The Ring of Steall
Through the Nevis gorge, over the wire bridge below Steall Falls, and round four Mamores including the Devil's Ridge.
- Distance
- 16.2 km
- Ascent
- 1640 m
- Time
- 6.5–9 h
- Grade
- Hard
- Route
- Circular
- High point
- 1099 m
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Route mapped on from OpenStreetMap paths, with heights from EU-DEM terrain data; not yet checked on the ground by TRXO. Added to TRXO on . For planning only: always navigate with an up-to-date map such as OS Explorer or Harvey. How we make our routes.
About this walk
The Ring of Steall is a hard 16.2 km circular walk with 1,640 m of ascent, taking 6.5 to 9 hours. It starts at Glen Nevis road-end car park (grid reference NN 172 689). It climbs 4 listed hills, the highest Sgurr a' Mhaim at 1,099 m.
The Ring of Steall is one of the great Scottish horseshoes. It starts at the end of the Glen Nevis road with the path through the Nevis gorge to the meadows below An Steall Bàn, one of Britain's highest waterfalls. A three-wire bridge crosses the Water of Nevis (it can be avoided only by wading).
The route climbs An Gearanach, crosses its narrow ridge to Stob Coire a' Chàirn and Am Bodach, then follows the ridge west over the Devil's Ridge, a narrow, exposed crest, to Sgùrr a' Mhàim. The descent drops down the north-west ridge to Glen Nevis.
Route
-
1
The Nevis gorge
Follow the path through the gorge to the Steall meadows and cross the wire bridge.
-
2
An Gearanach to Am Bodach
Climb An Gearanach, follow its narrow ridge to Stob Coire a' Chàirn, then climb Am Bodach.
-
3
The Devil's Ridge
Follow the ridge west and cross the Devil's Ridge to Sgùrr a' Mhàim.
-
4
Down to the glen
Descend the north-west ridge to Glen Nevis and walk back up the road.
Summits
982 m
981 m
1032 m
1099 m
On the way
-
Steall WaterfallWaterfall · on the route
Other routes up these hills
Questions about this walk
- How long does The Ring of Steall take?
- Most walkers take 6.5–9 hours for the 16.2 km route, which has 1,640 m of ascent. That allows for short stops; give yourself longer in winter, in poor weather or with a group.
- Where does the walk start, and where can I park?
- It starts at Glen Nevis road-end car park (grid reference NN 172 689). Car park at the end of the Glen Nevis road; very busy in summer.
- Can I get there by public transport?
- Not easily: there's no regular bus or train to the start, so you'll need a car, a lift or a long walk in.
- How hard is it?
- It's graded hard. Gorge path with drops; a wire bridge; steep, rocky ridges; the narrow, exposed Devil's Ridge with easy scrambling.
- Which hills does it climb?
- Sgurr a' Mhaim (1099 m, Munro); Am Bodach (1032 m, Munro); An Gearanach (982 m, Munro); Stob Coire a' Chairn (981 m, Munro).
- Can I take my dog?
- It isn't recommended for dogs. Before you go: Deer stalking takes place on these hills from mid-August to October. Stick to the main paths and check Heading for the Scottish Hills before you go. The wire bridge needs a good head for heights; the river is impassable in spate.
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Walks nearby
All walks near Kinlochleven
Am Bodach from Glen Nevis road-end car park
Glen Nevis road-end car park
13.4 km · 1520 m · 5.5–8 h
An Gearanach from Glen Nevis road-end car park
Glen Nevis road-end car park
8.1 km · 980 m · 3.5–5 h
Stob Coire a' Chairn from Glen Nevis road-end car park
Glen Nevis road-end car park
10.3 km · 1180 m · 4.5–6 h