Mullach nan Coirean

Western Mamores hiking route

Hillwalking route up Mullach nan Coirean and Stob Ban in the Mamores

At the western end of the Mamores mountain range, a horseshoe route with some rough terrain takes in the two Munro peaks of Mullach nan Coirean and Stob Ban.



Route outline


Munros

Stob Ban, 

Mullach nan Coirean

Ascent 1200m (3930ft)
Distance 12km (8m)
Time 5:00hr
Start/finish Achriabhach, Glen Nevis
Grid Ref : NN142684
Terrain
easy hard
Nav
easy hard
Effort
easy hard
Scenery
ok fab


Comprising two Munro summits, the western section of the Mamores is perhaps the easiest part of the range, though it's still pretty rocky and rugged. From Glen Nevis, worn paths lead through felled forestry up onto rough and grippy granite on Mullach nan Coirean. Beyond this, grass covered plateaus narrow to meet the quartzite crests of Stob Ban.

Stob Ban's summit cairn sits on the edge of a huge drop - beware in winter, a fair sized cornice forms overhanging this giving a misleading impression of the ground.



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Route description


1. Getting to Lower Falls in Glen Nevis

Helpful signs in the forestry

Helpful signs in the forestry

In Fort William, just north of the Lochaber Leisure Centre, there is a small roundabout.

Take the turning into Glen Nevis and head up here for 7km to the Lower Falls car-park just before the bridges over the Water of Nevis (there is a charge to park here).


2. Through Nevis Forest

Top of the deer fence on Mullach nan Coirean

Top of the deer fence on Mullach nan Coirean

From the car-park, walk back along this road for 350m, over a bridge to some buildings by some forestry where a track heads south into the forest.

Start up this forestry track and notice the path of left at the edge of the deer-fence. Take this path uphill through the forest.

The path aims directly uphill and meets the forestry track again . Signposted, turn right (west) and follow the track for around 500m.

You'll find a small cairn denoting a path heading uphill on your left.


3. Mullach nan Coirean

Mullach nan Coirean from Stob Ban

Mullach nan Coirean from Stob Ban

The path is in the main well constructed as is makes a way through the recently felled forest.

The path reaches the edge of the forest, then turns into a wet boggy affair as it continues aside a deer-fence onto the north-eastern arm of Mullach nan Coirean. This fence is followed up to around c640m, where it turns sharply south-east .

Leave the fence at this point, continue south-wests and cross some gentle ground aiming uphill. The ground narrows, steepens and becomes bouldery with a path picking a route avoiding the roughest of the terrain.

Follow this path to the summit plateau, around Coire Dearg and to the large cairn on the Mullach nan Coirean's summit . What this Munro lacks in height, it makes up for in quality of views.


4. Sgurr Ban

Rocky ground above Coire Dearg, Stob Ban beyond

Rocky ground above Coire Dearg, Stob Ban beyond

Leave Mullach nan Coirean and head south-south-east on a very faint path on grass-covered terrain. The path becomes very obvious lower down and continues south-east.

Uphill over Mullach nan Coirean's south-east top (marked 917 on the OS map) , follow the path as it turns eastwards and the terrain becomes rougher.Turning north-east, a rocky minor summit is reached. From here, rather than sticking to the crest, a direct line can be taken to the next bealach.

The remnants of an old wall are met, then, after crossing some grassy ground on a path, bouldery ground is ascended using a path zig-zagging uphill to Stob Ban's summit . Take care in winter as this summit can dramatically cornice over on its eastern side above massive cliffs !


5. Return to Glen Nevis

Woodland by the Allt Coire a'Mhusgain on the route down to Glen Nevis

Woodland by the Allt Coire a'Mhusgain on the route down to Glen Nevis

Walk a few paces south from Stob Ban's summit, then look left for a gap in the rock with a path dropping eastwards. Follow this path downhill with occasional easy scrambling on quartzite rock (slippy when wet) to the grassy ground below at the bealach before Sgurr an Iubhair where the path comes to a junction marked by a small cairn .

Take the downhill path. There are some sections of the path that are badly erroded, but in general the route is fine as it leads to woodland following the Allt Coire a'Mhusgain back to the start point.

Alternatively, from the bealach there are various options to extend the route - perhaps adding in Sgurr an Iubhair or a traverse of the Devil's Ridge to Sgurr a'Mhaim.





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Alternative and nearby routes »


Ring of Steall, hiking route

The middle section of the Mamores mountain range is often referred to as 'The Ring o' Steall'. Some easy rock-scrambling is enjoyed while bagging 4 Munros including Sgurr a' Mhaim and An Gearanach.

Peaks : 4 Munros

Ascent : 1750m (5740ft)
Distance : 15km (9m)
Time : 6:45hr

Eastern Mamores

A circular route on the eastern Munros of the Mamores range heading in from Kinlochleven. Fine stalkers paths lead up rough peaks, including Binnein Mor, the highest Munro peak in the Mamores mountain range.

Peaks : 4 Munros, plus option of 1 Corbett

Ascent : 2000m (6560ft)
Distance : 18km (11m)
Time : 8hr

Mam na Gualainn from Callert on Loch Leven

Through a delightful birch woodland, paths and tracks lead to grass covered gently rising slopes and onto Mam na Gualainn's grassy summit with expansive views to the Mamores and over Loch Leven to the Glencoe ridges.

Peaks : 1 Corbett

Ascent : 800m (2620ft)
Distance : 6km (4m)
Time : 3hr

Mamores range hillwalking route

The Mamores is one of the finest mountain ranges in Scotland, with 10 Munro summits scattered over crests and ridges between Glen Nevis and Glencoe. This route bags them all in one outing !

Peaks : 10 Munros

Ascent : 3400m (11150ft)
Distance : 34km (21m)
Time : 14hr









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