Pronunciation/Translation: Stob Coire nan Lochan - stop kora nan lockyn (peak of the corrie of lochs), Bidean nam Bian - beetyan nam beeoan (peak of the mountains), Stob Coire Sgreamhach - stop kora skree-yach (peak of the fearful corrie)
We had spent the night camped at Drochaid Tolaghan on the western shores of Loch Tulla. Arriving after our post-hike meal at Paddy's in Tyndrum, we had quickly pitched our tent with only headtorch lighting. Midge conditions were good for the time of year, but be warned this area rates as one of the worst for extremely high populations of midges during July and August. I recall last year having to swat the most amount of tent invaders ever while camped at the same location.
Early morning sunshine meant another great day for hitting the mountains was on the cards. We made our way up over Rannoch Moor to Glen Coe. Starting from the main parking area overlooking the Three Sisters, we headed down to the bridge crossing over the River Coe. From here we decided to set a spritely pace up the Coire nan Lochan. A fairly straightforward path zig zags it's way up the gully to the waterfall below the Stob Coire nan Lochan Buttresses.
The Aonach Eagach Ridge from Aonach Dubh.
Clachaig Gully (left) from Aonach Dubh.
Glen Coe Village from Stob Coire nan Lochan ridge.
Once upon the plateau we stopped for a short snacking session. The next part of this route is my favourite. Taking the northern shoulder that runs from Aonach Dubh up the ridge towards the Stob Coire nan Lochan summit, each new view is breathtaking. As you near the summit you begin to veer south and there is some scrambling to be done over large boulders until you reach the top.
Bidean nam Bian peering from behind Stob Coire nan Lochan's north ridge.
Pinnacle Buttress.
Pinnacle Buttress.
From here, the summit of Bidean nam Bian looks invitingly near, but there is still quite some legwork to be done. We followed the path south off Stob Coire nan Lochan down to the ridge at Collie's Pinnacle. Some steep scrambling here is again required to gain the summit of Bidean nam Bian which is a little less spacious than it's neighbouring summit.
360degrees from Stob Coire nan Lochan summit.
Stob Coire Sgreamhach, Bidean nam Bian and Stob Coire nan Lochan from Stob Dubh.
We descended back down to the ridge, it was our plan to take the steep route off the ridge into the lost valley (Coire Gabhail). An earlier plan to take in the summit of Stob Coire Sgreamhach was scrapped as we had noticed that Bracken our new Springer Spaniel was finding the going a bit grazing on her paws.
Path down towards lost valley.
We were soon onto the main path that runs along the lost valley. The valley floor widens out further down to an unusual glacial flood plain. It is said that in the days of the Highland clans, The massacred MacDonald clan once grazed their stolen cattle on this area of ground. At the northern end of the valley the path drops steeply down to Glen Coe. This area is full of cascading waterfalls, plunge pools and mixed woodland.
We made our way across the River Coe once again a little further up it's flow this time, and headed back across the Coe valley to the start/finish point of our walk.
After our walk we were pleased to find our camping spot down in Glen Etive was free and waiting for us. The dogs enjoyed a cooling swim in the river and Shona and I were sound asleep before it was fully dark.
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