Get Lost Mountaineering

Carn Liath & Stob Poite Coire Ardair from Aberarder on A86 by Loch Laggan

Start/Finish

The Scottish National Heritage car park (plenty of spaces) at Aberarder on the A86 by Loch Laggan. The A86 runs between Spean Bridge and Newtonmore. Aberarder is about 18 miles west of Newtonmore.

Distance/Time

21 km.        About 6 - 7 hours (add up to 2 hours under snow).

Peaks

Carn Liath, 1006 m, NN 472 903.

Stob Coire Dubh, 916 m, NN 496 916.

Meall an t-Snaim, 969 m, NN 459 904.

Stob Coire a' Chriochairein, 993 m, NN 447 899.

Stob Poite Coire Ardair, 1054 m, NN 428 888. OS sheet 34.

Introduction

Much of this walk could be described as high moorland walking on, mainly, short cropped grass until one reaches the bealach between Stob Poite Coire Ardair known as The Window. There is quite a rocky descent down to the main path up Coire Ardair. It can be easier under snow conditions but seems avalanche prone so be careful. On a clear day, the views are magnificent and include Creag Meagaidh, Beinn a' Chlachair, Binnein Shuas, Beinn a' Chaorainn and many more. Coire Adair contains some of the steepest cliffs in Scotland but seems more popular with winter climbers as it has many steep gullies. There are public toilets by the farm at Aberarder.

Route

(1) From the car park, walk up the path to Coire Ardair. Continue on the main path which is signed where appropriate. After some ascending, the path splits. Take the right fork, signed for Coire Dubh. Continue. As the birch trees are approached, look for a tiny cairn by a tiny stream on the right. This is the start of the path up to the Na Cnapanan ridge. The path is reasonably easy to follow but can double as a stream in wet conditions. It initially skirts the trees before going into the edge of the wood then coming out again. The trees are spreading fairly quickly so, in time, all of the path may be within the wood. Do not be tempted by any path which seems to drift left and go deeper into the wood as it will be very hard going. Soon, reach open ground above the trees and continue on the path to gain the ridge where the path heads roughly N up easy slopes towards Carn Liath. The ridge reaches the main crest to the SW of the top so head NE, over stony ground, to reach the large and tall cairn which is the summit of Carn Liath, 1006 m.

(2) Descend ENE, down easy but stony slopes, crossing the long plateau of A' Bhuidhenach then descend some more to reach a bealach. Ascend the grassy top beyond to reach a small cairn which marks the summit of Stob Coire Dubh, 916 m. The cairn is close to the edge of an atrractive corrie. Some intermittent old fence posts help with navigation between Carn Liath and Stob Coire Dubh.

(3) Retrace to Carn Liath then descend SW then W down gentle slopes. Keep well to the left when heading W to reach the bealach. Head up the other side to reach a plateau where the small cairn is not obvious as it is partly hidden behind a rock! This is Meall an t-Snaim, 969 m.

(4) Descend WSW, losing little height then ascend even less to another, unamed top. Descend SW to a bealach. The path goes right here then cuts back left, ascending to a medium cairn further along the summit plateau. This is Stob Coire a' Chriochairein, 993 m.

(5) Descend W losing little height before starting a long ascent with cliffs on the left. When the angle eases, a cairn is passed which does not seem to be the summit. About 800 m further, a second large cairn appears to be the highest point. This is Stob Poite Coire Ardair, 1054 m.

(6) Continue along the crest, descending gently. Pass another cairn. The path gradually steepens and leads down to the bealach between Stob Poite Coire Ardair and Creag Meagaidh which is known as The Window. From The Window, go left, E, on a path (the higher one is better). The path picks a way down the scree and boulder fields but the going will be slow. Lower down, it has a burn on its left then goes along the N side of Lochan a' Choire. Soon it becomes a recently engineered path which is very easy to walk and leads all the way back to the car park, about 6 km.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 19^th May, 2015.

(b) Omitting Stob Coire Dubh will save 1 – 2 hours and about 5 km of walking.