free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
For a little while now, I've been thinking about doing a bit different that what I'm used to doing in the Highlands, going somewhere that I can combine a classic ridge-walk with a high-level camp, and this route that I chose seemed to fit the bill perfectly.
So after taking the train up to Tulloch Station and staying a few nights at the Staion Lodge (and doing some of nearby hills), on Tuesday 25 May, I took the morning train down to Spean Bridge and from there set off towards Corriechoille and the Lairig Leachach. I arrived at the Bothy just after 1 o'clock (took me just over 3 hours from Spean Bridge) had some lunch outside the Bothy, then headed on up towards Stob Ban. Got a great view of the Grey Corries ridge, and beyond that Aonach Beag. Behind me was Stob Coire Easain (where I'd been the day before) and over to my left, The Mamores.
Descended the scree to the bealach, then walked steadily up to Stob Choire Claurigh. I got to the top at around 5.20, the views from here were amazing, could see all the way along the Grey Corries ridge, and beyond to the Aonachs and Ben Nevis. It felt so good to be up on the ridge, after doing all of the hard work in getting up there I felt that I was doing the finest part of the day's walk at the best part of the day.
The walk along the ridge itself is a belter, rocky but not scrambly, narrow in parts but not too exposed, and not losing much in height anywhere along the way. Anyway, while I was enjoying myself making progress along the ridge, I had to decide on a place where I could set up camp for the night, and I found a spot just down from the ridge at Bealach Coire Easain. Pitched my tent on a flat grassy area, close to where I could get some water, only drawback was that I was now out of the sunlight and it felt quite chilly with the stiff northerly breeze. Quickly ate some hot food then settled in for the night.
Awoke at around 7:30, crawled outside to discover frost on the tent and ice on the small pools that were my water supply. Made myself a coffee and some porridge, packed the tent away then headed on up to Sgurr Choinneach Mor, within half an hour I was on the summit. Stopped for a while to enjoy the views, then continued to the minor summit, Sgurr Choinneach Beag. It looked like quite a drop in height down to the bealach, more so when I looked at the height I would have to gain to ascend Aonach Beag.
After having some elevenses at the bealach, I contoured around Coire Bealaich then climbed up a steep, grassy gully just below Sgurr a' Bhuic, then followed a path that skirted the cliffs of Aonach Beag all the way up to the snow-covered summit. Could feel that there would soon be a change in the weather, and there was a brief snow shower on the way up. Didn't stick around too long at the summit, then pressed on to Aonach Mor and sat down for a bit of lunch. My exertions were beginning to take their toll on me and by now I was feeling very tired, it seemed like a long walk down from Aonach Mor, alongside the ski area and past the gondola and down the mountain bike tracks to the Nevis range car park. Walked to the main road, then got a lift to Fort William and found a place to stay for the night.
Overall, I feel extremely satisfied with what I'd accomplished over the 2 days, maybe I will find more places in Scotland do something similar.
View of Grey Corries on the way from Spean Bridge
Lairig Leachach Bothy and Stob Ban
Grey Corries ridge from Stob Ban
Coire Cath na Sine, Grey Corries ridge from Stob Ban
Stob Choire Claurigh, Stob Coire Ceannain from Stob Ban
Stob Coire Easain and Stob Coire Mheadoin from Stob Ban
looking west along Grey Corries ridge from Stob Choire Claurigh
Stob Coire Ceannain from Stob Coire Claurigh
Stob Ban and view south from Stob Choire Claurigh
Mamores, from Stob Choire Claurigh
Stob a' Choire Leith and Stob Choire Claurigh from Stob Coire Cath na Sine
Sgurr Choinneach Mor, Stob Coire an Laoigh, Caisteal, from Stob Coire Cath na Sine
looking east along Grey Corries ridge from Stob Coire Cath na Sine
ascending Caisteal on Grey Corries ridge
looking east along Grey Corries ridge from Caisteal
Stob Ban, from Caisteal
looking east on Grey Corries ridge on ascent of Stob Coire an Laoigh
Sgurr Choinneach Mor from Stob Coire an Laoigh
looking east on Grey Corries ridge from Stob Coire an Laoigh
wild-camp below Sgurr Choinneach Mor
Binnein Mor, Binnein Beag, Sgurr Eilde Mor from Sgurr Choinneach Mor
Sgurr Choinneach Beag & Aonach Beag from Sgurr Choinneach Mor
Aonach Mor from Sgurr Choinneach Mor
looking east on Grey Corries ridge from Sgurr Choinneach Mor
Sgurr Choinneach Beag and Aonach Beag
Sgurr Choinneach Mor
Aonach Beag
Sgurr a' Bhuic
Ben Nevis east face
Grey Corries ridge from Stob Coire Bhealaich
Aonach Beag & Aonach Mor
Aonach Beag
"Ring of Steall" from Aonach Beag
Binnein Mor, Binnein Beag and Sgurr Eilde Mor from Aonach Beag
Grey Corries from Aonach Beag
Ben Nevis and Carn Mor Dearg from Aonach Beag
Aonach Mor from Aonach Beag
Aonach Beag from Aonach Mor
Ben Nevis and Carn Mor Dearg from Aonach Mor
looking towards Loch Eil on descent from Aonach Mor
Loch Eil, on descent from Aonach Mor
