Ben More and Stob Binnein

Ben More, 1174m and Stob Binnein, 1165m

Date: 4/5/1998

Tops and Munros

Companions: alone

Ben More (M) 1174m
Stob Binnein (M) 1165m
Stob Coire an Lochain (T) 1068m
Meall na Dige (T) 966m

Distance: 18km

Climbing: 1500m

Time: 6.5 hours

Weather: warm morning, cloud closing in, heavy rain later

Munro Tally: M77-78, T130-133

Ben More is a common enough name - "big hill" - but this one lives up to it! These twin peaks are Scotland's 16th and 18th highest mountains, and are visible from afar, and easily distinguished by their shape and form. Forthe masochist, there is a direct ascent possibloe from Ben More farm up 1000m of unrelenting gradient. I chose to approach from the east, starting with a fairly gentle ascent up through the forest into the wide corrie above. From there, the ascent steepened as I picked a line up the east ridge. The warm morning had now become overcast and grey, so I found a sheltered spot among the huge boulders at the summit to eat some lunch. First Munro achieved, but the day was far from over. The drop between Ben More and Stob Binnein is well over 1000 feet, and the descent and re-ascent are steep and unrelenting. A couple of snow patches on the north ridge of Stob Binnein acted as markers (about 1/2 and 2/3 of the way up). From Stob Binnein my route continued south to the subsidiary top, Stob Coire and Lochain (just a bump on the ridge), then east along a bumpy broad ridge to the final top, Meall na Dige. AFter crossing a couple of furtehr bumps on the ridge, I headed back down towards the valley, as the rain started to fall. By the time I reached the forest, it was very wet. Back tothe car down the forest track.

Ben More and Stob Binnein

Looking north to Stob Binnein (centre) and Ben More (behind, to the right) from Stob Coire and Lochain. The heavy clouds were to give me a good soaking before I got back to the car.

To see an OS 1:50000 map of these mountains, click here

To see a road map of the area around these mountains, click here

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Comments or questions? david@dbethune.com

Date: 4/5/1998	Tops and Munros
Companions: alone	Ben More (M) 1174m Stob Binnein (M) 1165m Stob Coire an Lochain (T) 1068m Meall na Dige (T) 966m
Distance: 18km
Climbing: 1500m
Time: 6.5 hours
Weather: warm morning, cloud closing in, heavy rain later
Munro Tally: M77-78, T130-133
Ben More is a common enough name - "big hill" - but this one lives up to it! These twin peaks are Scotland's 16th and 18th highest mountains, and are visible from afar, and easily distinguished by their shape and form. Forthe masochist, there is a direct ascent possibloe from Ben More farm up 1000m of unrelenting gradient. I chose to approach from the east, starting with a fairly gentle ascent up through the forest into the wide corrie above. From there, the ascent steepened as I picked a line up the east ridge. The warm morning had now become overcast and grey, so I found a sheltered spot among the huge boulders at the summit to eat some lunch. First Munro achieved, but the day was far from over. The drop between Ben More and Stob Binnein is well over 1000 feet, and the descent and re-ascent are steep and unrelenting. A couple of snow patches on the north ridge of Stob Binnein acted as markers (about 1/2 and 2/3 of the way up). From Stob Binnein my route continued south to the subsidiary top, Stob Coire and Lochain (just a bump on the ridge), then east along a bumpy broad ridge to the final top, Meall na Dige. AFter crossing a couple of furtehr bumps on the ridge, I headed back down towards the valley, as the rain started to fall. By the time I reached the forest, it was very wet. Back tothe car down the forest track.