M15 | 1177 m. | 3862 ft.
Translation: Gaelic clamhras, meaning brawling or clamouring
Pronuncation: stop corrie clowree

On 3 May 2012 Frank and I wanted to walk on tracks we had done nine years before together with Alex. To complete the Grey Corries we still needed to visit Stob Ban and Sgurr Choinnich Mhor, the two outliers of the Grey Corries ridge.

As before we approached the mountains by way of the single-track road on the south bank of the River Spean. At Corriechoille we passed the farm and continued on the dirt road for another mile or so. Then we parked our car at a signpost and continued on foot beside the Allt Leachglach first trough some fir plantations and then through the open glen. On the right side of the glen the steep flanks of Stob Choire Gaibhre and Stob Coir nan Ceannain looked inviting indeed. Cruach Innse and Ston Innse on the left side were also very interesting Corbetts. But we had set our compass on climbing Stob Ban. After maybe 90 minutes we reached the bothy which lies at the foot of the north-east ridge of Stob Ban. There we rested for a short while and then continued up Stob Ban’s north-east ridge.

First there is a steep section of the path that surmounts a rocky hump and then continues through a grassy depression. At the top of this section of the climb a nice and airy path runs a couple of dozens of metres below the skyline above and provides for an airy continuation with great views of Stob Choire Claurigh, the Grey Corries and the Giant’s Staircase below. Then the path reaches the ridge at a grassy saddle before, after another rise in the ridge, the final steep section of the climb starts. This is the summit pyramid of Stob Ban which consists of quartzite. White stones everywhere, loads of loose quartzite scree but the path is always clear albeit sometimes very steep and scree-strewn.

At the summit we paused and drank some water. The weather was very good and sun was shining brightly. I decided that after two days of major expeditions (Etive Five and Ulaidh/Fionnlaidh) this was enough for 3 May 2012. Frank, however, being in much better shape and mental condition decided to go on and do the whole Grey Corries ridge plus Sgurr Choinnich Mhor. He would then return by the Back Basin and the long walk back through the north-east parts of the Leanachan Forest.

I returned to the car by way of the north-east ridge, the bothy and the track down the Lairig Leacach. Back at the car I switched into dry clothes and drove to Fort William to do some shopping. I got back to Corriechoille thirty minutes before Frank reappeared from the forest. He had had a grat day and I half a day off. (Un)fortunately I now have Sgurr Choinnich Mhor left to bag. But the mountain will still be there tomorrow and I’ll be back. That day will be another walk up the Nevis Gorge into the upper reaches of Glen Nevis. Another great day out.

As for this 3 May 2012 we had a marvellous day out in the Grey Corries. There’s nothing more you can ask for.

 

2003 The Grey Corries. On a day with uncertain weather forecast we drove to Corriechoille. Sunny spells and rain showers were the BBC’s guess and this proved to be correct during the first two hours of the walk – later there was only sunshine and clouds but hardly any water from above. We parked the car at the junction where the private road to Corriechoille branches off south. We walked on this right of way past Corriechoille Farm into the direction of the forrest plantations north of the Grey Corries range. Continuing on the forrest road which roughly runs parallel to the bed of the Allt Leachdach we soon left the forrest behinds us and headed towards the highest point of this track below the craggy west face of Cruach Innse. A few hundred metres before the col we left the track and headed in a south-westerly direction up the steep lower slopes of Stob Coire na Ceannain. We paused where the steep slopes ease off and give way to the higher plateau-like grassy terrain. From there we walked to the end of the steep south east ridge, contoured around it and picked up a path heading first north than west which took us to the summit of Stob Coire na Ceannain. From this top the connecting ridge to the first Munro of the day looked interesting and entertaining indeed. It lived up to this expectation and proved to be the most entertaining scramble of the day. Finally we got to the summit of Stob Choire Claurigh. We took a longish break there, had a snack and some tea and above all enjoyed the views. With more fun to come we then pressed on over the twisting ridge of the Grey Corries with its gentle drops in height, beautifully steep northern corries and succession of rocky tops ligned up on the way to the day’s Munro No. 2, Stob Coire an Laoigh. After about one hour of walking we reached it and sat down to have tea inside the circular shelter on its summit. After ten minutes or so we continued to Stob Coire Eassin and followed the broad north ridge bypassing Beinn na Socaich on the west. The gentle grassy ridge lead us north, then north-west to the point where the Allt Choimhlidh enters the forrest. With a little effort we crossed the stream’s bed below the dam, climbed the eastern side of the little gorge and then followed the forrest roads for a few kilometres until we joined the outward route a kilometre and a half south of Coirrechoille farm. Soon we reached the car and drove off to our base in Fassfern. A very entertaining ridge walk with strong winds, hardly any rain on the higher ground and beautiful views of the Eassins, the Aonachs, Ben Nevis and other hills. Most entertaining walk of the 2003 holiday! Certainly a walk to be done again!


Description These two Munros are on the ridge of the Grey Corries, a group of mountains on the south side of Glen Spean whose upper slopes and ridges are covered with pale grey quartzite boulders and screes, which give them their name and a pale grey appearance. The main ridge of the Grey Corries is about 3 kilometres long and the drops between the peaks is quite small, so it is perfectly possible to climb both Munros and several Tops in a single day although the approach to the hills from the road in Glen Spean is quite long.Start from the end of the narrow public road on the south side of the River Spean at Corriechoille and walk past the farm and along the track which goes south-south-east on the west side of the Allt Leachdach. At the upper edge of the forest climb south up the broad ridge to Stob Choire Claurigh. Continue south-west along the crest of the Grey Corries over three lower tops to reach Stob Coire an Laoigh. Go on to Stob Coire Easain and down its long north ridge, called Beinn na Socaich. Towards the foot of this ridge, above the forest, bear north-east to cross the Allt Choimhlidh and reach the upper end of a forest road, which leads in a further 5 kilometres down to the public road near Corriechoille.