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Sron na Lairig and Beinn Fhada,
Glencoe
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Grade: 2/1
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A fine round trip at the lower end of
Glencoe's rich scrambling menu, the route also gives you the
option of bagging the Munro of Bidean nam
Bein.
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Equipment: Rope, slings not
necessary.
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Online Map link
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Views: 4
Technicality: 2
Exposure: 2
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GIBBER FACTOR* 2
*out of
five.
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Overview Glencoe is famous for its stunning scenery and wide
array of scrambling routes, with classics like Curved Ridge and
Crowberry Tower, Barn Wall and the Aonach Eagach.
Sron na Lairig and Beinn Fhada provide an alternative at the lower
end of the grading scale and a fine round trip with an option to bag
the dominating munro of Bidean nam Bein, one of the Three Sisters of
Glencoe.
Approach From the A82 Glencoe road take the path that
follows Lairig Eilde towards Glen Etive, starting at
NN
187 562.
Cross the Allt Lairig Eilde at a ford and continue uphill between
Bheinn Fhada on your right and Beauchaill Etive Beag on your left.
After fording several tributaries the ridge of Sron na Lairig
appears. As you approach the bealach a large slab marks the start of
the Sron na Lairig arete.
Route The opening slab gives a variety of routes, picking and
choosing your line on how easy or hard you want to make it. Whichever
line you select the rock below your feet is solid and grippy.
The slab leads to a wide and well-vegetated platform with much
steeper ground above. Move left to avoid this harder ground and
ascend again to where the gradient decreases.
As the ridge starts to steepen again the ground becomes more
shattered and loose, and care should be taken. Now move upwards to
gain the crest of the ridge and be prepared to protect less
experienced members as the exposure increases.
A temporary respite comes with a slight levelling of the arete
before the crest narrows and the drops to either side become more
pronounced.
Richard G's shot of the Three Sisters from his OM album
Finally a tower appears blocking the route to the summit, but a
move left here to a steep and grassy gully provides a line onto
easier ground and the main summit ridge.
Stob Coire Sgreamhach appears ahead and a pleasant walk along the
ridge will take you easily to its summit. Having made it this far
it's well worth the extra mile along the ridge, dropping down to the
Bealach Dearg then up the other side to summit Bidean nan Bian. Along
the way you pass the "Lost Valley" of Coire Gabhail to your right.
Descent Returning to Stob Coire Sgreamhach the descent lies
along Beinn Fhada, and is an easier proposition than the ascent
route, but still requires a degree of scrambling.
The hardest section comes early in the descent as you drop to the
first bealach. The best line follows the right hand side initially,
then switches to the left hand side as you approach easier ground.
Now follow the undulating ridge between The Lost Valley and Lairig
Eilde as you descend.
As you approach the end of the ridge a path breaks off to the right
to avoid the steep ridge end and drops you back down easily into the
Lairig Eilde. From here just retrace your initial approach to the
starting point.
Caution Scrambling is potentially dangerous and,
particularly at the higher grades, requires technical skills and
equipment to minimise the risk. We suggest that you take professional
instruction or climb with an experienced partner.
Clive Griffiths
