Almost didn’t go as checked mountain forecast at 6.30am and worse than last night with predictions of cloud and rain as day went on but as said best the more NW thought these might be OK and thankfully went as lovely day, dry, long sunny spells, little wind and in T-shirt all day except put on second layer sitting at tops.

Set off from Victoria Bridge Car Park at 8.30am and reached summit of Stob a’ Choire Odhair at 10.45. It was straight forward with lovely walk along Abhainn Shira and at about 1.5k turning up to the munros at the mountaineering hut. It looks totally inadequate to have once been a schoolhouse.

At 4k it was quite a steep 2K ascent to the summit of Stob a’ Choire Odhair but many zig zags eased it. Spent 30 mins there and had first lunch and a cup of tea admiring the view out over Rannoch Moor and towards the Argyll Hills to the south and south west. Also the view of the next munro is spectacular but the ascent of Stob Ghabhar was pretty tough, 3K away and descending first to about 670m and once across the bealach a very steep ascent onto Aonach Eagach. Once on that it was easy going to the top and the steep view down to Coirein Lochainn didn’t bother me the way I thought it might from other reports.

I reached to summit of Stob Ghabhar at 1.15 so 2 hours for 3K but what views especially over the other Etive Hills, Glen Coe Hills and to Ben Nevis. Also, the view to the Bridge of Orchy Hills and Cruachan Hills were amazing. I spent 45 mins on top enjoying the views and another sandwich, biscuit and cup of tea. I also met the only other person I met all day. He’d driven down from Nairn. We’d a good chat and he went on while I still spent another 20 mins on top.

The descent was lovely and coming down past all the cascading water was very impressive though a bit tricky as fairly steep.

The crossing over Allt Toaig just before getting back on the path I came was a little nerve racking as after overnight rain was quite full and had to step on some wet rocks and it’s quite steep once across getting up the bank. I was thankful to my walking poles on the crossing as I was on the various steep ascents and descents on the day.

Again, the walk back along Abhainn Shira was lovely especially looking back west towards the sun. I’m glad I didn’t go up any hills more east as by this time it was black over the Bridge of Orchy Hills and raining over Beinn Achaladair. I got a couple of heavy showers heading home in Glen Falloch and at the north end of Loch Lomond.

Not much wildlife seen today but a lot of frogs of various sizes and quite a lot colour from wild flowers, whites of Clover, Eyebright and Marsh Bedstraw, yellows of Buttercup, Cat’s ear, Tormentil and Bog Asphodel, purples of Foxglove, Thyme, Bog and Bell Heather amongst most common. Also quite a lot of butterflies, Mountain Ringlets I think, and some Peacock butterflies at the summits. I find this quite common which seems surprising.

I was back at the car park at 4.45pm so 2H 45M from Summit of Stob Ghabhar.

It had been such a lovely day of hill walking. I’m so glad I went.