West Highlands
QUIET WINTER WALKING
1 NN220563 Parking is off-road, using the lay-by or gravel area either side of the road (beware of fast traffic!). Pick up a well-marked engineered path (West Highland Way) on the north side of the road. This good path climbs steadily through grass and heather, alongside the tumbling Allt a’ Mhain. Depending on snow levels, you may hit snow on the steeper, zigzag section of path – the Devil’s Staircase – taking you to a bealach at 550m.
2 NN215575 Swing left/west to pick up the gentler shoulder of Stob Mhic Mhartuin, a rise to 707m. Westnorth-west of you now is flatter ground, before rising more steeply to the ridge ahead at 800m. Depending on snow conditions, the change in angle of slope above 700m may require some micro route-finding to gain height in the most comfortable way – zigzagging can help.
3 NN196577 Now you are definitely on the ridge line at 800m (806m spot height). Directly to the north are steep crags so be aware of walking too close to any ridge edges, based on recent wind directions and any resulting build of snow and corniced edges. This ridgeline, in its entirety, has edges facing north, north-east, north-west and east so cornices may have built up on various angles, over recent days or weeks. If necessary, keep downslope of the edge and use the ridge to ‘handrail’ along to the next spot height at 903m and beyond. It’s a lovely parade along this sweeping line, with excellent views to Glen Coe’s ‘Three Sisters’ to the south-west.
4 NN183576 Take in some fine views over the north side of Glen Coe from the prominent 850m ring contour on the general hillside of A’ Chailleach. Swing north-west and now descend and reascend noticeably to gain the summit of Corbett Top, Sron Gharbh (‘rough nose’) at 873m. This top is quite rocky, underneath the snow (hopefully), hence the ‘rough’ reference in its name.
5 NN177584 Remember that this walk is purposefully staying away from those beguiling Munros! Look south-west to Am Bodach and the east end of the Aonach Eagach ridge. Another time perhaps? This route returns south-east along the same ridge, although you may choose to pick a slightly different line for interest or navigation practice. You can keep to a contour line of 840m around A’ Chailleach and rising again to 870m as you swing north-east towards the ridge’s highest point at 903m. While heading northeast, you will carefully attain the ridge edge again. Note this in poor visibility!
6 NN191579 Now losing height to the south-east, use the curve of the ridgeline to bring you down to a small bealach, before rising again to 800m. Now you’re keeping the ridgeline to your left as you pick up the very shapely shoulder of Sron a’ Choire Odhair-bhig – the ‘nose of the small, brown coloured corrie’ (down to your right/ south-east).
7 NN211587 Dropping to approximately 570m, you can now pick up easier-angled ground to head south to a ‘Fords’ area marked on the map, crossing Allt a’ Choire Odhair-bhig. Take care finding a suitable place to cross if there are obvious ‘snow bridges’ or maybe high-flow water in thawing conditions. Once on the south of this burn (stream/river), pick up the direction of the West Highland Way, heading east-south-east and then dropping down the Devil’s Staircase towards your start point.