Aonach Mòr

Aonach Mòr is a Munro in the Scottish Highlands, standing two kilometres northeast of Ben Nevis beside Glen Spean near Fort William. Its summit reaches 1,221 metres, though it is slightly lower than its neighbour Aonach Beag. The mountain’s name means ‘big ridge’, describing its bulk rather than its height. A high bealach links the two peaks, offering a challenging route for walkers. The quickest ascent starts from the Snowgoose Terminal at 650 metres, reached by gondola. Traditional routes begin in Glen Nevis, often combined with Aonach Beag. The mountain’s summit has a tundra climate with an annual mean temperature of 2.9 °C. July remains below 10 °C, and the tree line sits at about 500 metres. Coires on the mountain can hold snow year-round, including one of Scotland’s longest-lasting snow fields in Coire an Lochain. Winds during Cyclone Bodil reached 229 km/h on the summit. The contrast between sheltered snow patches and exposed ridges shapes the landscape. The Nevis Range ski area covers the northern and eastern slopes, opened in 1989 with 35 runs. Chairlifts and tows provide access to Scotland’s highest pistes and off-piste routes in Coire Dubh and Coire an Lochan. In summer, the gondola serves downhill mountain bike tracks that have hosted the World Cup eighteen times. Paragliders also use the gondola to reach launch points. The resort’s name once matched the mountain but later adopted ‘Nevis’, sparking debate over the loss of its Gaelic identity.