Aonach Beag

This article is about the mountain near Ben Nevis. For the other Munro near Ben Alder, see Aonach Beag (Ben Alder).

Aonach Beag
Aonach Beag from Aonach Mòr
Highest point
Elevation	1,234 m (4,049 ft)
Prominence	404 m (1,325 ft)
Parent peak	Ben Nevis
Listing	Munro, Marilyn
Naming
English translation	Small ridge
Language of name	Gaelic
Pronunciation	Scottish Gaelic: [ˈɯːnəx ˈpek] English approximation: OON-əkh-BEK
Geography
Location	Lochaber, Scotland
Parent range	Grampian Mountains
OS grid	NN197715
Topo map	OS Landranger 41

Listed summits of Aonach Beag

Name	Grid ref	Height	Status
Aonach Beag	NN202709	1234 m	Munro, Marilyn, Murdo
Stob Choire Bhealaich	NN202709	1100 m	Munro Top
Sgùrr a' Bhuic	NN204701	963 m	Munro Top, Murdo

Aonach Beag is a mountain in the Highlands of Scotland. It is located about 3 km east of Ben Nevis on the north side of Glen Nevis, near the town of Fort William. Apart from Ben Nevis, Aonach Beag is the highest peak in the British Isles outwith the Cairngorm mountains of eastern Scotland.

Aonach Beag is linked to its close neighbour to the north, Aonach Mòr, by a high saddle or bealach. The name Aonach Beag (small ridge) might imply that this mountain is smaller than Aonach Mòr (big ridge). However, Aonach Beag is higher; the names refer to the relative bulk of the two mountains rather than their altitude.

The easiest way up is to take the gondola lift serving the Nevis Range ski area on Aonach Mòr (a height of 650 m above sea level), and follow the ridge joining the two peaks. More traditionally, the hill is often climbed from the south from Glen Nevis. This way the walker avoids the paraphernalia associated with the ski development. Aonach Beag is almost invariably climbed in conjunction with Aonach Mòr.

Aonach Beag's north face holds one of Scotland's longest-lying snow patches (grid reference NN196718), which sits at the bottom of the climb known as 'Queen's View' at an altitude of about 950m. This patch has been known to last through to the first lasting snows of the new winter, and was present continuously from late 2006 to late November 2011.