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Having previously done both Stob Ban and Sgúrr Choinnich Mór individually I turned my focus onto the remaining Grey Corries.
With my goal to do every Munro individually I originally planned just to do Stob Coire Claurigh but while researching the route I noticed the impressive munro top 'Stob Coire Na Ceannain'.
All the reports I looked into that included the top had it as an 'out and back' visit from the main ridge, none had climbed it directly, but looking at the OS, Harvey maps and aerial photos I could see a couple of potential routes straight up from Lairig Leacach.
- Stob Coire na Ceannain from Lairig Leacach
We set off from the upper carpark (NN 25579 78843) and made our way through the forestry and up into the glen, the other walkers ahead of us peeled off up a track immediately after the forestry ended, we continued until Stob Coire Na Ceannain came into view.
- Stob Coire Na Ceannain from Lairig Leacach
We came of the landrover track at NN 27232 76013 and headed up the hill following the southern side of Allt Coire Na Ceannain past a spectacular waterfall.
- Allt Coire Na Ceannain waterfall
Crossing the bog we aimed for a large quartz boulder at NN 26723 75386 (visible from landrover track)
- Quartz boulder at 700m
Within no time we were at the bottom of the main climb.
- The scramble
The angle of ascent is constantly about 45°, we kept to the grassy section where possible and managed to avoid the the worst of the scree, there are some good sections af scrambling but the sharp angular quartzite stone isn't the easiest to clamber over (especially when wet).
- Summit of Stob Coire Na Ceannain
Height is gained quickly, before you know it you're topping out on the summit at 1123m, the views over the rest of the Grey Corries range is stupendous.
- Ridges
A short ridge connects Stob Coire Na Ceannain with the main bulk of the Munro
- Ridge over onto Stob Choire Claurigh
It only takes a few minutes before your at the top of Stob Choire Claurigh at 1177m
- Stob Choire Claurigh Summit.
The views up on top really open up, with Stop Ban and Meall a' Bhúirich to the immediate south, the Mamores to the Southwest and the Easains to the East, if you squint your eyes you can even see Corrour Station.
- Corrour Station
Our intention was to just return down the 'baggers track' but with the conditions being so good (plus finding an unopened packet of jelly babies in the rucksack from a previous trip) saw us head over across the ridge to Stob Coire an Laoigh with gusto.
- Stob Coire an Laoigh with Aonach Beag and Ben Nevis in the background
Coming off the hill is fairly straightforward, however the tracks fragment, just make sure you're following the one we took, otherwise getting over the deer fence and through the forestry will be a challenge.
- Old tramway coming off the forestry track
The final sting in the tail is a short but steep 60m climb up the forestry track to the old tramway, this however brings you straight out at the upper carpark.
