Glen Etive: Stob Coir' an Albannaich (90) and Meall nan Eun (254)

Walk date: 06/07/15

My Munro #'s: 265 and 266

Pronunciations - translations - heights:
Stop kor an alapaneech - peak of the corrie of the Scotsman - 1044m
Myowl nan ayn - hill of the birds - 928m

Statistics:
Duration - 09:10 - 17:50

Distance -  unknown due to GPS problem, 15-ish km
Total ascent -  1807m
Weather - warm, sunny start, windy on munros, wet on steep descent!
Team - with Paul P

Other hikers: one!

Hike week 2015 - Day 3 - Monday

This hike was plotted to start with a steep ascent up the north western slopes of Beinn Chaorach, but having seen it the day before and having considered its complete lack of obvious route, we weren't too keen on such a dramatic start to the day!  Unfortunately, the only alternative was to return to the bog of yesterday and trudge through it.  

After that it was just the small matter of the long slog up Learg Mheuran before turning to the north and making our slow way up steep slopes, which thankfully soon levelled out to reveal the attractive top of Stob Coir' an Albannaich.  The north side of this hill is very dramatic and it did seem initially that there was no possible route on to the rather diminutive  Meall nan Eun.  However, just following the ridge eastward reveals a good path, that soon makes a sharp turn north down a boulder-shoot.  The descent requires attention, but is generally fine at least when it's not wintry!

After that adventure, Meall nan Eun is just a slog along grassy slopes and rocky outcrops, with a pesky smaller hill just before it.  It really does feel isolated when you get there, and the first thought is to start the work back!

Having been up and down Learg Mheuran and along the bog at the bottom enough, it was time to try that daunting north-west side of Beinn Chaorach.  However, any thoughts of a steep descent making things easy soon dissipated, as the relatively easy walking higher up became harder and harder on the serious slopes that were unhelpfully covered in drenched grass (and occasional aggressive mother-ptmargans protecting their squeaking chicks!).  Eventually, the slopes lessened to the point of actually being able to see the next section we were heading onto, and for a brief while we actually hit a path before losing it again in dense boggy bracken.  After a little meandering we even made it out of the forest on the lower slopes and onto the track to back up to the road.  We survived, but we would never recommend such a route either way round!

Morning sun going up Learg Mheuran:


Coming up on Stob Coir' an Albannaich:

With me!

The fairly sharp 'other side':

And looking north from its south side:

On the final bit of plod up to the remote Meall nan Eun:

And all I got for my trouble was this cairn!

Meall nan Eun definitely ticks the 'flat top' box:

Cairn 'fun'!

Paul celebrates finding a feature!

Looking toward Creise:

Trying to find a toilet spot but Paul keeps taking pics!

Meall nan Eun from Stob Coir' an Albannaich: