The ridge that nobody climbs

[BlackPanther]

It all started last year when the new reality forced us to search for alternative routes up the hills we had already climbed rather than driving for 2 hours to tick off something new. I even created a list of " bizarre ideas for well known mountains" and it is now proving useful. Going up a popular mountain via some overgrown and rarely visited side gives a whole new perspective to an otherwise boring day. To celebrate the opening of Scotland we picked a path less traveled up one of Loch Lochy Munros. So let's the madness begin!
I was always intrigued by the NE ridge of Sròn a' Choire Ghairbh, thinking it should be possible to traverse it. Most Munro guides don't even mention it, only one of them says it is an option for alternative descent but no details about the terrain, steepness etc. But in the era of the world wide web nothing is impossible Several WH reports contain info about the NE ridge. We based our route on the great TR by Cairngorm creeper. Thank you very much!

The idea was to traverse Sean Mheall and Meall nan Dearcag, going up the latter straight from Kilfinnan. The ascent is steep and there is no path, a few steep sections overgrown by heather, but nothing too tackling. The final ridge walk from Sean Mheall to the Munro summit was a delight.
It is possible to continue to the second Munro or to complete the circuit of Coire Glas, but we didn't want to overdo it (my knees feel fine but I'm still taking it easy) and descended via the Cam Bealach path:

Track_SRON A CHOIRE GHARBH 16.1KM.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

We expected crowds at the car park as it was the first weekend of freedom. it was busy indeed but no more crowded than on any sunny Saturday in mid April. I could express my excitement without the fear of being arrested and sent to the loony bin

We started by walking on a track on the western side of Kilfinnan Burn for a short distance, but soon left it to climb steeply along the edge of the forest, where a pasture fence is a good navigational guide:

In summer months the lower slopes of Meall nan Dearcag would be overgrown with bracken, so we were glad we came here before the vegetation made the walk a nuisance.
We followed the fence to the height of 300m, where it met another fence built across the slope. Here we found a weak spot to cross it (it is not barb wired, thankfully!). Above that, it was only us and the heather
Looking down the way we came with the guiding fence in the foreground:

The easternmost end of Meall nan Dearcag ridge can be climbed easily by careful route finding...

...or made difficult by charging straight up the steepest section, which we didn't mind. Why do we always make it hard for ourselves, I can't tell

On top of the first steep section, posing with the eastern views behind me:

More steep ground awaits...

Of course it can be avoided but Kevin preferred the "direttissima" approach. Many times I cursed him for his "let's just go straight up" approach, but today I was having too much fun to complain!

Higher up, the ridge evens out and wider views open up, we could now see the traverse yet to come, with the bulk of Sean Mheall and the summit of Meall nan Dearcag:

A glimpse back over the bumpy terrain to the Great Glen below:

Sean Mheall, here we come!

The final climb to Sean Mheall looks like a neverending slog, but it is actually an easy stroll compare to the steep slopes lower down. Just below the summit we stopped for a five minutes snack and suddenly, we spotted this fellow:

A golden eagle? Most likely!
On the summit of Sean Mheall (which is a SIM and a SubHUMP for all we care):

So now, with all the hard work done, we could relax and enjoy the amazing ridge walk to the top of Sròn a' Choire Ghairbh:

Meall Dubh and Meall nan Teanga. We have plotted an interesting route for these two, not the usual up-and-down-the-path and we might come back to Loch Lochy sooner than expected.

Another intriguing part of this Munro complex is the northern ridge of Sròn a' Choire Ghairbh, namely Meall a'Choire Ghlais. It looks like a potential easy scramble if tackled via this ridge:

I didn't find any information about this particular slope, is is climbable? Seems like it should be possible. Yet another idea for a long summer day
Panoramic view of Sròn a' Choire Ghairbh, Coire Glas, Meall a'Choire Ghlais and Ben Tee:

The traverse to the Munro summit was an absolute delight, we took time to enjoy it:

Walking the ridge with Sean Mheall in the background:

Loch Lochy and the high hills beyond (Creag Meagaidh group, I think):

The final walk to the summit, here we met other walkers for the first time. Just proves my point, that in current climate it is worth exploring paths less traveled!

Heading for the summit of Sròn a' Choire Ghairbh:

Meall nan Teanga pano:

Lucy's 132nd Munro:

Zoom to Ben Nevis:

A few snaps of the more distant views, especially to the west and south-west.

Meall na h-Eilde and Geal Charn, two Corbetts usually climbed from Loch Arkaig:

The summit was busy, people coming and going, it felt so strange after the lonely experience on Sean Mheall. We had enough time to visit the second Munro but decided against it. Better leave it for another day and do something less ordinary rather than follow the crowd up the path. We had been to this duo before using the traditional T-shaped route, now we want to be original
For the time being, the boring path had to suffice for our descent. I was glad my knees were holding well. It is a good sign before our planned April hols (next week).

The Loch Lochy hills are indeed a very complex mountain ridge, offering multiple options for routes, some more stupid than others and I can hardly wait to come back here to try another ridge that no sane walker climbs. Until then, it is whatever the Scottish weather allows!

[Sunset tripper]

Great report BP and a fine hill I know well.

As a kid I always used to look up at that hills from the back of the car on the old road that now has been replaced by the present motorway along the loch. I knew nothing about munros or hills back then. Usually you could see very little of them in the rain and mist but they always mesmerised me.
They were among the first hills I climbed and I have only climbed Ben Nevis and possibly Carn Mor Dearg and Cairngorm more often.

I normally park at the canal if driving ( but a fine three hills to do by bus) and have been up by the same route as you. The Kilfinnan falls are a place I have visited often also.

Another good route and less trodden is starting at Caig falls near Loch Arkaig. The forestry car park in Glen Garry is another alternative from which I did Ben Tee.

Cheers.