The Ring of Steall: Four Munros Above Glen Nevis

The Ring of Steall is one of the finest single-day rounds in Scotland: four Munros linked in a horseshoe high above Glen Nevis, taking in a spectacular waterfall, a wire bridge, and the notorious Devil's Ridge. It packs a huge amount of the best of the Mamores into one memorable — and demanding — day. Here's what it involves.

The four Munros

The round takes in An Gearanach (982m), Stob Coire a' Chàirn (981m), Am Bodach (1,032m) and Sgùrr a' Mhàim (1,099m), connected by high ridges. It's a big day — around 16km and 1,500m of ascent — with sustained high-level walking and one genuine scramble. Most walkers take eight to ten hours.

The Steall Falls and the wire bridge

The day begins with the walk into the Nevis gorge to the magnificent Steall Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in Britain. Here you'll meet the famous three-wire bridge across the river — an optional but memorable crossing (there are alternatives if the river is low). It's a dramatic start to a dramatic day.

The Devil's Ridge

The round's crux is the Devil's Ridge, the narrow, exposed arête leading to Sgùrr a' Mhàim near the end of the day. It's a Grade 1 scramble with real exposure and a famous narrow section that concentrates the mind — spectacular in good conditions, serious in bad. Coming as it does towards the end of a long day, tired legs and any deterioration in weather make it feel harder than the grade suggests. A head for heights is essential.

How to do it well

Choose a clear, dry, settled day — the Devil's Ridge is no place to be in high wind or on wet rock, and the whole round is exposed to the elements for hours. Go early: it's a long day and you don't want to be rushing the scramble. Carry plenty of food and water, and be honest about your scrambling comfort — if the Devil's Ridge is beyond you, Sgùrr a' Mhàim can be avoided or taken by an easier line, though you'll miss the highlight. The Ring of Steall is a step up from a normal Munro day; it belongs to walkers with hill fitness and some scrambling experience. For the bigger picture of the range, see our guide to Munro bagging in the Mamores.

Related guides

• Munro bagging in the Mamores
• How many Munros can you climb in a day?
• Scrambling grades explained
• Munros tracking app — offline maps and route for the full horseshoe