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peaks




ascent
distance
time

start/finish
maps
Stob a'Choire Mheadhoin (1105m, Munro 46)
Stob Coire Easain (1115m, Munro 39)
Chno Dearg (1046m, Munro 86)
Stob Coire Sgriodain (979m, Munro 174)

2175m (7,125ft)
30km (18.5m)
running : 6hr, walking : 12hr

Fersit (NN350782)
OS landranger 41

main route summary
These two mountain groups lie either side of Loch Treig and share the same starting point. It therefore makes sense to bag all four munro peaks on the same day. The peaks on the west side of Loch Treig are commmonly refered to as "the Easains". These are imposing high grey peaks with bouldery summits that have a lovely ridge up to and between them. The peaks on the east side couldn't be more different - there are long grassy slogs to reach the summits. Chno Dearg looks down wide gentle slopes to the north, whereas, Stob Coire Sgriodain's craggy summit sits above a dramatic drop directly above Loch Treig.


main route outline

Getting there
On the A86, 13km east of Spean Bridge, a narrow road is marked south, downhill to Fersit. Follow this road to its end, where there is ample parking available beside the large green rubbish-bins. One of the local's 4x4s has the number-plate FER51T !

Stob a'Choire Mheadhoin
From the car-park, face south and you should see a path heading off right through the ferns. Follow this path to meet a track, now well grown over with grass. Cross this track and continue up the path through a forest onto open moorland. The ground becomes sodden. Cross the ground and follow the path that skirts around some crags. The path is now very obvious. Continue following it uphill to a large concrete pillar - a good spot for a photo. The path travels up to the base of Meall Cian Dearg, then zig-zags up the steep craggy ground ahead - this can be challenging in icy conditions. Further up, the ground levels and more moorland is crossed. The path remains obvious as it reaches Coire Shomhairlie, then travels up to a last flat area before reaching the bouldery ground of Stob a'Choire Mheadhoin's summit with its small cairn. Stunning views.

Stob Coire Easain
The boulders on Stob a'Choire Mheadhoin's summit can hide the path in poor visiblity. Just head south-west and you'll find it as it twists and turns avoiding the worst bouldery sections. The col is reached, which is pleasantly grass covered. Follow the well-defined path across the col, then encounter more boulders on the ascent up Stob Coire Easain. The path is obvious all the way to the summit. Great views in all directions.

Return to Fersit
You could proceed north-west from Stob Coire Easain's summit down to Coire Laire and follow the Allt Laire over wet ground to the wooden bridge 1km north of Fersit. However, I'd rather return to Fersit by the same route up - it's far more direct.

Chno Dearg
From Fersit, cross the bridges over the River Treig and the railway-line, go through an old wooden gate and head past some houses. Pass a large farm shed and go through a large metal gate, then where the track starts to turn north-east, leave it and cross the first of the two burns. A faint path can be followed southwards up the wet tussocky ground by the burn. It's a slog, but not unpleasant, just make a direct bearing for Chno Dearg. The path gradually disappears and the closer to the summit you get, the more boulder-fields are encountered. The summit itself is bouldery and a large cairn shelters baggers out of the wind.

Stob Coire Sgriodain
Aim south-west from Chno Dearg's summit and as the bealach between Chno Dearg and Stob Coire Sgriodain's south east top (924m on OS map) is approached, a well defined path is met. Follow this path accross the wet bealach and up this rocky south-east top. Continue along to the middle top, and still on the path, drop to the dip below the last haul up Stob Coire Sgriodain. A short pleasant slog up a grassy slope leads to Stob Coire Sgriodain's summit. This is quite an interesting craggy top with significant drops down to Loch Treig and views over to the Easains.

Return to Fersit
From the summit, aim north for 800m on the path and drop to c850m to a flatish grassy area. From here, turn right (east) away from the main path and head down a wide grassy gully. The descent steepens and a faint path is followed down to flatter heather-clad terrain. Meet the burn flowing out of Lochan Coire an Lochain and stay alongside it, back down towards Fersit, a path gradually developing on the way.




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

routes nearby
West
North
South

alternatives

Bagging the munros in a circuit
You could make a circuit of the four munros. Climb Stob a'Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Coire Easain as described on the left. From Stob Coire Easain, head south from the summit, down to Creauaineach Lodge. Around the base of Loch Treig on a good track, cross the railway line and slog up Chno Dearg via Meall Garbh. Return to Fersit over Stob Coire Sgriodain as described on the left. Although this route is not significantly longer or harder than the main route, the trudge up Garbh-bheinn from the railway-line is long and tedious. The view up Loch Treig from near Creauaineach Lodge is lovely however.

Ascent : 2100m, distance : 31km


Stob Coire Sgriodain and Chno Dearg with Beinn na Lap and a train-journey
Take the train from Tulloch Station to Corrour Halt, then climb up Beinn na Lap as described in the Ossian page. From Beinn na Lap's summit, proceed north-west and drop down grassy ground to the glen below. Climb directly up the steep tussock covered ground to Garbh-bheinn, then enjoy a pleasant journey over Meal Garbh to Chno Dearg. Continue over Stob Coire Sgriodain and return to Fersit as detailed in the main route. At Fersit, a path heads along the east side of the railway-line back to Tulloch Station.

Ascent 1350m, distance : 21km
treig