Hiking Highlight
Routes leading to this Highlight may be dangerous
Routes may comprise technical, difficult, or hazardous terrain. Specialist equipment and prior experience may be required.
‘Welcome to the Highlands’ reads the sign as you speed along the A82 and the sensational expanse of Rannoch Moor coupled with the soaring beauty of the Black Mount begin to make themselves known. Hikes to Stob Ghabhar take you to the finest summit of the four Black Mount Munros; it’s the sort of adventure you’ll want to repeat again and again. Welcome to the Highlands indeed.
A superb mountain of narrow rocky ridges and huge Rannoch views
Seen from the southeast across Loch Tulla, the complex massif formed by Stob Ghabhar and neighbouring Munro Stob a’ Choire Odhair is a breathtaking sight. Walking routes to Stob Ghabhar often begin from the lochside at Inveroran and it makes sense to bag both Munros on a circular route, if you have time.
An even more epic outing is the Clachlet Traverse. Considered to be one of the quintessential long days in the Scottish Highlands, it claims all four Black Mount Munros before making its way down to the Kingshouse Hotel, where you can revel in your achievements under the watchful gaze of the iconic Buachaille Etive Mor.
A mountain characterised by steep, rocky flanks and superb, narrow ridges, any route to Stob Ghabhar will involve a bit of easy scrambling and some exposed sections. It is probably not one for the kids, though a hill-hardened dog should be fine.
Once you’ve gained the summit, a grand view of Rannoch Moor stretching away to the east is arguably the highlight, though an interesting vantage of the Buachaille’s Stob Dearg peak backed by Ben Nevis might have something to say about that. The sharp ridges and peaks of Ben Starav and Ben Cruachan may send a tingle of adventures yet to come down your spine.
As well as the hotel at Inveroran, accommodation can be sought at Bridge of Orchy and further south in Tyndrum, which also boasts an extensive gear shop. To the north, the Kingshouse Hotel offers luxurious suites and basic lodges on the same site.
The nature of the terrain along with its height means that Stob Ghabhar is strictly for experienced mountaineers only when it catches full winter conditions.
Stob Ghabhar is a 1,090m Munro mountain in the Scottish Highlands. I climbed it with Stob a' Choire Odhair in August 2019. It was a day of sunshine and showers so I was treated to a lovely rainbow on the descent.
April 2, 2020
We cycled in from the Victoria Bridge car park to the Clashgour hut which reduced the walk by about a mile each way. Great 360 views across to Cruachan,Paps of Jura, Rannoch Moor, Glencoe, Mamores etc etc
July 23, 2020
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