Ben Aden from Loch Cuaich

Remains of bridge over Caolie Water

The A87 travels from Invergarry in the Great Glen westwards through Kintail and onwards to Skye. On this road, around 8km west of Invergarry and above the shores of Loch Garry, there is a junction with an unclassified road which is marked heading to Tomdoun and Kinlochourn (sic).

Follow the unclassified road to the north-western end of Loch Cuaich ('Loch Quoich' on older maps) and look for two iron-girders lying over Caolie Water, the remains of an old bridge over the burn that flows into the loch.

Around 200m beyond the old bridge, there is a small parking area cut into the roadside rocky verge, with room for 4 or 5 vehicles.

Improving weather on the descent from Sron Lice na Fearna

From the roadside, Caolie Water needs crossed to its southern bank and given the setting and condition of the remains of the old bridge, an upstream crossing would be adviseable. Once over, a faint trod can be followed southwards for a short distance.

Either the shore of Loch Quoich can be followed south-east for 2km before turning westwards, or a shorter ascent up and over Sron Lice na Fearna can be taken - the ascent costs a climb up 250m, the shore adds a tedious 4km detour. I took the ascent, which was pleasant enough and had the advantage of a gentle grass-covered drop aiming south-west for 2km, which made for swift progress.

Ben Aden and the lower slopes of Sgurr na Ciche

Ben Aden and the lower slopes of Sgurr na Ciche

Looking up Coire na Cruaiche, ravine on left used

There are two dams at the western end of Loch Quoich, cross the first of these to its southern side, then take a faint path off right heading above Lochan na Cruadhach.

The faint path crosses a more obvious one and leads to the foot of Ben Aden. Ahead, a grassy bank aside the Allt Coire na Cruaiche can be seen making a way directly up to the skyline to a point a little to the left of what looks like Ben Aden's summit.

Follow this grassy bank up, there may be a couple of times ( and ) when a burn needs crossed, but otherwise there shouldn't be any difficulties reaching the high ground of Bealach a' Chairn Deirg .

Above the bealach, cliffs falling south-east block progress - turn northwards and climb up wide gully, bouldery in parts and reach the eastern end of Ben Aden's summit crest. More towers of rock (marked by spot height of 835m on Harvey maps) hinder passage. Turn north-west around the rock and lose a few metres dropping to a tiny lochan (not marked on maps), after which turn back south-west onto Ben Aden's crest and continue along a wide undulating grassy ridge to the small cairn sitting on the summit .

On Ben Aden's summit looking ot Sgurr a' Choire-bheithe

On Ben Aden's summit looking ot Sgurr a' Choire-bheithe

Looking down Coire na Cruaiche to Loch Quoich

A return will most likely be an about-turn on Ben Aden's summit and a retrace of footsteps.

Hopefully you've noted the key changes in direction along Ben Aden's crest to the top of Bealach a' Chairn Deirg, as, particularly if mist pulls in, navigation will be challenging !

Old bridge over the River Carnach (since replaced)

Lonely Sourlies Bothy stands above a right-of-way footpath that links Loch Arkaig to Loch Nevis from where a hike of 16km up an ascent of 1000m leads to Ben Aden's summit and back. . . .

Having reached Sourlies Bothy, a hike to Ben Aden begins by following the path above Loch Nevis's north shore for just under 1km. Turning northwards, the path meets up with the River Carnach.

Most likely staying on the southern bank of the River Carnach, pick up and follow ATV tracks for around 3km to reach the meetings of the River Carnach and the Allt Achadh a'Ghlinne , then trace the course of this smaller river upstream. Several narrow gorges with waterfalls can be avoided by keeping to the southern bank of the burn.

At around the 550m contour terrain may become confusing particularly in mist, but climb and reach the lochans on Bealach a' Choire Chruaidh , just east of the 717m knoll. Over the knoll to gain Bealach a' Chairn Deirg and reach Ben Aden's summit as described above.