Stob Ban circuit

[U059361]

This was a walk I really enjoyed, the weather was benign, overcast, but little wind in the glen. The parking has plenty of spaces at the Lower Falls car park, they just ask for a 'donation' of £4 to park there all day. I had a look at the Lower Falls while I was there, not spectacular but worth a look. The start of the walk has a route map that makes it fairly obvious this is the way to go. It was just after 8am.

The going was fair, bit muddy in bits, over stones and boulders in bits, over roots and wee burns, as I climbed up the glen. There is quite a gorge higher up and several waterfalls. At the turn higher up, came up against a wall of rock and had a bit of mountaineering to do to get up it. I couldn't see a way around it, but maybe the path turned off earlier. However, didn't stop me. Climbing up a path towards the corries and the bealach, got a bit windy and chilly, so on with the hat, gloves and a couple of layers just to be sure.
Stob Ban from bealach by Joe Kincaid, on Flickr
The view from the ridge now is fantastic of Stob Ban, what a hill, looked forward to the scramble up to the top. Once on the hill proper, its boulders and rock all the way to the top, fantastic views opening up. The weather brightened up too when I got to the top. I could see the path up to the Ring of Steall and the route over to Mullach nan Coirean clearly. Lots of good walking here.
Route up ridge to Stob Ban by Joe Kincaid, on Flickr
Route to Mullach nan Coirean from Stob Ban by Joe Kincaid, on Flickr
After photos, went down the rocks and in the shelter had my lunch. It was 10:30am. I was surprised I had climbed here so quickly. I watched the clouds come and go on the top of Ben Nevis and the other hills east of here. Stob Ban remained clear all day.
Ridge down looking towards Ben Nevis by Joe Kincaid, on Flickr
The route down goes down what is a scree chute, you can see it for miles its so white. It is almost impossible to stop sliding down it, so wouldn't want to come up here. Back on boulders to traverse over to the ridge again and finally no longer dropping down. The walk over to Mullach nan Coirean is fairly straight forward, just a wee bit weary when I finished the climb up to the top. Really sunny now, but the wind keeps it cool, perfect for walking really. It is behind me now.
Ben Nevis from Quartzite Cairn by Joe Kincaid, on Flickr
Stob Ban en route to Mullach nan Coirean by Joe Kincaid, on Flickr
Mullach nan Coirean by Joe Kincaid, on Flickr
The views here are good in the sun. The drop down is a steep one as well as a long one.
Route down from Mullach nan Coirean by Joe Kincaid, on Flickr

By the time I got to the fence my legs are complaining a bit. Out of the wind, it was time to take off all the extra layers, hat and gloves. The walk through the woods was a trudge. Really glad to get to the forest track and even ground for walking. The final drop back to the road was thankfully short and once back at the car I was so glad to take by boots off. It was 1:30pm. Downed a can of Irn Bru before driving back to Edinburgh.
Glen and Mullach nan Coirean from Glen Nevis road by Joe Kincaid, on Flickr

[Alteknacker]

Some stunning pics of some superb hills - Stob Ban is really sensational up close - on a fantastic day.