free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
Before I even start to describe the walk - the drive up to the parking is definitely worth a mention too! Lovely drive on a single track road through woodlands and meadows dotted with sheep and currently lamb. Very pretty and definitely setting the tone for the walk.
There is a fairly decently sized parking at Fersit. It was pretty much full when I arrived, probably as it is being shared with anglers who enjoy the loch nearby. Many of the cars were parked a good 1.5m from each other. With a bit more effort, I am sure there would have been more spaces available on the parking. But hey - why think of others when you are out and about!
.
So, after finding a spot to successfully squeeze myself in I started off along the road towards the farm. Weather was glorious - sunshine, blue sky and there was a good chance the little clouds around the tops of the two munros would still disappear. The trail veers off the road through a meadow full of cows and the trail turns boggy very quickly. Something that didn not change until I reached the 700m mark. While there is an initial trail, I very quickly found myself off it making my way through bogs and heather, essentially going straight up the ridge. I followed the WalkHighlands GPS route initially, but then kept slightly to the left to pick up a fairly well walked trail at around the 400m mark. This trail took me with little interptions where it disappeared, almost all the way to the top.
The ground is mostly boggy, following little streams, very(!) steep (I can't remember having taken quite that many breaks on the way up lately) and makes for slow going with the heather or the mossy or grassy ground. At some point it turns rocky and I really needed to watch my steps. Just before the top it levels out a bit which makes for easier going and allows to enjoy the great views around, particularly ahead towards the Ben Nevis range over a big loch. So glad I did this one in good weather and with good views.
From the top of Stob Coire Sgriodain, a faint trail leads along the ridge and over to Chno Dearg. It gets quite rocky for the first part and the odd patch of snow made for some lovely scenery. Once you start climbing up towards Chno Dearg, the ground turns mostly mossy. It was lucky dry, but this also meant sinking in with every step - yes, I am sure I am going to feel it tomorrow. I was almost half way up to Chno Dearg when I realised that I should have included Meal Gharb which is pretty much there and really no climb anymore at this point. Why it is not included in the route, I don't know. It is easy enough to do and without much effort. I did not have the time to go back, so headed towards the top of Chno Dearg.
The Cairn at the top is quite impressively big. The views in all directions are certainly worth the climb. I do think they are nicer from Stob Coire Sgriodain which due to the rugged nature of its top just adds to the scenery.
The way down from Chno Dearg starts off over rocky terrain that requires a lot of attention. I followed the farm buildings in the distance which are visible for most of the way. It does take a while to make it there though - the ground turns boggy and fully of little streams that need to be navigated. The heather is high in places tood and the ground full of holes. At around 300m high I crossed tyre tracks and picked up a fairly solid trail. It follows a little river and took me all the way to the farm road at the bottom of the hill just off the farm buildings that I had been using for directions since the top of Chno Dearg. The solid ground feels like a treat after the boggy downhill and the stroll back to the parking.
