Over The Hill

One of the classic Munro rounds is The Ring of Steall which takes in the traverse of four Munros in the Mamores group - well today we set off to do, not quite a Ring of Steall, but more of a Small Arc of Steall, and take in the two central Munros of Stob Coire a'Chairn and Am Bodach.

A steep climb through the woodlands up the rough and stony Grey Mare's Tail Waterfall track, took us passed the falls and into the open hillsides above Kinlochleven where, due to an momentary lapse in concentration, we detoured slightly onto the Loch Eilde Mor track before correcting the error and contouring back along the track to regain our intended track en route to the point were the Mamore Lodge to Loch Eilde Mor track crosses the Allt Coire na Ba at the now disused sheep pens and dip.

Here we picked up the stalkers track which heads north into Coire na Ba, an impressive coire forming a huge bowl defined by the steep slopes of Am Bodach and it's southern ridge to the west and Na Gruagaichean and it's southern ridge to the east, with, at it's head, the peak of Stob Coire a'Chairn; an impressive coire at any time, and today nature added to the atmosphere as the coire reverberated to the roar of the stags as they proclaimed the start of the rutting season; at times we had sight of stags on each side of the coire standing their ground and claiming their ownership of the hinds that had gathered around them.

At around the 550m height you have the option of leaving the stalkers track and heading directly north on a steep 300m climb to emerge just below the summit of Stob Coire a'Chairn, or you can continue on the stalkers track, which at this point turns away from the hillside, at one point heading south, before it makes an easy traverse over the steep grassy hillside, skirting below a series of crags and emerging at the 783m bealach between Na Gruagaichean and Stob Coire a'Chairn; and it was this option that we choose.

From the bealach the view directly ahead of us was of Binnein Mor's long, flat summit ridge, whilst over towards Lochaber the Grey Corries were just amazing as they caught the odd glitter of sun breaking through the low cloud; and before us, the grassy ridge leading directly to the summit of Stob Coire a'Chairn, a climb that was relatively easy apart from the last few metres when the grassy ridge gives way to broken rocks before topping out at a rather unimpressive cairn. However; there is nothing unimpressive about the view directly north of the summit, as less than a kilometer away is the solitary shark fin ridge that links the summits of An Garbhanach and An Gearanach, the first of the four Munros in the aforementioned Ring of Steall; we, at this point, standing firmly on the summit of the second, Stob Coire a'Chairn.

It is a straightforward descent south west from Stob Coire a'Chairn, over the minor top at 909m and down to the bealach at 831m before everything changes - it is hard work regaining the 200m in height to the summit of Am Bodach; an ascent in two stages, firstly, over a surface of loose and broken rocks before a final scramble up steep rock and boulders, where great care is needed, as even the largest of rocks can feel quite unstable; it did however, make for an interesting and very enjoyable scramble.

Am Bodach, at 1032m, is the highest of the Munros around the "Ring", our second, and third for those completing the circuit. We gained this summit just as the weather was beginning to break, with a damp mist blowing in from the west, and a distinct possibility of rain in the air; which became a reality as we finished our lunch atop Am Bodach and headed off down to the 880m bealach between Am Bodach and Sgurr an lubhair, once a mighty Munro, but demoted in the 1997 re-alignment.

From the bealach, we rejoined yet another stalkers track for the descent down through Coire na h-Eirghe, which in contrast to Coire na Ba, is much more enclosed, but with equally impressive high sides, which, in the mist and drizzle appeared to close in on us from all directions. By the time we emerged from the coire, on the hillside above Loch Leven, and joined the route of the West Highland Way back into Kinlochleven, the mist and drizzle had dispersed, so ending a wonderful walk in very pleasant conditions.

A very enjoyable day, and a great mini-Ring of Steall - Thanks everyone.