Bidean nam Bian
17. 11. 2025
Peter Schrammel
Weather
sunny, 2° in the morning
Interest 
*****: Two valleys, three summits, lakes, waterfalls and an enormous 360° view
Route
Glencoe, Three Sisters Car Park, 160m - little lakes, 775m - Stob Coire nan Lochan, 1115m - Bidean nam Bian, 1150m - Bealach Dearg, 945m - Stob Coire Sgreamhach, 1072m - Bealach Dearg - Glencoe, Three Sisters Car Park
Elevation gain
1324m
Distance
12km
Timing
6h (1:40 + 0:50 + 0:35 + 0:30 + 0:15 + 0:10 + 2:00)
Stamina
F
Difficulty
I, A: a 5m rocky section at a waterfall half-way up Coire nan Lochan 0+, a few steps on the northeast ridge 0+ and a final 3m step I to the summit of Stob Coire nan Lochan; Bidean nam Bian north ridge at most 0+; east ridge one step 0+; Stob Coire Sgreamhach at most 0+; descent from Bealach Dearg: steep, narrow gully I-, then rocky, but 0; an awkward 5m rock before the river crossing at 300m 0+; one step above the canyon 0+; awkwardly slippery steps down to the footbridge across River Coe A (in wet conditions)
Danger
5: steep meadows and scree on the way into Coire nan Lochan 3-4, then 2; northeast ridge of Stob Coire nan Lochan increasingly more exposed 4; Bidean nam Bian north ridge: traverses into the west face at the beginning 4-5, then mostly 3-4 on the east face; to Stob Coire Sgreamhach 2 (depending on the route up to 4); descent from Bealach Dearg: 3 at the beginning, steep meadows along the valley 3, some short sections up to 4; canyon in the lower part 5
Visitor frequency
c: nobody up to the summit of Stob Coire nan Lochan, 3 hikers on the summit, 1 trail runner on the summit of Stob Coire Sgreamhach, nobody down to the plain of Coire Gabhail, then several dozens of casual walkers
Comments
Contiuous 10cm snow starting at 650m, up to 30cm in accumulations
Report
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