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ROUTE 8

Stob Coire a’ Chearcaill peak of the rounded corrie

Start	Stronchreggan (NN 07130 72520)
Distance	14km (9 miles)
Total ascent	870m (2900ft)
Difficulty	Once the paths in Gleann Sron a’ Chreagain are left behind, there is tough going on rough pasture and heather moorland on the lower slopes.
Time	4hr 40min
Summits	Stob Coire a’ Chearcaill (770m, 2525ft)
Maps	OS Landranger 41
Access	Follow the A861 E from Strontian and continue up the shore of Loch Linnhe and Loch Eil to Stronchreggan where the A861crosses the Abhainn Sron a’ Chreagain at a sharp bend. There is limited parking in a layby 100m further E. For those without vehicles there is a ferry for pedestrians and cyclists from Fort William to Camusnagaul, which is about 4km NE of the start point of this route.
Note	If the rivers are in flood it would be sensible to climb and descend by the suggested descent route.

Stob Coire a’ Chearcaill is an isolated peak in the NE of Ardgour. There are impressive crags in the E-facing Coire a’ Chearcaill and good views across Loch Eil to Ben Nevis.

Stob Coire a’ Chearcaill

In 2010 Moidart and Ardgour was classified as a Special Protection Area for its population of golden eagles. Golden eagles require large areas of open ground over which to hunt, and Ardgour is ideal for them because there is little human disturbance and an abundance of crags suitable for nesting. They feed mainly on live prey, favouring rabbit, hare, ptarmigan and grouse, but also pine marten, squirrel, fox, water voles, ducks and seabirds. They also feed regularly on the carcasses of sheep and deer.

Head 100m W to the Abhainn Sron a’ Chreagain and follow the track along the right-hand side of the burn. When the track appears to end (30min, 150m, 05040 73050), you should be able to see a continuation further up the glen and there may be a vehicle track through the grass heading SW down to it. Follow this track, if visible, to the track which continues alongside the burn. Unless someone has driven an off-road vehicle up the track recently, it will end again and you should continue along a boggy animal track to just above a junction in the burn (55min, 170m, 03880 72670). Unless the burn is in flood, it will be easy to cross here. Climb the ridge on your left up to the deer fence, turn right and follow it until it turns sharp left as it crosses a burn (1hr 40min, 475m, 02630 72460).

Follow the fence left for another 250m. When it veers left (475m, 02680 72230), leave the fence and head S towards a shallow saddle (570m, 02680 71810) on the ridge ahead. On reaching the ridge, turn right (W veering NW) to a top (745m, 02060 72060) and continue NW to the large summit cairn, with nearby trig point, on Stob Coire a’ Chearcaill (2hr 45min, 770m, 01690 72670).

Head N, gradually veering to ENE and eventually E, down the NE ridge. When you are sure that you are past the crags on the S face of the ridge (at about 440m, 04800 73800) head SE, gradually veering S down rough grass slopes. You will have to cross a barbed wire fence. There is an easy crossing point just right of a burn (185m, 05120 73250) roughly N of the track end. Descend to the track (4hr 10min) and turn left back to the parking area (4hr 40min).