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  Stob Coire a'Chearcaill  

Click to view the route on zoomable OS 1:50000 maps and aerial photos

Corbetts

Stob Coire a'Chearcaill (770m)

Marylins  

Meall an t-Slamain* (467m)
 *see Alternative Routes below

Ascent

850m (2,800ft)

Distance  

14km (9m)

Time

walking : 4:55hr*, running : 2:15hr
 *Naismith's rule : 4km/h distance + 600m/h ascent


Main route summary


Stob Coire a'Chearcaill is long 'whale-backed' Corbett immediately west of Fort William above the opposite shore of Loch Linnhe.

Coming is from the north, a fine track leads directly onto the broad east shoulder. If approaching from Stronchreggan to the east, Meall an t-Slamain (a small Marylin) can be added in.

profile
location
start/finish Blaich
(grid ref : NN048771)

maps/guides  OS Landranger 41 - click to buy from Amazon OS Explorer 391 - click to buy from Amazon Pocket Mountains - West Highlands - click to buy from Amazon Pocket Mountains - Classic Hill Runs and Races - click to buy from Amazon

GPX data download GPX file of this route

terrain
easy Heather and grassy pathless crest difficult
navigation
easy Good track to crest, fence-posts thereafter testing
effort
stroll A fine afternoon out ! long day
scenery
ok Excellent views all around stunning
 
meanings Stob Coire a'Chearcaill :
    'peak of the circular coire'
Meall an t-Slamain :
    'hill of the lady'
main route outlineprint route
Getting there
If coming from the south, then it is quicker to hop over Corran Narrows using the ferry, however this is becoming quite expensive (£6.40 one-way as of Feb 2010). So, I'd recommend heading through Fort William, and along the Mallaig Road, the A830, to Kinlocheil, then turn south and drive along the A861 for 9km to Blaich. You'll drive over a bridge and along the shore, under some trees. There are 3 gates with a track up from each and sufficient space to squeeze in a couple of cars.

Stob Coire a'Chearcaill from the north
Head up the middle track, keeping the fence of a house on your left. A large barn is reached, besides which the track splits. Keep left and head up through some forestry to a gate. Through the gate up the track onto more open land, climbing gradually. By a burn, the track splits once more, take the left fork following a burn to one last gate, this time a large gate with wooden side gate in a deer fence. Uphill, on the skyline ahead, sits a large bouder - the track climbs towards this, twisting and turning on the way. The track nears the boulder, then at a convienient point, leave the track and strike west-south-westwards along the broad grass and heather covered eastern shoulder of Stob a'Coire Chearcaill. Although the going is pathless, an old line of rusty fence-posts, aiding navigation in mist, can be followed for 3km. In clear conditions, the impressive cliffs above Coire Chearcaill gradually come closer and the views all around just keep getting better. After turning gradually southwards one last climb up grass and gravel covered ground is needed to gain the summit with its large cairn sitting close to a scarry drop into Coire Chearcaill. Superb views in all directions.

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