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peaks




ascent
distance
time

start
finish
maps
Stob a'Choire Odhair (945m, Munro 226)
Stob Gabhar (1090m, Munro 55)
Creise (1100m, Munro 50)
Meall a'Bhuiridh (1108m, Munro 45)

1950m (6,400ft)
20km (12.5m)
running : 4:45hr, walking : 8:30hr

Victoria Bridge (NN270423)
Glencoe Ski Centre (NN266525)
OS landranger OS landranger 41 and 50
main route summary
The 4 munros west of the Black Mount are easily accessed from Victoria Bridge to the south, the Glencoe Ski Centre to the north or from Glen Etive to the north-east. The munro peaks are accessed via fine paths on lower ground and all have good views from their summits. There is the chance of some easy scrambling to reach Creise and Stob Gabhar - the latter via a ridge called the Aonach Eagach which is not in the same league as its namesake above Glencoe. If doing all 4, then the use of two cars, one at either end would be helpful, or alternatively have bikes placed at Glencoe Ski Centre for the journey back along a section of the West highland Way to Victoria Bridge.


main route outline

Getting there
From Tyndrum, head up the A82 for 10km to Bridge of Orchy. Immediately past the hotel, there is a narrow road heading over the River Orchy. Follow this road, past the Inveroran Hotel, to just before its end at Victoria Bridge, where there is a car-park for around 20 vehicles.

Stob a'Choire Odhair
Leave the car-park via the wet path behind the information board and head to Victoria Bridge. Cross the bridge, then take the left fork at the junction. Now on a good track, follow it for 1.5km to a green hut - this was an old school house, but is now Glasgow University Mountaineering Club hut. A stalker's path heads north from here - follow it up for 2km to where a burn obstructs progress. Cross the burn, then turn right onto a path that aims directly uphill through the heather. The path twists and turns climbing and eventually disappears into stones and boulders higher up - by which time you should be able to see Stob a'Choire Odhair's summit. The untidy cairn is large enough to shelter out of the wind and fine views are to be had over the Black Mount and beyond.

Stob Gabhar
From Stob a'Choire Ohair's summit, turn west-south-west and head over pathless ground for a bit. A path gradually forms, and follow it downhill, with no difficulties, towards the bealach. Staying on a path, cross the bealach, then start gaining height as you turn south-west. The path disintegrates into several fainter routes up the scree. Choose any one, but regardless of which one you choose, guaranteed you'll be clamering up loose rock. The grass covered east end of the Anoach Eagach is reached, turn west and follow the faint path. Further on the crest narrows to a notched ridge and some entertaining easy scrambling is to be enjoyed as progress is made. The ground widens and drops slightly to a bealach, where a thick iron post marks the start of a line of fence posts. On a path, follow the posts to the summit perched above Coirein Lochain. Superb views in all directions

Creise
Head northwards from Stob Gabhar's summit, following the edge of Coirein Lochain. As you gradually loose height, the coire's edge starts to turn eastwards and ground rises - leave the coire and continue northwards on pathless ground. Although gradually dropping height over the next kilometre, there are a few minor ups and downs with occasional wet sections, before the western side of Glas Choirean is reached. From here, start to drop north-east - the route is fairly pathless, but obvious down to Bealach Fuar-chathaidh. From the grassy col, strike north-east directly up steep, grass-covered, wet and loose hillside. Further up, the grass gives way to loose stone cover for the trudge up to Clach Leathad - the views from this top are excellent. Pick up a path and follow it over the gravel and boulderfields north. After dropping around 60m, you should start to head up to a wide area - look for a cairn on your right - this marks the route to Meall a'Bhuiridh later. Keep heading in a generally northwards direction on the path, over more gravel and boulders and a bit of grass to the summit of Creise. In winter the edge above the coire can cornice iver heavily.

Meall a'Bhuiridh
From Creise's summit, return 750m to the cairn you noted earlier on the way up. In winter the cornice may be substantial and crampons may be required. Otherwise, aim east from this cairn and scramble down the initial steep ground and follow a path to reach the bealach. The path continues east up the western side of the bealach over stones and scree to the untidy summit cairn of Meall a'Bhuiridh. A fine vantage point over the Black Mount to Rannoch Moor.

Down to Glencoe Ski Centre and return to Victoria Bridge
Head north-east-north, down primarily grass covered northern shoulder of Meall a'Bhuiridh. Keep to the slightly higher ground to the west of the ski-tows and no difficulties should be encountered. Drop to the hut at the base of the ski-tow and a track can then be followed to the top of the main chiar-lift. A worn path meanders downhill through the heather under the chairlift to the ski-centre. If you're returning to Victoria Bridge by bike, follow the West Highland Way southwards from Blackrock Cottage for 11km.




Zoomable OS 1:50000 and 1:25000 maps are here

routes nearby
North-west
South-west
South-east

alternatives

Stob Gabhar and Stob a'Choire Odhair returning to Victoria Bridge via waterfalls and pools
Follow the main route described on the left from Victoria Bridge our Stob a'Choire Odhair and up Stob Gabhar. From Stob Gabhar's summit, retrace your steps to the thick iron post above Coirein Lochain, then follow a faint path aside a line of fence posts heading south-east. Rocky ground is replaced by wet grass lower down, and the path gradually starts to turn west to approach Creag an Steallaire. There are a couple of pools below waterfalls - excellent for skinny-dipping on a hot day. The path zig-zags down, around the waterfalls, then reaches the Allt Toaig, where crossing may be problematic in spate. Once over, follow the path down to the GUM Hut and return to Victoria Bridge.

Ascent : 1250m, distance : 15km


Take in Beinn Mhic Chasgaig with Creise and Meall a'Bhuiridh
Drive along the narrow road down Glen Etive for 6km to where there is a bridge over the River Etive leading to a house. There are a few spaces to park. Cross the bridge, pass the house and follow the path on the east side of the Allt a'Chaorainn for 1km. Just after Allt a'Chaorainn and Allt Coire Ghlubhasan merge, the path aims to cross the burn - don't cross, keep on the north side of the burn for another 300m or so, until past the crags above on your left. Now head north-east and strike directly uphill and reach the summit of Beinn Mhic Chasgaig.

To continue to Creise and Meall a'Bhuiridh, head south-east down steep ground to a bealach, then east up to the broad bouldery plateau of Creise. The easiest route for return is to head back to the bealach below Beinn Mhic Chasgaig, then drop south to pick up the Allt Coire Ghlubhasan to follow back to the house at Alltchaorunn.

Instead of returning, what about continuing from Creise over Clach Leathad to Stob Gabhar (as described in reverse on the left), then head from Stob Gabhar west over Sron a'Ghearrain and Stob a'Bhruaich down Fair Bhan to follow the path alongside the Altt Coire a'Chaolain and Allt a'Chaorainn back to Alltchaorunn - you'll meet some pretty waterfalls on the way.

Ascent 1500m, distance : 15km
above the black mount