Sgùrr Èilde Mòr

Sgùrr Èilde Mòr, at 1,010 metres, is an eastern outlier of the Mamores, a steep cone of scree and rock standing apart from the main ridge above Coire an Lochain, giving an unforgiving but rewarding ascent with views of great depth.

The route starts from the car park beside St Paul's Church in Kinlochleven, signed for the Grey Mare's Tail. A path climbs through woodland onto open moor, crossing a vehicle track before continuing on a stalkers' path around the southern flank of Sgòr Eilde Beag towards Loch Èilde Mòr — a sharp zig-zag left should be taken here rather than following a peaty path that peters out. The route traverses around Sgòr Eilde Beag, curving left and staying high above the loch but below crags, giving a daunting view of Sgùrr Èilde Mòr across the lochan below, before reaching a four-way path junction. Turning right for Sgùrr Èilde Mòr, the path continues towards the corrie, entering the col-like hollow of Coire an Lochain — an idyllic spot popular with wild campers — before leaving the main path to reach the outflow of the lochan and climbing a rough scree path up the mountain's broad southern flank to the summit, a brilliant, isolated viewpoint away from the main Mamores crest.

The descent heads west along a short, well-defined ridge before a path drops right for a steep, eroded zig-zag descent of the north-west flank; near the foot of the hill, cutting off right onto grassier slopes leads past lochans on the col towards Binnein Beag.

Combined with Binnein Beag, the round trip from Kinlochleven is typically a demanding six to eight hours; the classic epic challenge for very fit walkers extends this into a full traverse of all four eastern Mamores summits — Sgùrr Èilde Mòr, Binnein Beag, Binnein Mòr, and Na Gruagaichean — in a single very long day of eleven to twelve hours or more.

The ascent and descent are both on steep, unforgiving scree and boulders that demand care, particularly on tired legs — several regular visitors describe the scree as genuinely two steps up, one step back on the way up, and equally awkward underfoot on the way down.

Parking at Kinlochleven is free; buses serve the village from Fort William and Glencoe.