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Western Mamores: 2015 Diverted Route:

Mullach nan Coirean & Stob Ban from Glen Nevis

Start/Finish

Lower Falls (pay) car park, Achriabhach, Glen Nevis at about NN 145 684. There is some limited free parking nearby.

Distance/Time

15 km.    About 7 hours.

Peaks

Mullach nan Coirean, 939 m, NN 122 662.

Mullach nan Coirean SE Top, 917 m, NN 131 654.

Mullach nan Coirean E Top, 916 m, NN 138 657.

Stob Ban, 999 m, NN 147 654. OS Sheet 41.

Introduction

Outstanding views in all direction from this walk. Stob Ban is the white quartzite peak which is seen when looking towards Glen Nevis from Torlundy and the Mallaig road near Corpach. Recent forestry clearing closed around 2015 closed the previously posted route but it may re-open later in the year. The forestry have provided a good alternative route which is well signed and some will prefer the diverted route. The diverted route is given below. The only difference between the two routes is the section from the first hairpin bend at the top of the initial path to about the middle of the north east ridge. All other sections are identical.

Route

(1) A forest track starts opposite some white cottages slightly down the glen from the car park by a bus turning area. Take the path up the left side of the forest just after the start of the track. This emerges out on a hair pin bend of the upper track. Take the upper track, heading roughly NW, for about 700 m. Forestry work is still going on but access is permitted. Reach a diversion sign pointing into a cleared area of forestry. A good path has been made and it is easy to ascend through the cleared area to reach a stile over a deer fence. Once over this, the forestry is left behind. Follow the fence uphill on to the NE ridge of Mullach nan Coirean. The going can be boggy but improves with height. The fence continues along the crest for some distance, passing a disabled stile which offered an alternative route from the glen below. Continue up the ridge to the summit plateau where there is a substantial cairn. 250 m further on is an even larger cairn which is the summit of Mullach nan Coirean, 939 m.

(2) Continue on obvious path with cliffs on the left (NW) to another substantial cairn which is the SE Top of Mullach nan Coirean, 917 m.

(3) Continue on obvious path following the edge to the next top, after an impressive rock wall on the left, which now seems to be a Munro Top being named Mullach nan Coirean East Top, 916 m, and there is a tiny cairn on a rock marking the highest point.

(4) Continue on obvious path following the edge over a minor bump with a white quartzite cairn then down to a bealach. Climb E to a minor top with a cairn then more steeply SE then S to the substantial cairn of Stob Ban, 999 m.

(5) Still following the path, though it is not too obvious from the summit, go E for a few metres to a cairn then take a sharp left to follow a path down the shattered E ridge which leads to grassier slopes. Do not be tempted to descend N on some of the flatter sections. The bealach between Stob Ban and the next peak along the main ridge is well cairned. If you pass it there is a steep rise and you might spot the lochan at about NN 160 654. From the bealach there is a path which initially descends N then zig-zags. The path is much more obvious after a few metres of descent and follows the Allt Coire a’ Mhusgain down the steep sided glen. In places the path is rough, eroded and boggy but always obvious. This leads down to the Geln Nevis road about 50 m E of the car park.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 22^nd May, 2015.

(b) In early 2017, there was speculation that Mullach nan Coirean E Top, 916 m, approx NN 138 657, could qualify as a new Munro Top. On 18/10/17, there was a tiny cairn seemingly marking this spot a few metres north of the main path along the crest.