Aonach air Chrith

Aonach air Chrith is a 1 021-metre Munro and Marilyn in the Northwest Highlands. Its Gaelic name means ‘shaking ridge’ and it stands between Loch Cluanie and Loch Quoich in a broad upland sweep. The mountain forms the highest point of the South Glen Shiel Ridge, a chain of seven Munros stretching fourteen kilometres south from Glen Shiel. To the north the ridge drops steeply into Glen Shiel, while to the south grassy slopes fall away into Glen Quoich. The northern face is rockier, cut by deep corries that descend almost to the valley floor. Walkers often tackle the ridge as a full-day traverse, starting from either end. From the east the usual starting point is the Cluanie Inn on the A87, while from the west it is the Malagan Bridge. The traverse can also be broken by climbing Aonach air Chrith directly from the Cluanie Inn via its north-east ridge, which includes short scrambling sections. Another route climbs steeply from Glen Quoich by a zig-zag stalkers’ path to the ridge between Aonach air Chrith and the neighbouring Maol Chinn-dearg. The summit is marked by a cairn and commands wide views across the glens. A striking north-east ridge called Druim na Ciche leads to the 830-metre subsidiary top A’ Chioch. To the west the ridge narrows to the 981-metre Maol Chinn-dearg, and to the east it continues to the 987-metre Druim Shionnach. Between the northern ridges lie Coire nan Eirecheanach and Coire na Doire Duibhe, while Coire an t-Slugain opens on the eastern flank. The mountain’s steep, exposed ridges and deep corries make it a serious outing for experienced hillgoers.