Aonach Eagach: Meall Dearg & Sgorr nam Fiannaidh, Map 384;
25th Nov 2004 & 11th Jun 2007

Route: 6.1 miles; 1295m=4250' ascent; 5-6 hrs in reasonable conditions.

Route: The ridge is very much easier and more enjoyable in dry conditions. It involves some straightforward scrambling with intimidating exposure with much of the rock en route being highly polished and slippery strata sloping downhill. Both Munros can be climbed separately from the north to avoid any scrambling. There are some nice winter photos and more detail at UKClimbing.com.
If you can manage the initial descent westwards from Am Bodach, you can probably manage the whole ridge. This is not quite the most difficult or exposed part, but it doesn't get much worse. Almost all difficulties are between Meall Dearg and Stob Coire Leith, which is Aonach Eagach. The difficulties are a combination of exposure, knife edge ridge with numerous unavoidable pinnacles, poorly angled, slippery rock with few handholds, and moss.
There are two big detours off the ridge to the north side. The second is at the W end under the third pinnacle and descends by nearly 30m/100'. The crux of the whole traverse is at the rather exposed lowest point of this. Foot and hand holds are neither very plentiful nor good here and it is not simple to keep one’s centre of balance within points of contact. However, currently (i.e. June 2019) there is a short, fixed rope to help.
Overall the ridge is technically harder, more exposed, and longer than any other that you are likely to encounter doing Munros or Munro Tops on mainland Scotland. This includes, for example, the Torridon ridges. The short section of about ¾ mile over three pinnacles will take most people at least an hour in good conditions and an hour and a half or more in poor, non-winter conditions.
Descent via the gully above the Clachaig Inn is possible but dangerous. An alternative descent is via the col with the Pap (Sgorr na Ciche). However, my preference is an almost direct line from Sgor nam Fiannaidh to the parking by Loch Achriochtan. There is a path which initially appears frighteningly steep, but there are no cliffs. It is very fast and handy with no significant problems other than the extensive loose scree at its angle of rest. This choice minimises the walk back to the start.
I have the opinion that an east-to-west traverse is easier than the opposite direction because of the down-climbing involved, but I have not been from west to east. Moreover, the made-up stepped path at the east end and the scree at the west end also favour an east-to-west route.
Weather 25/11/04: Overcast but dry till 1400; rain thereafter. Cloud falling from 1000m to 750m.
11/06/07: Very hot day: 25°C at car, no wind. Dry, overcast day with sunny intervals, dry underfoot.
Connectivity: Orange on all tops and on road at ends of route.