Change from white quartzite to redddish stone

A Glen Nevis circuit, Lochaber, Scotland – September

We drove to the Polldubh Falls car park in Glen Nevis, a short drive from Glen Coe. We walked up a good path by the stream of Allt Coire a’ Mhusgain to reach a col between Sgorr/Sgùrr an Iubhair and Stob Bàn (near Lochan Coire nam Miseach). We had a good view of Sgùrr a’ Mhaim, Sgorr (Sgurr?) an Iubhair and Lochan Coire nam Miseach, the little green lochan in the corrie below it, as we walked along the ridge from the col west to Stob Bàn and onwards.

The distance to the next top, Mullach nan Coirean, was longer than the sparse directions in the guide book had made me think, though not unpleasant. After this second Munro, we descended its north-east ridge, down quite a boggy path along a deer fence to a largely felled forest area, where we had to step over tree trunks to follow the ‘path’. Eventually we got back to the car park, and drove down the glen to our campsite for the night.

View up Glen Nevis

View up Glen Nevis

Ben Nevis in the sun

Ben Nevis in the sun

The way ahead

The way ahead

Green slopes

Green slopes

Looking back down the path

Looking back down the path

Looking up at Stob Bàn

Interesting scenery, looking up at Stob Bàn

Allt Coire a' Mhusgain

Allt Coire a’ Mhusgain

View of Stob Bàn from the east

View of Stob Bàn from the east

Sgurr a' Mhaim

The white scree slope of Sgurr a’ Mhaim in the middle distance, with the top of Ben Nevis now in cloud beyond.

Sgurr a' Mhaim, the Devil's Ridge, and Sgorr an Iubhair

From the left, Sgurr a’ Mhaim, the Devil’s Ridge, and Sgorr an Iubhair

Sgorr an Iubhair and Lochan Coire nam Miseach

Sgorr an Iubhair and Lochan Coire nam Miseach

The green Lochan Coire nam Miseach

The green Lochan Coire nam Miseach

The Mamores

The other tops of the so-called Ring of Steall can be seen behind now, as well as the rest of the Mamores

Sgurr a' Mhaim, the Devil's Ridge, and Sgorr an Iubhair from further on

Sgurr a’ Mhaim, the Devil’s Ridge, and Sgorr an Iubhair from a different angle, further along the walk

Ben Nevis and other nearby Munros

Ben Nevis and other nearby Munros. The top of Ben Nevis is in cloud, with the pointy Carn Mòr Dearg to its right, Aonach Mòr and Aonach Beag further along.

The way ahead to Mullach nan Coirean

The way ahead to Mullach nan Coirean

The ridgeline ahead

The ridgeline ahead

View south towards Glen Coe

View south towards Glen Coe, Ballachulish, and Glen Etive beyond. On the left is Sgorr nam Fiannaidh at the western end of the Aonach Eagach ridge traverse, and Sgorr na Ciche or the Pap of Glencoe the small peak next to it.

The Mamores with Blackwater Reservoir in distance

The Mamores with Blackwater Reservoir in the distance to the right

The Mamores

The Mamores. You can see faintly the path that we came up at the bottom left.

The white quartzite top of Stob Ban

The white quartzite top of Stob Ban, or ‘the white peak’

The ridgeline to Mullach nan Coirean

The long ridgeline to Mullach nan Coirean

Long ridgelines

Long ridgelines. You can see in the middle distance the north-eastern and northern ridges that drop down from the top of Mullach nan Coirean.

Mullach nan Coirean in sunlight

Mullach nan Coirean in sunlight

Ben Nevis and Meall an t-Suidhe

Ben Nevis and the Meall an t-Suidhe with its ‘halfway lochan’

Mullach nan Coirean's north-east ridge

Mullach nan Coirean’s north-east ridge, our way down that day.

The path ahead

The path ahead

The way we had come, from Stob Ban

The way we had come, from Stob Ban

Change from white quartzite to redddish stone

A sudden change from white quartzite to redddish stone

Mullach nan Coirean and Meall a' Chaorainn behind

The cairn on Mullach nan Coirean is visible in the centre, and Meall a’ Chaorainn is peeking out from behind on the left.

The varied ridge

The changing and varied ridge

Stob Ban now in the distance

Stob Ban, where we had come from, is on the right of the image.

Stob Ban in the distance

Stob Bàn now further away (on the right), with Sgùrr a’ Mhaim and Sgùrr an Iubhair in the distance

Light on the water westwards

Light on the water westwards

Dramatic light through clouds

Dramatic light through the clouds

Still a long way ahead

It still looked like a long way ahead

Looking back at our route

Looking back at our route

Pellet from bird of prey?

Pellet from bird of prey?

Sunlight on Loch Linnhe

Sunlight on Loch Linnhe

B and the ridge

B and the ridge

Not quite there yet

Not quite there yet

B looking towards Ben Nevis

B looking towards Ben Nevis

Mullach nan Coirean's slopes

Mullach nan Coirean’s slopes

Looking towards Sgurr a' Mhaim

Looking towards Sgurr a’ Mhaim

The big cairn on Mullach nan Coirean

Finally at the big cairn on Mullach nan Coirean. B’s head peeking over the top.

The outlying top of Meall a' Chaorainn

The outlying top of Meall a’ Chaorainn. We were not going over there that day.

Ben Nevis and the Aonachs

Ben Nevis and the Aonachs

The Mamores

The Mamores

The route walked

The route walked

Green slopes below white and red tops

Green slopes below white and red tops

Ridge

Ridge

Ben Nevis and Glen Nevis

Ben Nevis and Glen Nevis

Ben Nevis under cloud, from lower down

Ben Nevis under cloud, seen from lower down the ridge.

Mushroom in woods

Mushroom in woods

View up Glen NevisBen Nevis in the sunThe way aheadGreen slopesLooking back down the pathLooking up at Stob BànAllt Coire a' MhusgainView of Stob Bàn from the eastSgurr a' MhaimSgurr a' Mhaim, the Devil's Ridge, and Sgorr an IubhairSgorr an Iubhair and Lochan Coire nam MiseachThe green Lochan Coire nam MiseachThe MamoresSgurr a' Mhaim, the Devil's Ridge, and Sgorr an Iubhair from further onBen Nevis and other nearby MunrosThe way ahead to Mullach nan CoireanThe ridgeline aheadView south towards Glen CoeThe Mamores with Blackwater Reservoir in distanceThe MamoresThe white quartzite top of Stob BanThe ridgeline to Mullach nan CoireanLong ridgelinesMullach nan Coirean in sunlightBen Nevis and Meall an t-SuidheMullach nan Coirean's north-east ridgeThe path aheadThe way we had come, from Stob BanChange from white quartzite to redddish stoneMullach nan Coirean and Meall a' Chaorainn behindThe varied ridgeStob Ban now in the distanceStob Ban in the distanceLight on the water westwardsDramatic light through cloudsStill a long way aheadLooking back at our routePellet from bird of prey?Sunlight on Loch LinnheB and the ridgeNot quite there yetB looking towards Ben NevisMullach nan Coirean's slopesLooking towards Sgurr a' MhaimThe big cairn on Mullach nan CoireanThe outlying top of Meall a' ChaorainnBen Nevis and the AonachsThe MamoresThe route walkedGreen slopes below white and red topsRidgeBen Nevis and Glen NevisBen Nevis under cloud, from lower downMushroom in woods