Stob a'Choire Odhair and Stob Ghabhar with bike

[andrew11]

Started from Victoria Bridge and biked up the track on the North side of the Linne nam Beathach to the iron hut. This is a well made track and easy to bike. Still on bike turned up the path on E. side of Alt Toaig. Track is boggy and rutted in places but perfectly doable. Left the bike at aprox 253433 and continued on foot. Rain came on so put on waterproofs, however it only lasted about 20 mins and the rest of the walk was dry with very occasional sun. I went up the second ridge on the right. The one that goes straight to the top of Stob a'Choire Odhair. There is a well marked zig zag path but I preferred to head straight up the easy grassy slopes. After the summit I headed west for Stob Ghabhar. The scramble up onto Aonach Eagach was a little tricky (for me anyway!) as everything was very wet, but not really a problem. I was a little apprehensive about the narrow section of this ridge as I had read that it was somewhat exposed and indeed when I came to it looked quite challenging. However Paddy McGuire the Skye mountain guide who introduced me to scrambling last month on the Cuillin would have been proud of me! I thoroughly enjoyed the ridge and got a real buzz from it. I even opted to stay along the top rather than take the easier option to the side at one point. After that the push up to the summit was nae bother. On the way down I followed the South East ridge passing the fantastic waterfalls and crossed the burn to collect the bike. Then wheeee down the track and road to the car park. I just love using the bike in situations like this. Nothing is worse than that long level walk out after a hard day on the hills. All in all a brilliant day on the hills. Only disappointment, didn't see Schiehallion over Rannoch moor. Too murky, but a minor niggle hardly worth mentioning. Also had pleasant chats with 6 other walkers at various points. Get out your bike! It enhances the experience on loads of hills!

[mountain coward]

I'll be doing Stob Gabhar separately as I've done Stob a' Choire Odhair already... didn't like the look of the very steep climb up to where the Aonach Eagach ridge starts - I'm sure I'd be okay across the actual ridge though... when I do it I intend to go up the ridge you came down - I'm assuming it's fine with no problems? Good photos

Me and my walking buddy Richard use our fold-up bikes quite a bit to reach walks if there's a good path (like that one) - it is a lot better than a long walk out at the end of the day!

[andrew11]

Hi. Thanks for your comments. The ridge I came down is no problem. Just a bit boggy in places. Also if I was going up that way I'd go up to the right of the waterfall. It looks steeper but there was a bit of a path going that way. Hope you enjoy it. Let me know how it goes. Sorry the pictures are in the wrong order, they mixed themselves up for some reason.

[Johnny Corbett]

Hi Andrew

Good report, been thinking of doing these two for a while now, with only the narrow ridge and scrambling deterring me but thanks to your report and photos it doesn't look too bad. Hope you got a suitable route off Beinn a' Chleib.
Found your Grandaughters report very amusing.

Johnny

[Paul Webster]

Good stuff Andrew. By the way, if it's the only bit that has had it, you can buy a pair of new tips for the walking poles (it's quite hard to pull the old ones off mind!)

[gammy leg walker]

Fine report and pictures there andrew11,we looked at this before choosing to head for the "gorms",probably be next year now before we get round to doing this now ,could not help but notice that you are another Paddy McGuire convert,did you go climbing in Skye with him on any munro"s or was it just a scrambling course.

[andrew11]

Thanks Gammy (I wish I had chosen a more immaginative user name!!) had 2 days with Paddy on the Cuillin with a friend his grandson (15) and my granddaughter (13). Did Sgurr a'Mhadaide and Sgurr a'Ghreadaidh the first day and Sgurr Mhic Choinnich and the in pin the second day. Mist and some rain both days but it was great. (see Kirstybeast's report Clambering up the Inn Pinn). We also did Blaven by ourselves on a glorious day.

[andrew11]

Thanks Paul for your advice re polls. (and your interest). The polls are well knackered. One got bent by a young lad I lent it to and they both got bashed and jammed when I threw them down ahead of me when scrambling down Ben Narnian. I'll know not to do that again! What a great site this is!!

[Glenrothes]

Nothing is worse than that long level walk out after a hard day on the hills.

I did these two Munros last year as part of the Clachlet Traverse linking the Munros of Stob a' Choire Odhair and Stob Ghabhar with Meall a' Bhùiridh and Creise.

What I wouldn't have given to have two wheels for the last few miles on the West Highland Way back to Victoria Bridge!!

[andrew11]

hi outdoor johnny. thanks for your comments. In the end I came down Beinn a'Cleibh by the route that you had taken up and it was fine, if a bit boggy, thanks.