Easains from Fersit

Looking back up Meall Cian Dearg as the sun sets

On the A86, 13km east of Spean Bridge, a narrow road is marked southward, heading downhill towards Fersit.

Follow this road to its end just before some houses and by a mast, where there is ample parking available beside large green rubbish and recycling bins.

On the way from Fersit to Meall Cian Dearg passing a pilar

From the car-park, face south and you should see a path heading off right through the ferns. This is a direct route (see dash-line on map) which crosses a track (now well grown over with grass) then clambers up slippy rock and under branches to reach open and fairly soggy moorland.

A better alternative is to follow the estate track southwards until you come to a junction just before Loch Treig's dam. Take the right fork and climb uphill unti you reach the highest point of the track , leave the track here and head westwards on a very faint path crossing soggy ground. Just below some crags the direct route is met and a more obvious path is picked up.

Continue following the path uphill, a slight detour will lead you to a large concrete hydro pillar - a good spot for a photo.

The path travels up to the base of Meall Cian Dearg, then zig-zags up the steep craggy ground ahead - this can be challenging in icy conditions or if there is a cornice above, in which case Meall Cian Dearg can be avoided by heading around its north-west side (see dash-line in map).

Further up, the ground levels and a flat plateau is crossed while aiming south-west.

The path remains obvious as it reaches the ground above Coire Shomhairlie, then travels up to a last flat area before reaching the bouldery ground of Stob a'Choire Mheadhoin's last rise. Stob a'Choire Mheadhoin's summit sits in the middle of the bouldery ground with a small cairn marking the top. Stunning views !

Stob Coire Easain from Stob a'Choire Mheadhoin

The boulders on Stob a'Choire Mheadhoin's summit plateau can hide the path to Stob Coire Easain in poor visiblity. From the cairn on Stob a'Choire Mheadhoin's summit, head south-west and begin to descend. The path becomes obvious as it twists and turns avoiding the worst bouldery sections.

A grassy bealach between Stob a'Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Coire Easain is reached.

Follow the well-defined path across the col, then gradually encounter more boulders on the ascent up Stob Coire Easain. The path is obvious all the way to Stob Coire Easain's summit . Great views in all directions.

Stob a'Choire Mheadhoin from Stob Coire Easain

After returning to the bealach between the Munro summits, you could proceed north-west on a path down to Coire Laire and follow the Allt Laire over wet ground to the wooden bridge 1km north of Fersit. However, I'd rather climb back up Stob a'Choire Mheadhoin and return to Fersit by the same route up - it's far more direct.