Munro · Glen Coe & Lochaber
Am Bodach
Am Bodach (1031m) — "the old man" — is the eastern bastion of the Ring of Steall in the Mamores, the celebrated four-Munro horseshoe above Glen Nevis. From its summit the famous Devil's Ridge curves west to Sgurr a' Mhaim, while the south-east ridge drops to the deep Coire a' Mhail. Despite its modest profile from Loch Leven, Am Bodach holds a key position on the Ring of Steall and gives commanding views over Ben Nevis to the north.
Quick facts
- Height
- 1031.8m/ 3385ft
- Distance
- 17 km
- Ascent
- 908 m
- Time
- 5–8 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN176650
- Parking
- NN145684
- Nearest city
- Fort William
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
Steep ascent from valley 35% · Rocky ridge 40% · Summit area 25%
The standard line is the Ring of Steall from Polldubh in Glen Nevis, climbing An Gearanach via the east ridge, traversing west along the airy connecting ridges to An Garbhanach, Stob Coire a' Chairn, then up the steep east ridge to Am Bodach. Continue west over the Devil's Ridge to Sgurr a' Mhaim and descend back to Polldubh. Around 16km with 1500m of cumulative ascent for the four Munros. Direct Am Bodach only from Kinlochleven via Mamore Lodge is 11km with 950m up.
Terrain
The Polldubh wire footbridge over the River Nevis is well-maintained but slippery in spate. The climb onto Am Bodach from the Stob Coire a' Chairn bealach is steep grass and broken rock. The Devil's Ridge west of Am Bodach is the technical highlight of the Ring of Steall — a narrow rocky crest with one Grade 1 scrambling step that can be bypassed on the south. The summit itself is a small rocky platform.
In winter
A serious Mamores winter Munro. The Devil's Ridge becomes a true Grade I winter scramble with continuous exposure. The steep east ridge holds wind-loaded snow and the south face above Coire a' Mhail is avalanche-prone after westerly storms. Cornicing on the north sides of the summits is consistent. SAIS Lochaber applies. Phone signal is absent above 750m.
This hill is in the Glen Coe SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 18m
- Edinburgh3h 0m
OS maps: OS Landranger 41
Mobile signal: Reasonable signal at Clachaig Inn. No signal on the Aonach Eagach ridge above 400m.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:31
- Sunset
- 22:06
- Civil dawn
- 03:28
- Civil dusk
- 23:10
NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 June 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Am Bodach.
Around Am Bodach on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Fort William station
Ben Nevis, Mamores, Aonachs, Knoydart ferry connection
11km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Fort William
Ben Nevis base, West Highland Line, gateway to Lochaber
11km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Ben Nevis Distillery
Fort William — Lochaber distillery at the foot of the Ben; long-aged Japanese-owned classics
12km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Am Bodach — common questions
- How hard is Am Bodach?
- Am Bodach is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 17km with 908m of ascent and takes most walkers 5-8 hours. Terrain: The Polldubh wire footbridge over the River Nevis is well-maintained but slippery in spate.
- Where do I park for Am Bodach?
- Standard parking is at NN145684 near Fort William. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
- When is the best time to climb Am Bodach?
- The standard good-weather months for Am Bodach are May, June, July, August, September, October. Outside those months, expect winter conditions on the high ground — full mountain kit, navigation skills, and a check of the SAIS avalanche forecast for the relevant region.
- Can I bring my dog up Am Bodach?
- Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.
- Is there mobile signal on Am Bodach?
- Reasonable signal at Clachaig Inn. No signal on the Aonach Eagach ridge above 400m.
- Is Am Bodach safe in winter?
- A serious Mamores winter Munro. The Devil's Ridge becomes a true Grade I winter scramble with continuous exposure. The steep east ridge holds wind-loaded snow and the south face above Coire a' Mhail is avalanche-prone after westerly storms. Cornicing on the north sides of the summits is consistent. SAIS Lochaber applies. Phone signal is absent above 750m.
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