Ben Nevis, Lochaber 4000s and Grey Corries hiking route

Heading to Stob Bàn in the Grey Corries

The start and end points of this route are around 20km apart, so best to organise some transport to avoid a long roadside walk at the end of the day. The route finishes in Glen Nevis and the start point is Corriechoille near Spean Bridge.

To get to Corriechoille, head eastwards along a narrow road which starts from the railway station in Spean Bridge. Upon reaching Corriechoille, by a line of the bins, there is a sign discouraging parking on the verge. You can however turn right uphill and drive 2km down the track to the edge of forestry. The track is very rough, so be prepared for your car's suspension to take a pounding !

On the summit of Stob Ban

Leaving your car behind, walk south and up a good track to a gate into felled forestry. Through the gate (or more likely over a stile) you'll pass the Wee Minister - a wooden sculpture with a collection box for Lochaber Mountain Rescue. Through the felled forest, the track comes out by a gate, dips down to a bridge over the Allt Leachdach then continues for 4km to Leacach Bothy below Stob Ban, passing below the rough Corbett peaks of Crauch Innse and Sgùrr Innse on the way.

Below the bothy, cross a burn (there is a newish bridge just upstream if in spate), take path on right, then right uphill again at a small cairn. The path climbs up peaty ground, then grass to a flat area at 750m. The path then zig-zags through some boulderfield onto Stob Bàn's summit .

Looking from Stob Coire Claurigh westwards to Ben Nevis

From Stob Ban, it's a steep and loose descent north-west. If you like running down screes, you'll love this short route twisting through boulderfield and screes to reach a lochan at Bealach Coire Rath . Above the lochan and initially on grassy slopes, head northwards uphill on a faint path.

The path begins to gradually disappear into boulderfield for the last climb of 150m north-west to the summit of Stob Choire Claurigh with its large pile of stones posing as a summit cairn.

An Caisteal and Stob Coire an Laoigh

Leaving Stob Choire Claurigh's summit behind, head south-west, a combination of grass and rock define fine ridges linking the summit peaks. Stob a' Choire Lèith is quickly reached.

South-west, the ridge drops and narrows before the short climb up to the flat area of Stob Coire Cath na Sine . More small boulders and an enjoyable ledge of steps lead beyond Caisteil to a bealach, then crossing grass and bouldery ground the summit of Stob Coire an Laoigh is gained.

Sgùrr Chòinnich Mòr from Stob Coire Easain

From Stob Coire an Laoigh it is possible to aim directly for the bealach below Sgùrr Chòinnich Mor, but to enjoy the Grey Corries ridge more, I prefer to head up the Munro Top of Stob Coire Easain first, if just to enjoy the views !

Leaving Stob Coire an Laoigh behind aim north-west on an obvious route zig-zagging though shattered boulders down to the bealach above Coire a'Mhadaidh and Coire Easain. A short ascent up the other side quickly reaches Stob Coire Easain , the last top on the main Grey Corries ridge.

South-west next, some care is needed with a couple of rocky sections requiring a bit easy scrambling. In mist there is a tendancy for the ridge to pull walkers westwards, so best to keep an eye on the compass.

Bealach Coire Easain , the wide col below Sgùrr Chòinnich Mòr is reached. This is the lowest part of the ridge since Stob Coire Claurigh and from here the ascent up Sgùrr Chòinnich Mòr looks daunting - it's not as bad or as far as you'd expect !

The route up Sgùrr Chòinnich Mòr is fairly obvious on clear days - headup the hillside directly from the bealach, a worn path will gradually appear, follow this along the north-east crest of Sgùrr Chòinnich Mòr. On the way to the summit you'll pass some interesting splits in the ground. Note in winter a pleasant snow-shoulder develops on Sgùrr Chòinnich Mòr's north-east shoulder which actually make the route easier, especially on the return descent !

Aonach Beag from Aonach Mor

From Sgùrr Chòinnich Mòr's summit aim wsw tracing a faint but obvious path downhill to the bealach below Sgùrr Chòinnich Beag , Sgùrr Chòinnich Mòr's westerly 'top'. There is now a climb ahead of just over 60m to gain the summit of Sgùrr Chòinnich Beag, but it can easily be bypassed on its south face.

Beyond Sgùrr Chòinnich Beag, there is a wide col (often rather soggy) leading up to the foot of Stob Coire Bhealaich at the southern end of Aonach Mòr. Once at the col you should be able to see the remains of a wall climbing up the left (south) side of the hill ahead. A path can also be picked out. Keeping to the right (north) of the wall, follow the path uphill as it zig-zags a route sticking for the most part on grassy ground. Higher up, the ground steepens and some easy scrambling is needed to negotiate some rocky sections. The steep ground levels out at around 1000m (at a small cairn), from where a path on grassy covered slopes aims north to the eastern summit of Stob Coire Bhealaich .

A change of direction westwards next, the crest turns and climbs. A faint path follows the crest and meets up with a route that would bypass these minor peaks at a dip in the crest . A final slog up 150m or so on grassy hillsides reaches the flat summit of Aonach Beag and its small cairn.

On Aonach Mòr's flat summit

Aiming north-west from Aonach Beag's summit, trace a faint path downhill. The path heads into loose gravel and twists and turns as it drops. Nearing the bealach between Aonach Beag and Aonach Mor, the route becomes quite rough as it tries to avoid rocks. The bealach is reached and terrain becomes much easier underfoot.

The route turns northwards and begins to rise. A faint path can be traced up the gently climbing slopes and after around 1km the large untidy pile of stones that make up the cairn on Aonach Mòr's summit is reached.

View from Aonach Beag to Càrn Mòr Dearg and Ben Nevis

Leave Aonach Mòr's cairn and return south on the path on the wide grass covered expanse for around 500m. The next bit can be tricky in mist ! Leave the path and navigate to a cairn at NN191722 - this marks the start of a very rough, loose and steep path that descends down to the bealach between Aonach Mòr and Càrn Mòr Dearg.

The grassy bealach is crossed and you should be able to see to the left of an old dyke, a path heading uphill eastwards. Follow this and climb up the east ridge of Càrn Mòr Dearg, the red rock giving some easy scrambling on the way. The ridge narrows higher up and Càrn Mòr Dearg's summit is reached. A small cairn sits on this excellent vantage point from where Ben Nevis which looks massive.

Looking up the Càrn Mòr Dearg arete to Ben Nevis

Leaving Càrn Mòr Dearg's cairn behind, aim southwards on rocky ground following the narrow crest. A path meanders a route, sometimes keeping to the west side of the crest to avoid any difficulties. As ground levels out, the route continues to stick to the crest, occasionally keeping to the east side to avoid exposure.

The lowest point on the ridge is reached and the route ahead looks a bit tougher as the red granite of Càrn Mòr Dearg is left behind. Uphill, the rock-scrambling is pretty easy keeping to the crest, but if windy, there are opt-out options on the south-east of the crest.

The ground begins to level and become easier. A large cairn is reached - this is where the top of the 'abseil posts' used to mark a route into Coire Leis. Ahead lies 1,000ft of ascent up bouldery ground to reach the summit of Ben Nevis .

Descending Ben Nevis's Mountain Track

The next part of the route follows the Mountain Track and after the fairly quiet routes on the Grey Corries, the Aonachs and Càrn Mòr Dearg, the likely crowds and bussle on Ben Nevis will come as a bit of a shock !

In mist, careful compass work is needed to avoid Gardyloo Gully ! So from the summit trig point walk on a bearing of for 231^o for 150m, then aim 282^o, keeping the large cairns just on your left.

Follow the very obvious Mountain Track route down Ben Nevis past Red Burn and the Halfway Lochan into Glen Nevis.