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{{Short description|Mountain ridge in the Scottish Highlands}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Aonach Eagach
| photo = Aggy ridge.jpg
| photo_caption = The Aonach Eagach above the A82 road, looking up Glen Coe
| elevation_m = 967.7
| elevation_ref = <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?qu=M&rf=1003 |title=Aonach Eagach |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |year=2019 |publisher=Hill Bagging - the online version of the Database of British and Irish Hills (DoBIH) |access-date=19 June 2019}}</ref>
| prominence_m = 623
| prominence_ref = 
| parent_peak = [[Ben Alder]]
| listing = [[Munro]], [[Marilyn (hill)|Marilyn]]
| translation = notched ridge
| language = [[Scottish Gaelic language|Gaelic]]
| pronunciation = {{IPA|gd|ˈɯːnəx ˈekəx ˈs̪kɔɾ nəm ˈfian̪ˠɪ||Aonach Eagach.ogg}}
<ref>{{Cite episode| title = Aonach Eagach| url =https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aE4Z3_Q0N0|via=[[YouTube]]| series = The Munro Show
| credits = Presenter: [[Muriel Gray]], with pronunciation by [[Sorley MacLean]] | station = [[STV (TV network)|STV]] | airdate = 1991
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Aonach Eagach|url=http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fortwilliam/aonacheagach.shtml|work=walkhighlands|access-date=30 January 2011}}</ref>
| location = [[Glen Coe]], Scotland
| range = [[Grampian Mountains]]
| grid_ref_UK = NN141583
| topo = [[Ordnance Survey|OS]] ''Landranger'' 41
| first_ascent = 
| easiest_route = 
}}
The {{langnf|gd|'''Aonach Eagach'''|notched ridge}} is a large mountain [[ridge]] in the [[Scottish Highlands]], marking the northern edge of [[Glen Coe]]. It stretches east–west for several miles and includes two [[Munro]] summits: '''Sgùrr nam Fiannaidh''' at 967&nbsp;m (3,175&nbsp;ft) high, and '''Meall Dearg''' at 952&nbsp;m (3,124&nbsp;ft) high. The ridge is very rocky and the route along it requires [[scrambling]] ability. The slopes to each side are extremely dangerous, with steep grass-and-scree slopes hiding even steeper slopes which end in cliffs on both north and south sides of the ridge.

==Climbing==
[[File:Aonach Eagach - geograph.org.uk - 2525913.jpg|thumb|left|Meall Dearg]]
{{GB summits start}}
{{GB summits entry
|Name= Sgorr nam Fiannaidh
|Gridref=NN14065830
|Height=967.7&nbsp;m (3,175&nbsp;ft)
|Status=[[Munro]]}}
{{GB summits entry
|Name=Meall Dearg
|Gridref=NN16135835 
|Height=952.2&nbsp;m (3,124&nbsp;ft)
|Status=[[Munro]]}}{{end}}

The Aonach Eagach is usually regarded as the most difficult horizontal '[[scrambling]]' ridge in mainland Scotland, though it vies with [[Liathach]] (and, in winter, [[An Teallach]]) for this title. In his book "Scrambles in Lochaber", local climber Noel Williams warns that there are no other ridges in the area that are "so narrow and so difficult to escape from once committed. Some sections are extremely exposed. This makes it a difficult outing to grade, because the technical difficulties are not great".<ref name=williams1996p88>{{cite book|last=Williams|first=Noel|title=Scrambles in Lochaber|year=1996|publisher=Cicerone Press Ltd|location=Milnthorpe, Cumbria, UK|isbn=978-1-85284-234-5|page=88}}</ref> Williams settled on grade 2,<ref>{{Cite web |title=How to scramble Aonach Eagach - The British Mountaineering Council |url=https://www.thebmc.co.uk/en/how-to-scramble-aonach-eagach |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=www.thebmc.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> implying it is easier than the (optional) grade 2/3 approach scramble up A'Chailleach, but added a further warning (in bold type) that "there are no safe descents on the south side of the ridge".<ref name=williams1996p90>{{cite book|last=Williams|first=Noel|title=Scrambles in Lochaber|year=1996|publisher=Cicerone Press Ltd|location=Milnthorpe, Cumbria, UK|isbn=978-1-85284-234-5|page=90}}</ref>

The Aonach Eagach is normally tackled from the Glen Coe (south) side in an east–west traverse. The best parking for this scrambling route is located just off the A82 at grid reference NN 17335674.<ref>{{cite web |title=Aonach Eagach Scramble |url=https://www.ukscrambles.com/scotland-scrambles/aonach-eagach/ |website=UK Scrambles |access-date=30 July 2018}}</ref> From Allt-na-reigh near the head of Glen Coe a good path ascends Am Bodach (a subsidiary [[Munro]] top) and continues westwards along the ridge to the first Munro proper, [[Meall Dearg (Aonach Eagach)|Meall Dearg]].

From here the summit of Sgorr nam Fiannaidh lies only two kilometres to the west, but a number of pinnacles must be scrambled over, and it is not uncommon for parties to take more than two hours to cross this short distance. There are a couple of sections where the use of a [[rope]] may prove prudent.{{More detail needed}}

In winter, the ridge is a fine expedition,{{According to whom|date=December 2024}} though considerably harder than in summer ([[Scottish winter grade|Scottish Winter Grade]] I/II), and many parties will go roped for some sections. Because of the short winter days, benightment on the ridge or its approaches is also not infrequent.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

Competent summer scramblers have plenty of time to reverse the ridge and descend Am Bodach, saving a walk back up the glen.<ref name="williams1996p90"/>

From Sgorr nam Fiannaidh, the most direct descent is to head south by southwest, down a steep zig-zag [[Trail|path]] leading by the side of Clachaig [[gully]]. This 'path' is exceptionally steep and extremely loose in places, and has many small rock steps; it approaches close to the main gully in several places and so is potentially dangerous (fatal accidents have occurred here). A gentler alternative is to continue along the ridge, until reaching the [[Mountain pass|bealach]] between Sgorr nam Fiannaidh and the [[Pap of Glencoe]]. From here a track heads down the hillside, ending on the road just outside [[Glencoe, Scotland|Glencoe village]]. It is also possible to retreat approximately 200&nbsp;m east from the summit of Sgorr nam Fiannaidh and descend directly down the scree slope to Loch Achtriochtan, taking care to avoid being drawn into gullies further down. This descent also requires care, particularly near the top, but is still far safer than the Clachaig Gully descent.

Alternatively, the two Munros may be climbed individually by simply descending by the route of ascent. However it is for the [[Traverse (climbing)|traverse]] that the Aonach Eagach is best known.

=== Incidents ===
Hill walkers are urged to use caution when attempting Aonach Eagach, and fatalities on the route are not unknown.

* In summer 2009, two experienced hill walkers were fatally injured in separate incidents after falling into the Clachaig Gully along the ridge.<ref>{{Cite web |title=grough — Second ridge walker's death prompts safety calls |url=https://www.grough.co.uk/magazine/2009/07/19/second-ridge-walkers-death-prompts-safety-calls |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=www.grough.co.uk}}</ref>
* In September 2014, experienced hill walker Lisa MacDermid fell nearly 492 feet while hiking the ridge when she was fatally injured.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-09-25 |title=Lisa MacDermid of Crieff dies in fall from ridge |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-29364713 |access-date=2024-12-06 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>
* In July 2016, a hill walker from Aberdeen fell while walking the Aonach Eagach ridge.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-07-27 |title=Walker who fell to death in Glen Coe was from Aberdeen |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-36902790 |access-date=2024-12-06 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>
* In August 2017, experienced fell runner Stuart Thompson fell 20 to 30m to his death in the Clachaig Gully on the western end on Aonach Eagach.<ref>{{Cite web |title=grough — Stuart Thompson named as man who fell to his death on Glen Coe's Aonach Eagach |url=https://www.grough.co.uk/magazine/2017/08/04/stuart-thompson-named-as-man-who-fell-to-his-death-on-glen-coes-aonach-eagach |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=www.grough.co.uk}}</ref>
* In 2022, a body found in the Clachaig Gully was confirmed to be 57-year-old Alan Taylor who went missing from the Dundee area in September 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wilkie |first=Stephen |date=September 2, 2022 |title=Police Scotland say two missing person cases have ended in tragedy |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/people/police-scotland-say-two-missing-person-cases-have-ended-in-tragedy-3828641 |work=The Scotsman}}</ref>
* In August 2023, two climbers and their mountain guide were killed while attempting to traverse Aonach Eagach.<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 August 2023 |title=Three climbers found dead in Glen Coe |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-66427686 |work=BBC}}</ref>

==Devil's Staircase==
A path known as the '''Devil's Staircase''' crosses the range about 6&nbsp;km east of Meall Dearg. Today, as part of the [[West Highland Way]], it is used primarily by walkers and mountain bikers travelling between [[Kinlochleven]] and [[Glencoe, Highland|Glencoe]].

The Devil's Staircase was given its name by the soldiers who were part of the [[Old military roads of Scotland|road building programme]] of [[George Wade|General Wade]], because of the difficulties of carrying building materials up that stretch of the road. Later, however, the road lived up to its name when workers building the [[Blackwater Reservoir|Blackwater Dam]] chose to travel to the [[Kings House Hotel]] after they had been paid, rather than walking down to Kinlochleven. The journey to the pub often proved to be more difficult than they realised and on the return trip, after a few drinks on a cold winter's night, the devil often "claimed his own".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.glencoe-scotland.net/walks.html|title=Great walks:Devil's Staircase|last=Anon|work=Discover Glencoe and Lochleven|publisher=Glencoe and Lochleven Marketing Group|access-date=16 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091216225426/http://www.glencoe-scotland.net/walks.html|archive-date=16 December 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1692, the path was the approach route for the (apparently delayed) troops coming from Kinlochleven to provide reinforcements for the [[Massacre of Glencoe]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Scottish Munros section 3}}
{{British hills}}

{{Coord|56.679|-5.037|display=title}}

[[Category:Munros]]
[[Category:Marilyns of Scotland]]
[[Category:Mountains and hills of the Central Highlands]]
[[Category:Climbing areas of Scotland]]
[[Category:Ridges of Scotland]]
[[Category:Mountains and hills of Highland (council area)]]
[[Category:Glen Coe]]