Introduction
These summits loosely form an arc around the eastern end of Loch Nevis. The southern end of this arc is formed by Sgurr na h-Aide while further north is Sgurr na Ciche and Ben Aden. Round to the west are the summits of Luinne Bheinn, Meall Bhuide and Beinn Bhuidhe. All the summits are characteristically knobbly and rough and a serious proposition in demanding weather.

It's very remote place. Sourlies Bothy is a good base from which many a walk can be started. From the road at Loch Arkaig, it will take about 4 hours to reach this bothy. A third of the distance is along a landrover track, while the remaining two-thirds of the route is along a path of variable quality. The path certainly isn't as bad as some writings have made it out to be, but the quality is typical of a highland cross country path.

The west ridge of Sgurr na Coireachan

Sgurr na Coireachan and Garbh Chioch Mhor
Continuing on from the Glen Kingie page, Sgurr na Coireachan lies directly north of Glen Dessary. From the saddle with An Eag, the northwestern ridge provides an easy ascent with a route to be followed past some easy angled slabs just above the bealach. The descent west from the summit is the steepest part of the ridge into Knoydart. There is a well worn path going down it however. Following this path is easy without snow or ice, but the slope is not a place for inexperienced winter hillwalkers. The saddle at the bottom of this ridge is broad with a wide boggy basin opening out south of the saddle.

The east ridge of Garbh Chioch Mhor

Sgurr na Ciche seen from Garbh Choich Mhor

The ridge continues to Garbh Chioch Mhor following a stone wall on the crest of the ridge. It's a long 2km slog to the summit and it undulates rather a lot as well. The descent from Garbh Chioch Mhor to Sgurr na Ciche is steeper and shorter. Just one or two easy rock steps get in the way. From here, Sgurr na Ciche looks forbidding however a stable path winds its way along the top edge of a scree fan. The path is eroded and you get the feeling that it's often busy up here.

Sgurr na Ciche
Sgurr na Ciche can also be reached from Loch Nevis via its south western ridge direct from sea level! The climb is long and also a bit of a slog near the summit.

Sgurr na Ciche seen from the other end of Loch Quoich

Sgurr na Ciche and Garbh Choich Mhor seen from the south

From Glen Dessary, there is an interesting route to take upto the saddle between Garbh Chioch Mhor and Sgurr na Ciche. Just beyond the watershed of Glen Dessary to the west, ascend slopes to a grassy ridge where it abuts on to Garbh Chioch Mhor's steep crags. Follow the base of these crags round to a ravine separating Sgurr na Ciche with Garbh Chioch Mhor. The ravine provides easy access to the saddle, but it is quite rocky in places and fresh scars from the walls above suggest that this would not be a place to linger.

The best route on/off this mountain, however, is the north eastern ridge. It's steep and slightly scrambly near the top, no path, and leads to very remote country. The lower part of this ridge is broader but regular rock steps cause you to seek diversions. This leads to a slabby bealach and a knobbly ridge follows round westwards to the ascent of Ben Aden.

Sgurr na Ciche and Ben Aden seen from the west

Ben Aden
Ben Aden is smashing! Probably the roughest summit demanding precise route finding from all directions. The summit isn't as sharp as Sgurr na Ciche - a small plateau near the top but very steep on all sides. The face seen on the ridge from Sgurr na Ciche looks forbidding but an easy way can be found up a grassy rake to the main summit ridge. This ridge is a scramble but can be circumvented from the north.

Ben Aden and Meall Bhuidhe seen from Sgurr Mor

The eastern slopes of Ben Aden

The east north east ridge of Ben Aden

The best/easiest route up is from the east end of Lochan nan Breac. A stream can be followed up into the eastern corrie of Ben Aden where either the east north east ridge can be followed (grade 1 scramble) or a steep (sometimes slabby) route can be taken up to the broad east ridge. Other routes are said to exist ascending the south western slopes but I haven't done them.

Sgurr na h-Aide & Carn Mor
South of Glen Dessary lies two Corbetts worth climbing. I haven't done them but one offers views right down the length of Loch Morar while the other is quite spectacular with craggy bluffs everywhere. The western slopes are particularly isolated as no paths run here and two rivers block access to the east end of Morar.

Sgurr na h-Aide south
of Glen Dessary

Beinn Bhuidhe
On the north side of Loch Nevis lies Beinn Bhuidhe. This 855m summit has an unhindered drop right down to the loch from the summit. It's summit is characteristically knobbly and broad. The west end of the mountain rises up from near moorland near Inverie while the east end drops to the highest pass in Knoydart - Mam Meadail at 600m. This carries the most direct path to Glen Dessary. No path exists along the shoreline of Loch Nevis to the end of Loch Nevis.

Beinn Bhuidhe seen from Meall Bhuidhe

Meall Bhuidhe seen from the west

Looking west from Meall Bhuidhe

Meall Bhuidhe
North of this Beinn Bhuidhe lies Meall Bhuidhe. This mountain overlooks a deep corrie to its north, and its ridge extending east from the summit is quite knobbly. It has the appearance of a serious peak when seen from the east, but from the west it's appearance is more sublime.

Meall Bhuidie seen from Luinne Bheinn

A good track can be followed in all the way from Inverie to the bottom of its western slope. From here it's a long slog upto the summit, steep at first but relenting onto a broad ridge at the 400m countour. After a minor top at 826m, a full view of its summit can be had. The descent down the east ridge towards Luinne Bheinn (described here) starts with a steep drop, but this is not difficult. Beyond the drop to the saddle is along a broad, but sometimes rocky ridge. Beyond the saddle lies a rise upto point 839m where the ridge turns north to a saddle before the final rise to Luinne Bheinn.