M226 | 945 m. | 3101 ft.
Translation: Peak of the dun-coloured corrie
Pronuncation: stop a kora ooer

The second day of the spring outing in 2004 saw Frank and me parking our car near Victoria Bridge close to the west end of Loch Tulla. There were quite a few cars there already at 10 o’clock – but we did not meet many walkers on the hills later in the day. We packed our rucksacks, changed into our walking clothes and started the days work. On the land-rover track by the Abhainn Shira we strolled to the green hut where the path beside the Allt Toaig heads up north into Coire Toaig. We followed this path until it crossed the burn coming down from between Stob a’Choire Odhair and Beinn Toaig. From there we climbed up the zig-zags of the path leading to the upper slopes of Stob a’Choire Odhair.

Higher up the slope eased and we reached the summit of the first Munro of this day in due time. Good views of Rannoch Moor and the marvellous eastern corrie of Stob Ghabhar. After a good snack we continued down the west ridge of Stob a’Coire Odhar to the col at the head of Coire Toaig. Here Frank and I decided not to climb Stob Ghabhar by Sron nan Giubhas but by the steep north ridge of Aonach Eagach. From the foot of the ridge we marvelled at beautiful Corein Lochain, the cliffs and the lochan in the sunshine. The rocky side ridge proved to be quite interesting and entertaining but this sort of fun soon ended when we reached Aonach Eagach which, contrary to its evocative name, forms a perfectly straightforward and easy traverse to Stob Ghabhar.

The path from Aonach Eagach to the summit of the second Munro is obvious and before the final 100m rise of the ridge we noticed the cairn marking the start of the descent route. At the summit of Stob Ghabhar there was some shifting cloud cover which broke from time to time and allowed us to have tantalizing views of Coirein Lochain down below. Sitting at the cairn we were joined by a couple with whom we chatted for while. They intended to camp somewhere up in the hills. We for our part preferred the idea of returning to our car and to the cottage waiting for us in Dalmally. So, we shouldered our load again and headed down the southern bounding ridge of Coire na Muic.

We took the steep path at the right-hand side of the water fall tumbling down from Coire na Muic over Creag an Steallaire. Nice spot, really. Soon the steep section was behind us and we crossed the flattish terrain leading to the Allt Toaig. We climbed down into the mini-gorge of this burn and reached the path on the other side which took us back to the hut by the Abhainn Shira. Twenty minutes later Victoria Bridge was ours. Stob Ghabhar is a great hill with an impressive corrie.

Some day we’ll do the Victoria Bridge to Kingshouse traverse of the Black Mount, some day ….


Description These two mountains rise a few kilometres north-west of the west end of Loch Tulla. Stob Ghabhar is a particularly fine peak with its summit standing on the edge of the cliffs at the head of its great east-facing corrie. This side of the mountain is well seen from the road across Rannoch Moor. Stob a' Choire Odhair is a much lower peak, but it also looks impressive as seen from the east.The ascent of these two mountains is usually made from the west end of Loch Tulla. Go along the track to Clashgour for 1½ kilometres and turn right along the path on the east side of the Allt Toaig. Go up it for 2½ kilometres and then climb a zigzag stalker's path up the steep slopes of Stob a' Choire Odhair. This path leads high up onto the hill and ends a short distance from the summit.To continue the traverse, go west down a broad stony ridge to the col at the head of Coire Toaig. Climb steeply to reach the east ridge of Stob Ghabhar, and traverse its narrow rocky crest to reach the summit. The descent goes south-east down wide grassy slopes to the Allt Toaig where a safe crossing place should be found to regain the path on the east side.