Coire na Ba, Na Gruagaichean, Binnein Mor and Sgor Eilde Beag Loop

This is a big Mamores circuit above Kinlochleven that packs a great deal into roughly 15 km / 9.3 miles, with about 1,100 m / 3,610 ft of ascent. Expect a serious mountain day rather than a simple hillwalk: long, steep climbing from low level, exposed high ridges, rocky summit ground, and a descent that can feel every bit as demanding as the ascent. HiiKER lists the route at about 15.5 km / 9.6 miles with 1,120 m / 3,675 ft of elevation gain, while nearby route descriptions for closely related variations from Kinlochleven come out a little higher depending on the exact line taken. (hiiker.app)

The route starts in Kinlochleven, near St Paul’s Church and the Grey Mare’s Tail car park, which is the clearest nearby landmark and the practical trailhead for this outing. Walkhighlands gives the start as Kinlochleven with grid reference NN187622, and notes the car park beside St Paul’s Church signed for Grey Mare’s Tail from the main road. (walkhighlands.co.uk)

Getting there is straightforward by Highland standards. By car, Kinlochleven sits at the head of Loch Leven on the road linking Glencoe with Lochaber, and the usual place to park for this route is the Grey Mare’s Tail car park beside St Paul’s Church, Kinlochleven, PH50 4QH area. By public transport, there is a bus service to Kinlochleven, making the village one of the more accessible Mamores starting points without a car. (walkhighlands.co.uk)

The opening section climbs steeply out of Kinlochleven through woodland on old stalkers’ paths. This early stretch is important for pacing: the route gains height quickly, and even before the open hillside is reached, the day already feels committed. The path is generally obvious, but there are shortcuts and worn lines through the trees, so it is worth sticking to the main zigzagging line to conserve energy and avoid loose, eroded ground. As the trees thin, views begin to open over Loch Leven and back across Kinlochleven. (walkhighlands.co.uk)

The climb toward Sgòr Eilde Beag

Beyond the woodland, the route crosses open moor and joins a stalkers’ path that works around the southern flank of Sgòr Eilde Beag. This is one of the key navigational points of the day: there is a peaty path that continues ahead and fades out, while the correct line makes a sharp uphill zigzag. Higher up, the old engineered path becomes one of the most memorable parts of the route, climbing in well-graded switchbacks through very steep terrain toward the ridge. There is mention of a landslipped section on this approach, so care is needed if the ground is wet or damaged. (walkhighlands.co.uk)

Once the ridge is gained, the character of the walk changes. The lower approach gives way to broad, high mountain scenery, with Coire an Lochain / Coire nan Lochan and its lochans below, and the bulk of Sgùrr Eilde Mòr across the corrie. This is a dramatic part of the eastern Mamores, with steep corrie walls, broken rock, and long sightlines toward the Grey Corries and Ben Nevis range. (walkhighlands.co.uk)

From here the route continues over easy grassy and rocky ridge ground to a high top around 1062 m / 3,484 ft, then on to Binnein Mòr, the highest summit in the Mamores at 1130 m / 3,707 ft. The ridge to Binnein Mòr is one of the visual highlights of the day: broad enough to feel manageable in good conditions, but airy enough to remind hikers that this is a true mountain traverse. On a clear day, the summit outlook is exceptional, with Binnein Beag below, Ben Nevis beyond, and the wider Lochaber mountains spread in every direction. (walkhighlands.co.uk