Ben More via NE ridge & Stob Binnien and its Tops

[Kenny_G]

I'd been putting off revisiting Ben More and Stob Binnien for 20 years. The only thing I remembered from my prior visit was the unrelenting steepness of the ascent from Benmore Farm. Not that I mind that too much going up, but my ageing knees had no desire to repeat it coming down. And as I was also going to take in the Tops of Stob Binnien, a circular route made sense, starting a few miles further east along the A85, and heading up the NE ridge of Ben More, the only negative being the slightly convoluted initial route finding through the mix of forest and felled ground and tracks, not all marked on all maps. (edited to add: though as jmarkb says in the comments, the 1:25k OS mapping has been updated for the new tracks)

Breakfast_on_Ben_More_.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

I was staying at Crianlarich Youth Hostel and was enjoying not using my car on the prior couple of days when I'd taken the train, so I decided to cycle the five miles along the A85 to the forestry entrance, and as I was already on my bike, to continue up the forest road. Which saved just over 2k of walking each way, plus 170m of ascent, versus starting at the road. Hard work on the bike on the way up, but fun on the way down.

I contrived to make it harder by choosing the wrong track to cycle up, taking a left turn after about 1k at an 'open access' sign onto an older track, which was mostly ok for cycling, until it wasn't. I ended up pushing / carrying the bike through several hundred metres of rougher, steeper, overgrown ground to get back to the newer hydro track at the start of the walk (at another 'open access' signpost). edited to add: on reflection, having decided to use the bike I could have just cycled up the main newer hydro track. For walking, the older track is greener and more pleasant.

Glad to be off the bike and walking just after sunrise

From there I headed through the forest. Lots of fallen trees to climb over and under. I had meant to go straight up onto the NE ridge, but turned left on the main 'path' such as it was, and ended up in a felled area which I crossed to get to another track which led to a small dam, which I crossed and had to climb steeply up a grassy bank to get onto better ground to cut across onto the ridge. I wasn't the first person to go that way, but for a few steps it was very steep and grassy, I was glad it was dry and that I was going up instead of down. (edited to add: see the comments by jmarkb for a better route onto the NE ridge!)

Once onto the NE shoulder of Ben More, a very enjoyable ridge walk, picking my way around a few outcrops and suchlike, views opening up before me and making it to the summit in good time, the frustrations of the forest now behind me!

Summit

I'd made an early start, and carried my breakfast with me, so sheltered behind the trig point from a bitingly cold Easterly wind, my hands so cold that I struggled to hold the spoon to eat my granola, even after lots of waving them around like a wonky windmill to get the blood flowing. But I was properly hungry at this point, so had to eat!

And warmed up quickly after what feels a long descent to the col between the two Munros and the 300m climb up Stob Binnien and then onto the first of it's Tops Stob Coire an Lochain

Looking back to Stob Binnien and Ben More

And from there down and up to the second Top, Meall na Dige

And time for some mid-morning coffee

The next bit of the walk down the broad ridge of Leacann Riabhach, over another minor summit with a few ups and downs, meandering around knolls and avoiding some outcrops was very enjoyable. In poor visibility it could well have been made for confusing navigation, but today was exactly the mostly easy angled descent I had hoped for, before going round one last knoll and heading down to the main forest track at another small dam, and less than a km back to my bike.

A great way to do these two hills, giving great views of their Eastern corries all the way around ☀️

[prog99]

This is by far the best way to do the circuit rather than the slog up from the A85

[Kenny_G]

This is by far the best way to do the circuit rather than the slog up from the A85

Agree! (When I look back, I was guilty of unthinkingly usually using the main route up many hills. In fairness, it's often that for a good reason, but one of the things I'm enjoying about revisiting hills like these and doing the Tops is the the opportunity to look for a different route or approach ... as well as hopefully enjoying better weather than the first time around!)

[jmarkb]

It is indeed a good route: and what a day you had for it!

That approach has been complicated by tree felling and hydro works in recent years. I think the best option on the way up is to head for the spot where the new hydro track crosses the fence at NN 461252, which you would have encountered on your way down. On foot, the lower track near the burn is fine: there is a path connecting it to the upper track and the new section of hydro track to the gate (the upper track is slightly faster walking but less attractive, definitely preferable on a bike, though!). The new tracks and paths are all now on the OS 1:25 mapping. Once through the gate, stay on the track for a couple of hundred metres as it loops back to another gate. Don't go through this, but follow the outside of the fence up onto the NE ridge.

[Kenny_G]

Thanks jmarkb... yes, agree that lower track is fine on foot, and more attractive than the newer hydro track... I did see the links to the upper track on my phone 1:25k OS map ... I had originally planned my route as a walk and planned to take the first link, but looking again, perhaps I cycled just past the turn for that path.

And agree, following the fenceline from the grid ref you give is a better approach 👍

Edited to add: and on reflection, using that route and having decided to use a bike, I should have just cycled up the newer hydro track to the grid ref you gave, and done the circular walk from there. I've edited the main report to reference your input, thanks!

[The English Alpinist]

Slogging up from Benmore is not particularly fun, but at the time I was glad of the obvious staircase up, in mist and wind. I too took in the two tops and came down through the forest tracks. Enjoyed the little lochan between the two Munros, because I was thirsty as well as it being a reasurring marker. I nearly missed na Dige - here was my view of it!

[ghdnotcutt]

This is a great route, only ever walked it in winter under snow which made getting up onto Sron nam Forsirean a challenge for the lungs. I also agree, massive improvement on the steep haul up from the A85.