Stob Ghabhar

Stob Ghabhar is a Munro in the Black Mount group of the Scottish Highlands, standing nine kilometres northwest of Bridge of Orchy on the border of Argyll and Highland. The mountain is well seen from the A82 road as it crosses Rannoch Moor, with its eastern corries formed by the headwaters of the River Ba. The name comes from Scottish Gaelic and means ‘goats’ peak’, a reminder of the shepherds who once kept goats on its cliffs to stop sheep from straying too close to the drops. The mountain reaches 1,089.2 metres and is one of four Munros in the Black Mount, each with long ridges and deep corries on its flanks. From the summit three main ridges stretch east, west and northwest, each carrying lesser peaks listed as tops in the Munro Tables. The mountain is worth the journey for its dramatic scenery and classic routes. Coire Dhearbhadh on the eastern side is ringed by sheer cliffs and holds the small lochan Coirein Lochain, while its steep headwall contains a deep gully climbed in summer and ice in winter since 1897. The western corries, Coire a’ Chaolain and Coire Ghabhar, almost meet and make the ridge narrow and exposed. Water from the slopes drains both east and west, reaching the Firth of Tay and Oban respectively, showing the mountain’s role in Scotland’s drainage. The Black Mount range is also noted for its complex geology, with a junction of gneiss and Cruachan granite near the summit. Visitors find a steep, rocky mountain with a pointed summit and long ridges leading to four subsidiary tops. The eastern ridge passes Aonach Eagach before reaching the adjoining Munro of Stob a’ Choire Odhair, while the western ridge crosses Sròn a’ Ghearrain and Stob a’ Bhruaich Leith before dropping to Glen Etive. The northern slopes feed the River Etive and Loch Etive, and the southern slopes drain via Glen Orchy and Loch Awe. From the top, Rannoch Moor lies to the east and the mountains of Glen Coe and Etive appear to the north and west. The view takes in the whole Black Mount range and beyond, making the climb worthwhile.