Stob a' Choire Odhair
Encyclopedia
Stob a' Choire Odhair is a Scottish
mountain situated eight kilometres north west of Bridge of Orchy
on the border of the Argyll and Bute
and Highland
council areas.
and a Marilyn
is an unpretentious mountain that is overshadowed by its near neighbour Stob Ghabhar
, one of the finest mountains in the southern highlands
. It stands in the Black Mount deer forest, an area that derives its name from the dark peat hags of the moorland that surround the mountain. Stob a' Choire Odhair along with Stob Ghabhar are well seen from the A82 road
as it crosses the western end of Rannoch Moor
and they are often climbed together and make a natural days walk. The hills name translates from the Gaelic
as “Peak of the dun-coloured corrie
”.
with a height of 802 metres. Beinn Toaig also has a long NE ridge which runs parallel to the one of Stob a' Choire Odhair. There are two corries either side of the 802 metre col, to the north is Coire Odhair while to the south of the col is Coire Toaig which has a very good stalkers track up it which leads directly to the main summit.
. Slightly further east is the line of an ancient drovers' road used to herd cattle to market, this road was improved by Thomas Telford
in 1803 and carried the main road down Glen Coe
to Fort William until 1933 when the present road was built further east. Telford’s road now carries the route of the West Highland Way
.
at grid reference . The direct route from here utilises the very good zig zag stalkers path up Coire Toaig directly to the summit. The ascent of the mountain can also be included in the Clachlet Traverse, a high level route from the Inveroran Hotel near Bridge of Orchy to the Kings House Hotel in Glen Coe. Despite having less height than its neighbour Stob Ghabhar it is the better viewpoint offering an extensive prospect across Rannoch Moor and the Bridge of Orchy Munros.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
mountain situated eight kilometres north west of Bridge of Orchy
Bridge of Orchy
Bridge of Orchy is a landmark hamlet in Argyll, Scotland.Dating back to 1751, it includes a notable tourist hotel. Located at the head of Glen Orchy, it is on the A82 road, has a railway station and is on the West Highland Way long distance path. Nearby prominent peaks include the munros Beinn...
on the border of the Argyll and Bute
Argyll and Bute
Argyll and Bute is both one of 32 unitary council areas; and a Lieutenancy area in Scotland. The administrative centre for the council area is located in Lochgilphead.Argyll and Bute covers the second largest administrative area of any Scottish council...
and Highland
Highland (council area)
Highland is a council area in the Scottish Highlands and is the largest local government area in both Scotland and the United Kingdom as a whole. It shares borders with the council areas of Moray, Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross, and Argyll and Bute. Their councils, and those of Angus and...
council areas.
Overview
Stob a' Choire Odhair reaches a height of 945 metres (3,100.4 ft) and is classed as a MunroMunro
A Munro is a mountain in Scotland with a height over . They are named after Sir Hugh Munro, 4th Baronet , who produced the first list of such hills, known as Munros Tables, in 1891. A Munro top is a summit over 3,000 ft which is not regarded as a separate mountain...
and a Marilyn
Marilyn (hill)
A Marilyn is a mountain or hill in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland or Isle of Man with a relative height of at least 150 metres , regardless of absolute height or other merit...
is an unpretentious mountain that is overshadowed by its near neighbour Stob Ghabhar
Stob Ghabhar
Stob Ghabhar is a Scottish mountain situated nine kilometres north west of Bridge of Orchy. It is part of the Black Mount group of mountains and stands on the border of the Argyll and Bute and Highland council areas.-Overview:...
, one of the finest mountains in the southern highlands
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
. It stands in the Black Mount deer forest, an area that derives its name from the dark peat hags of the moorland that surround the mountain. Stob a' Choire Odhair along with Stob Ghabhar are well seen from the A82 road
A82 road
The A82 is a trunk road in Scotland. It is the principal route from Lowland Scotland to the western Scottish Highlands, running from Glasgow to Inverness, going by Loch Lomond, Glen Coe and Fort William. It is the second longest primary A-road in Scotland after the A9, which is the other...
as it crosses the western end of Rannoch Moor
Rannoch Moor
Rannoch Moor is a large expanse of around 50 square miles of boggy moorland to the west of Loch Rannoch, in Perth and Kinross and Lochaber, Highland, partly northern Argyll and Bute, Scotland...
and they are often climbed together and make a natural days walk. The hills name translates from the Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic language
Scottish Gaelic is a Celtic language native to Scotland. A member of the Goidelic branch of the Celtic languages, Scottish Gaelic, like Modern Irish and Manx, developed out of Middle Irish, and thus descends ultimately from Primitive Irish....
as “Peak of the dun-coloured corrie
Cirque
Cirque may refer to:* Cirque, a geological formation* Makhtesh, an erosional landform found in the Negev desert of Israel and Sinai of Egypt*Cirque , an album by Biosphere* Cirque Corporation, a company that makes touchpads...
”.
Geography
Stob a' Choire Odhair's summit stands at the meeting of three ridges. Its western ridge links to the Munro of Stob Ghabhar which lies three kilometres away via a col with a height of 668 metres. The north eastern ridge drops very steeply to the moorland of the Black mount and Rannoch Moor. The south eastern ridge links to the mountains subsidiary peak of Beinn Toaig (834 metres) via a colMountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
with a height of 802 metres. Beinn Toaig also has a long NE ridge which runs parallel to the one of Stob a' Choire Odhair. There are two corries either side of the 802 metre col, to the north is Coire Odhair while to the south of the col is Coire Toaig which has a very good stalkers track up it which leads directly to the main summit.
Historic roads
The lower eastern slopes of Stob a' Choire Odhair carries two old roads which were important historical links to the north of Scotland. An old military road built by Major William Caulfeild was constructed in the early 1750s as part of the pacification of the Highlands after the 1745 Jacobite risingJacobite rising
The Jacobite Risings were a series of uprisings, rebellions, and wars in Great Britain and Ireland occurring between 1688 and 1746. The uprisings were aimed at returning James VII of Scotland and II of England, and later his descendants of the House of Stuart, to the throne after he was deposed by...
. Slightly further east is the line of an ancient drovers' road used to herd cattle to market, this road was improved by Thomas Telford
Thomas Telford
Thomas Telford FRS, FRSE was a Scottish civil engineer, architect and stonemason, and a noted road, bridge and canal builder.-Early career:...
in 1803 and carried the main road down Glen Coe
Glen Coe
Glen Coe is a glen in the Highlands of Scotland. It lies in the southern part of the Lochaber committee area of Highland Council, and was formerly part of the county of Argyll. It is often considered one of the most spectacular and beautiful places in Scotland, and is a part of the designated...
to Fort William until 1933 when the present road was built further east. Telford’s road now carries the route of the West Highland Way
West Highland Way
The West Highland Way is a linear long distance footpath in Scotland, with the official status of Long Distance Route. It is 154.5km long, running from Milngavie north of Glasgow to Fort William in the Scottish Highlands, with an element of hill walking in the route...
.
Ascents
Stob a' Choire Odhair is usually climbed in conjunction with the adjacent Munro of Stob Ghabhar, the starting point for this walk is Victoria Bridge at the western end of Loch TullaLoch Tulla
Loch Tulla is a small loch at near Bridge of Orchy and Glen Coe in Scotland and in the central highlands. It contains salmon some of which are bred locally....
at grid reference . The direct route from here utilises the very good zig zag stalkers path up Coire Toaig directly to the summit. The ascent of the mountain can also be included in the Clachlet Traverse, a high level route from the Inveroran Hotel near Bridge of Orchy to the Kings House Hotel in Glen Coe. Despite having less height than its neighbour Stob Ghabhar it is the better viewpoint offering an extensive prospect across Rannoch Moor and the Bridge of Orchy Munros.