Aonach Mòr

Aonach Mòr is a mountain in the Highlands of Scotland. It is located about 2 miles (3 kilometres) north east of Ben Nevis on the south side of Glen Spean, near the town of Fort William . The Nevis Range ski area is located on the northern slopes of the peak; the use of this name has inspired some controversy, as it has been considered by some to represent a deliberate changing of an indigenous name.

Aonach Mòr
Distant shot of Aonach Mòr from Banavie
Highest point
Elevation	1,221 m (4,006 ft) )[1]
Prominence	c. 134 m (440 ft)
Parent peak	Aonach Beag
Listing	Munro
Naming
English translation	Big ridge
Language of name	Gaelic
Pronunciation	Scottish Gaelic: [ˈɯːnəx ˈmoːɾ] English approximation: OON-əkh-MOR
Geography
Location	Highland, Scotland
Parent range	Grampians
OS grid	NN193729
Topo map	OS Landranger 41

The name Aonach Mòr implies that the mountain is bigger than its close neighbour to the south, Aonach Beag (small ridge), to which it is linked by a high bealach. However, the names refer to the relative bulk of the mountains when seen from the glen, rather than their altitude above sea level; the summit of Aonach Mòr is in fact 13 m (43 ft) lower than the summit of Aonach Beag.

The ski resort was opened in 1989[2] and features a gondola lift and several chairlifts and ski tows. In winter these are used for skiing and snowboarding; in summer the gondola is used for lifting riders to the top of the downhill mountain biking track. It is also used by paraglider pilots to reach a variety of launching points.

Allt an t-Sneachda or the Snow Goose. The main red run on Aonach Mor in good snow conditions.

A skier on Summit Gully, one of many off piste runs on Aonach Mor

A skier in Summit Gully, one of the easier off piste runs on Aonach Mor

The easiest route of ascent is to simply take the gondola to the top station (a height of 650 m or 2,130 ft above sea level), and walk the remaining way. More traditionally, the hill is often climbed from the south from Glen Nevis; Aonach Mòr is almost invariably climbed in conjunction with Aonach Beag.

The Nevis Range resort has hosted the Mountain Bike World Cup thirteen times (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018), and hosted the Mountain Bike World Championships in 2007.[3]

Aonach Mor's Coire an Lochain holds one of Scotland's longest-lasting snow-patches (grid reference NN193736), which sits at an elevation of 1,120 m (3,670 ft).[4] During Cyclone Bodil, Aonach Mòr was hit by the highest gust of 142 mph (229 km/h) during the storm.[5]