Black Mount: Stob a' Choire Odhair and Stob Ghabhar

Mike Taylor

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The Black Mount is part of the Glen Etive range of mountains sitting between Glen Coe and Rannoch Moor. The Black Mount includes four Munros and this route takes you over the two southern peaks. After walking a few hundred metres on the West Highland Way, a broad track and then a stalkers' path provide an easy walk in toward the peaks. The hard work then begins with a steep climb on a rough path leading directly up the southern ridge of Stob a' Choire Odhair. Over two kilometres you ascend 650 metres, but the reward is a superb view across Rannoch Moor and a panorama of peaks.

The second Munro lies directly to the west and the climb looks quite daunting from here, but there is a 'path' all the way. Descend west, following a path down the centre of the rocky ridge to the col, losing nearly 300m of hard-earned altitude. The path continues west from the col then turns south and climbs a very steep, rocky slope to reach the Aonach Eagach Ridge. The ridge path leads to the second summit just over 1km away. The centre section of the ridge is narrow and exposed but is easily crossed with the appropriate care; there are steep drops on both sides.

The final climb is rewarded with an even better view than from the first peak, a 360-degree panorama of mountains including the nearby Glen Coe peaks and Ben Nevis beyond them. Descent is via the broad south-east ridge where a bit of scrambling is required on the steep, eroded path by the waterfalls. The route then crosses the Alt Toaig stream to rejoin the outward route on the stalkers' path.

Scotland - Central Scotland - Argyll and Bute - Munro