M174 | 979 m. | 3212 ft.
Translation: Peak of the corrie of the scree
Pronuncation: stop kora sgreeadan

These two hills had been on Frank’s wish list for years but somehow we had never managed to climb this duo during one of our many stays in the wider region. But now in 2010 we definitely had them on our agenda since we stayed in Invergarry and the drive to Spean Bridge and further up Glen Spean was just a short trip.

Quite aware of the fact that this would be a less strenuous hike if the weather remained calm we reached Fersit late in the morning, set out from the parking, crossed the river and continued on the landrover-track through the village. After a few minutes we reached the open ground east of the village and left the track. Gradually at first over grass then more steeply on heathery ground we climbed due south, crossed the Allt Fhearghais and reached more level ground below the crags of Sron na Garbh-bheinne. From there we climbed the obvious grassy gully which after maybe 200m gives access to the more rocky rakes of this ridge. The going was steep but route finding was no problem on the grassy terrain with the sun blazing from above. Soon the fun on the steep terrain was over and we reached the flat crest of the ridge which leads to the summit after a final steepening. At the summit we enjoyed the impressive views up Loch Treig and across the loch towards the Eassins. A very nice viewpoint perched rather vertically above the loch. This is a good place to rest on a nice day like this.

Then we continued our hike towards Chno Dearg over some subsidiary bumps (958 m and 924m) on the very broad ridge. The wide bealach between the two hills at about 900m led to the final 150m climb up Chno Dearg. The wide summit dome and cairn of Munro number two greeted us. Again we rested for a while but the views were not nearly as interesting as on Stob Coire Sgriodain. From the summit we then descended the north side of the hill first using snow fields to make quick progress and then hiking down very comfortable and soft grassy slopes for about 800m. This was one of the most pleasant descents my knees ever experienced :-). After an easy hour and 20 minutes of walking on heather and grass we reached the landrover track leading back to Fersit about 500 m east of the first house. The rest of the hike was an easy stroll back to our car. This was a good hillwalk in Scotland which demanded quite some effort during the first two hours but then developed into an easy ridge/plateau walk and pleasant descent: Rewarding and relaxing at the same time.

 


Description These two hills are to the east of Loch Treig and south-east of Fersit, a small group of cottages reached by a narrow public road from the A86 in Glen Spean. They are not impressive hills to look at, and Chno Dearg appears to be more an expanse of rising moorland than a distinctive hill. Stob Coire Sgriodain forms an undulating ridge above Lochan Coire an Lochain and its west slopes drop steeply to Loch Treig, contributing to the fiord-like appearance of that loch. The smooth easy-angled contours of Chno Dearg make it a popular hill for an easy ski tour.The traverse of the two hills starts from the end of the public road at Fersit. Go east along the private road over the river and railway and beyond the last cottages bear south across the gradually rising moorland to the rocky nose of Sron na Garbh-bheinne. Continue along the ridge to Stob Coire Sgriodain, descend south and then bear south-east over two lower tops to the broad grassy col. Finally, climb north-east to the rounded stony dome of Chno Dearg. Descend down very easy grassy slopes following the line of the streams back to Fersit.