Sròn a' Choire Ghairbh

Sròn a’ Choire Ghairbh is a mountain in the Scottish Highlands, standing north of Loch Lochy, thirteen kilometres from Spean Bridge. It reaches 937 metres and is classed as a Munro and a Marilyn. The hill forms part of the Loch Lochy Munros, often climbed together with Meall na Teanga. Its Gaelic name means The Nose of the Rough Corrie, describing its position beside the steep Coire Glas. From the A82 road the slopes appear steep and forested below the 300-metre contour. On the northern side, Glen Garry has conifer plantations being restored to native woodland. The mountain’s main feature is Coire Glas, which contains the small Loch a’ Choire Ghlais in its upper hollow. Sròn a’ Choire Ghairbh is shaped like a horseshoe, with two ridges framing the corrie. The east ridge stretches five kilometres, passing subsidiary tops Sean Mheall and Meall nan Dearcag before dropping to the Kilfinnan Burn at Loch Lochy’s north end. Another ridge, Meall a’ Choire Ghlais, runs north-east for two kilometres before a steep rocky descent to Bealach Easain. South of the summit lies Càm Bhealach, a col connecting it to Meall na Teanga, visible as a notch in the skyline. Climbers usually reach the summit via Càm Bhealach, approached either from Gleann Cia-aig or Laggan Locks. The stalkers’ path zig zags up the hillside from the col to the highest point. The summit offers wide views over Lochaber’s mountains and has a visitors’ book kept in a wooden box. The two Loch Lochy Munros also appear on the Great Glen Way, giving variety to low-level long-distance walkers. Rain falling on most of the hill drains west to the coast through Loch Lochy and Loch Linnhe.