BLACK MOUNT PEAK TO PUB, SOUTH-WEST HIGHLANDS

The Inveroran Inn has stood at the bottom of the Black Mount’s Stob Ghabhar for over 300 years. Sounds like a good excuse for a classic peak-to-pub.
NN270418 Start at car park south of Victoria Bridge, at the head of Loch Tulla. From the car park’s far corner take a damp track above a patch of pines and down to rejoin the road. Follow it across Victoria Bridge. Just before Forest Lodge, turn left on a track under trees. After 1.5km, reach the small green Clashgour Hut (a former schoolhouse) on the right.

NN256424 Just behind the hut, a path sets off up into the corrie of Allt Toaig, to right of its stream. The path is a bit boggy here and there. As the valley closes in, the path runs along the slope up to the right of the stream. Immediately after crossing a side stream, you pass a side path up to the right.

NN253447 You could take this path, rough and eroded to start with, to the bonus Munro Stob a’ Choire Odhair, descending its well defined west ridge. But with short winter days it’s best to concentrate on the main event, which is Stob Ghabhar. So keep ahead, as the good path continues up valley. It fades away on the final grassy slope to the wide saddle at the valley head.

NN243457 Turn left on a clear path (which came down from Stob a’ Choire Odhair). It runs up a rising ridge. This soon bends left to the foot of Aonach Eagach’s steep north face. The path steepens, heading up south-east. Some of it is eroded to bare rock, some to loose stones; but with luck, this north-facing slope will be holding some nice firm snow instead. Suddenly the path arrives on the crest of the Aonach Eagach ridgeline.

NN236453 Turn right up the ridge, soon dipping to the narrow rocky section. There’s a path along the crest. At the final tower, scramble the rocky crest for a metre or two to rediscover the path continuing. The ridge becomes wide, with clear path, bending right. The path follows old fencing up beside formidable drops on the right, to Stob Ghabhar summit.

NN230455 Beyond the cairn, bear slightly left, with the old fence posts still to your left, down a short stonefield and along a wide ridgeline of moss and grass, to the slight rise to Sron a’ Ghearrain. Here don’t follow the fencing down left (south), as this leads to cliffs. For gentler slopes, continue down west, slanting down to a wide grassy saddle; on the right are views down the long back valley of Coire Laoghan (not the intended descent).

NN213457 At the saddle turn down left. Slant south-east crossing streams, then directly downhill towards the wide, boggy saddle Mam nan Sac. Above the saddle you’ll pick up a grass track slanting down left. It runs down into the valley of Allt Ghabhar, entering plantations at its foot. The track is soggy under the trees, meeting a firmer track alongside Clashgour farm.

NN236425 For a shorter return if darkness is falling, turn left on the main track past the farm. Otherwise turn right, down a rougher track, through more plantations to a gate. If this is locked, head right to pass around the fence end. A sign for ‘through route’ marks a riverside path downstream along the banks of Abhainn Shira. After 2km this rejoins the track of the outward route.


PLEASE NOTE: The GPX trace on this route is for use as a guide only, its accuracy may change depending on the scale of map you are using. Use in combination with judgement and a paper map. We have taken all reasonable steps to ensure these walks are safe and correctly described. However things do change and all outdoor activities involve a degree of risk. The publishers accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions or for any injuries or accidents that occur whilst following this walk.

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