UKC

If I do the Aonach Eagach ridge east to west, starting up Am Bodach leaving the car near the meeting of three waters, what's the best way to get back?

It sounds like the descent at the west end is no fun and from the map it looks like a significant part of walking back along the valley is on the main road - not ideal.

Am I missing something, or alternatively would it be better (and more fun) to "just" reverse the whole thing once on Sgorr nam Fiannaidh?

Hitch.

I had wondered about that. But how reliable is it, always the danger of it turning into a three mile trudge.

Definitely better to reverse it, the scrambling ends after the pinnacles so you can turn around there if you don't need to bag the second Munro

Standing by a safe stopping spot, on a busy road in the Highlands, with my rucksack on display so everyone can see I'm a walker or climber, I've never waited more than about 10 mins for a lift.

No need to walk on the A82. There is a path (not marked on OS map) on the S side of the road, starting from the E end of the car park at Achnambeithach, then continuing along the old road from Achtriochtan, before finally slanting up to the A82 near the start of the path up to Am Bodach. Even where the path is close to the road it's generally below road level, doesn't feel like you're walking beside the traffic, and is not unpleasant. 

Descending from Sgorr nam Fiannaidh via the Pap of Glencoe path doesn't involve any scrambling, unless you nip up the Pap, but again, is not unpleasant. From the bottom of the Pap path, another foot/cycle path ("Glencoe orbital") takes you to the Clachaig in maybe 30 mins. Maybe another 45 mins to the car from the Clachaig, but reasonable chance of hitching from the junction with the A82, if you want. It could be a bit quicker overall to reverse the ridge, and more 'fun', if you enjoyed it E-W, albeit you will likely be going against the flow on a good day at this time of year. But descending W and coming back along the glen is also fine IMO.

I've done it at least 5 times. First time we hitched, second time we did it both directions, 3rd had a vehicle at each end, 4th in winter asked the youth hostel to phone for a taxi, there were 2 parties from the traverse so it worked out about a fiver each.

The last time other half continued on to the Pap and I went back for the car. I back tracked a bit from the second Munro and then descended steeply and diagonally back towards the a82. That reduces the walk a fair bit and there are traces of a path/ animal tracks. Once down at the road I had about 2km left to go to the car.  It's not a very pleasant way off, it's steep and tick infested. 

I waited about 40 minutes last time. Hitching from the bus stop in Glencoe village. Eventually you get a lift, but it's getting less reliable. I picked up a guy at the Cluanie Inn recently who was on the point of giving up.

You must have been lucky so far. 

🤣🤣🤣

Although I'm not trying for the lot, whilst I'm there...

It's a round trip of an hour and a bit from the bealach at the end of the scrambling to Fiannaidh and back. Especially in summer that's still a viable option. The ridge is no harder west to east.

I’ve never not been able to get a lift back either by hitching in older days or over the last decade or so whilst having a drink in the Clachaig just asking people who are leaving if they’re driving up the glen…

If you're resigning yourself to walking anyway, you could park at the west end and walk to your start point at the east first (see DH3631 post about the path). That way the dull part's done with early and you can finish close to your car

Did it a few years ago and followed this route https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fortwilliam/aonacheagach.shtml

Except we parked on the other side of the river to the Clachaig and walked up to 3 sisters. Didn't feel it added that much, plus there's was a track south of the road after the loch if I remember rightly. 

Another bonus is a finishing line pint. 

Thanks all for the advice - now I just need some decent weather - would rather avoid any slippery rock - on days that I have off (not this or next weekend ☹)

I suspect, as long as any good weather on the day holds, that I'll get to the end and reverse back. If the weather deteriorates it'll be down to the valley, pint and then walk or hitch.

West to East and return along the ridge, that way you start and finish at the pub.

Just sand-bag one of your mates to be the designated driver.😁.

Alternatively you could talk to folks you meet along the way, and may find someone who’ll offer you a lift back.

Remember anyone from South of the Highland Boundary Fault assumes strangers who try and engage them in conversation as weird. Unless they’re from Glasgow in which case it’s an open invitation for them to pull your leg. Whereas if they are from the Home Counties you’ll get the 1000yard Tube commuter stare, but that will pale into insignificance to the cold rebuff and disdain taught, and strictly followed by Instructors, on how to interact with non-guided parties on the hill. So chose your candidate lift with care…..

No need reverse the whole ridge from Sgorr nam Fiannaidh, just return a short distance and follow the path down to the road junction, (the Clachaig turn off from A82) From there its 3km back to the car, footpath on S side as already mentioned.

This. It really wasn't that far and didn't take that long just to walk W to E parallel to the A82 off the road on a path. We started from the Clachaig (so a bit of road walking I think) and didn't find it at all unpleasant, then headed up Am Bodach and did the ridge E to W. Walk back to Clachaig after coming down was easy and brief. It was a perfect September day though

Reversing would also be fun if you are so inclined.

I did it 45 years ago at a time when I was climbing strongly and very fit. I’m away from home at the moment, so can’t look it up in my logbook, but IIRC we came down on the west side of the Clachaig Gully, which was very steep but OK with careful route finding. My climbing partner Robert then went into the Clachaig Inn, and I walked up the whole of Glencoe by the road to retrieve my car, rejoining him in the bar over an hour later.

Done it several times, from baking hot sunshine, to glorious snow, and even twice in wet and misty conditions. Never understood what the problem is with the descent by Clachaig gully. One time we descended down what would be, looking up, the terrain on to the right of the gully direct to the road junction, it shortened the walk back to the car, but we got a lift anyway.

Always managed a lift back down the road,

Last occasion I did it we parked at the Clachaig, climbed Clachaig Gully and finished along the ridge. A glorious day  out. 

John

There's a couple of variations to get down. The first steps off the ridge are loose but OK and it quickly becomes better. 

p.s. If you give me a call, I'll give you a lift (I live in Ballachulish). Message me! I don't like the walk down via the pap bealach but the sunset from walk looking down Loch Leven to Ardgour is amazing!!

I wonder whether that could be one of the UKs most hitch-hiked stretches road. I hitched back up myself after a fine meal and a few in the pub.

It's not a question of necessity. Reversing the ridge is better than the road walk or hitching. I always do it if I have the time, energy and weather. 

That said, the descent to Glencoe village is spectacular. I guess everyone has their own aesthetics.

Done it twice in the last 10 yrs and both times descended west from Sgorr nam Fiannaidh and avoiding Clachaig gully. Every guidebook seemed to recommend that descent and we found it perfectly fine. 
 

Both times we stopped for a pint in the Clachaig and then attempted to hitch hike back the car with no success and ended up doing the ~1 hour schlep along the track south of the A82. No big deal but if we had 2 cars that would have been better but didn’t take away from a fantastic day out.