Previously I would have said that the hardest Munros I’d bagged would have been on the Aonach Eagach. Having now completed the Liathach ridge, I feel Liathach makes the Aonach Eagach feel like a wee stroll along the beach.
There are six peaks along the 7km ridge of Liathach, two of which are Munros. Liathach is incredibly rugged and spiky as you creek your neck looking up the terraced slopes from the car park. It’s a relentless climb up to the ridge up the burn with stunning views as the reward.
In between the two munros are a number of tops and Pinnacles. Top picture above - followed by where we'd come from and then third picture where we were heading. Book says you just need to be able to scramble. I got half way up the first pinnacle and decided it wasn’t for me. This realisation was as I watched one of my pal’s straddling a narrow piece of rock –like she was riding a horse, and shuffling across. With 3000 ft drop on either side. Definitely not for me. While my pals continued along the pinnacles I took what is called the chicken run or feartie’s route a wee path which crosses a shelf below the pinnacles: a badly eroded exposed path. About the width of my two feet. Relief beyond belief as I saw the path and ridge broaden out. By the time my pals caught up with me, my palpitations and wobbly knees had abated.
As for coming off Liathach, well we decided against the steep scree run and zigzagged our way down the far end. Not for the faint hearted either. An amazing day out!
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