push. Even in summer this is still good going considering the 40 miles and 6300m of ascent over some very rough terrain in the dark. However the effort is well worth it as this is a classic mountain journey incorporating the Mamores, Grey Corries, Aonachs and Ben Nevis before returning to the traditional starting point of the Youth Hostel in Glen Nevis.

An easier version of this route which halves both distance and height gain (but is still a long day on the hill) aims to traverse all the Munro summits and tops of the Mamores. 21 miles and about 3000m of ascent.

Scottish 4000 footers – Lochaber – Cairngorms

Also starting from Glen Nevis Youth Hostel this route does not also finish there but a meaty 83 miles away at Glen More Youth Hostel after completing the Scottish 4000 foot peaks of Lochaber and the Cairngorms. With just over 5000m feet of ascent this is another outing that’s not for the faint hearted! Although, remarkably, this traverse has been done in Just under 22 hours (by Martin Stone in 1986) it is more normal to attempt it over 2, still both large, days on the hill.

The two individual sections both break down neatly into highly satisfying days in their own right and can be linked on the road by bike, or even by car! In October 05 our attempt on the complete traverse was called off in very wet and windy autumn weather but a good day was had nonetheless traversing Aonach Mor (which is actually only 3999ft but included anyway) and Aonach Beag followed by the excellent Carn Mor Dearg Arete and over Ben Nevis.

The Round of Glen Coe

Conveniently starting and finishing at the famous Clachaig Inn a pint of the local Heather Ale will certainly be going to your head after this ‘wee outing’. At 19 miles and 3800m of ascent this is statistically not one of the longest outings mentioned here but it is clearly a tough day over constantly broken, and rocky highland ground and the finish along the famous scrambling traverse of the Aonach Eagach requires a cool head at the end of a long day.

Black Cuillin Ridge – Skye

Although rather out of character with most of the other routes mentioned here, both due to its reduced distance and significantly increased technical difficulty, this traverse has to be included as it is clearly the finest single mountaineering outing in the UK. The straight 8 mile distance and 7000 feet of ascent should not induce any complacency as this is almost constantly exposed scrambling ground with various short sections of rock climbing and abseil descents. Whether it’s done in a long, tiring, day or, more romantically, with a bivvi halfway along the ridge it is an absolute must for those suitably prepared and wanting one of the best experiences the British Hills have to offer.