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North Ridge of Stob Ban & Devil's Ridge
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Map
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Photos
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| A gripping route combining scrambling on the north ridge of Stob Ban with a knife-edge snow arête - the Devil's Ridge between Stob Coire a Mhail and Sgurr a Mhaim. |
| Area: |
Central Highlands, Mamores
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Grade:
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Winter I what does that mean? |
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Total Distance:
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9 km
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Total Ascent:
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1340 m
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Time:
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6 hours
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| Maps: |
Ordnance Survey Landranger Sheet 41
Ordnance Survey Explorer 392
Harvey Superwalker Ben Nevis
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| Avalanche hazard: |
This is a relatively safe route, although the direct ascent to Stob Coire a Mhail should be bypassed in dangerous conditions. |
| Avalanche Forecast area: |
Lochaber more |
| Alternatives: |
This route would also be good in reverse. The 'Ring of Steall' is a classic ridge walk traversing the peaks above Steall from An Gearanach to the Devil's Ridge and Sgurr a Mhaim. It is quite a bit longer than the route described here. |
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Start From Fort William follow the well-signed Glen Nevis road for about 7 km. Park in a large car park 200 metres beyond Achriabhach farm. Grid Reference NN145683. |
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Stob Ban The north ridge of Stob Ban is the middle of three broad ridges on the south side of the glen. Walk back along the road towards Achriabhach farm and pass through the gate just before the stream to reach open ground beneath the north ridge of Stob Ban. Follow the path on the right bank of the stream and work your way up the steep grassy shoulder on the right (W) side of the ridge, thereby avoiding most of the craggy ground. Eventually some fence posts are reached and the gradient becomes gentle. Continue along the broad ridge which narrows to a nice rocky crest. Good scrambling over a couple of minor summits brings you onto the main ridge from Mullach Nan Coirean.
Turn left (SSE) and follow the ridge steeply up to the summit of Stob Ban, which is reached after about 100m in height. From the summit of Stob Ban, locate the east ridge. This can be hard to find and involves making a short steep descent before turning sharply east. Follow the ridge to a large col, avoiding the final steep descent by taking gentler slopes on the right (SE). | Escape Route! | | From the col - Grid Reference NN156653, cairn - descend into the corrie on your left (N) and pick up the path on the right bank of the stream. This takes you back to the car park. |
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Stob Coire a Mhail From the large col, walk left (N) of a lochan and head up steep slopes to a small col between Sgorr an Iubhain and Stob Coire a Mhail. You may avoid these slopes by ascending Sgorr an Iubhain via the bounding ridge of the small corrie above the lochan.
From the small col, ascend the narrowing ridge to the summit of Stob Coire a Mhail |
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Devil’s Ridge and Sgorr a Mhaim The ridge between Stob Coire a Mhail and Sgorr a Mhaim - the Devil's Ridge - is the highlight of the day. Step carefully along the knife-edge ridge until you come to a small pinnacle which can usually be avoided on the left (W) side, if you don't fancy climbing it direct. Shortly afer this, a slighly tricky descent leads to the start of the steep ascent to the summit of Sgorr A Mhaim |
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Return Descend via the northwest shoulder of Sgorr a Mhaim, which becomes steep but this is relieved by switchbacks. Follow the bank of the stream back to the car park. |
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