Hill: The Stob
Date: Friday 4th December 2015
Company: Just myself
Distance: 13.1km, Ascent: 680m
Time: 4Hrs 10Mins


On looking out the window of the B&B this morning I could see the weather forcast was correct; wet, windy and low cloud. I was not particularly inspired to go walking.

As the rain was set to become heavier by mid-afternoon, and the wind speed was allegedly going to increase to 100mph gusts, I needed a half-day plan in order to be off the hill before Storm Desmond was going to hit.

I opted for an ascent of The Stob, a 753m Fiona circa 7 miles East of Crianlarich.

On checking out Trip Reports on Walk Highlands and Scottish Hills, every single report approached The Stob from Loch Voil i.e. from the South. To avoid the drive round to Loch Voil, and to be different, I decided to have a go at ascending The Stob from the North, starting from Ledcharrie.

I parked on the verge of the A85 circa 100m East of Ledcharrie.

Click here to see a map of the route undertaken

My OS map showed a footpath running from Ledcharrie up to the disused railway line. This footpath is now an unsurfaced road, built for a hydro scheme.

Public Right of Way to Balquhidder:


Looking towards Creag Loisgte:


Old railway bridge over the Ledcharrie Burn:


On reaching the disused railway line, I left the hydro scheme road and followed the disused railway line for several hundred metres.

Creag Loisgte from the old railway bridge over the Ledcharrie Burn:


Walking along the old disused railway line:


From the disused railway line, I had to negotiate three close-together fences to gain access to the hillside; a rusty old fence, a new barbed-wire fence and an electric fence.

Beyond the fences, the terrain leading towards Creag Loisgte was fairly pleasant; mostly short grass.

Heading for Creag Loisgte:


Approaching the North ridge of Creag Loisgte:


Stob Binnein and Ben More remained capped in cloud throughout the walk. Given the wind strength, I would not have enjoyed being much higher today.

Cloud-capped Stob Binnein and Ben More from Creag Loisgte:


Looking back along the North ridge of Creag Loisgte:


On reaching a height of circa 450m, the pleasant grassy terrain was exchanged for wet undulating ground; a mix of longer grass, heather and moss not to mention a good number of peat hags.

The Stob coming into view in the distance:


Looking across to Creag Ghlas:


It was just a case of head down and plod on to get from Creag Loisgte to The Stob.

The Stob from Creag Loisgte:


The Stob:


Looking back towards Creag Loisgte:


As I approached the summit of The Stob, the wind was quite strong (but was still far below what was forecast for later in the day).

Approaching the summit of The Stob:


At the summit of The Stob:


After reaching the summit, I continued on along the ridge to also visit a second 750m ring contour.

Looking back to the summit of The Stob from the other 750m ring contour:


From the second 750m ring contour, I descended via a different route to put The Stob between me and the strong wind. After descending >100m, I skirted back round to my in-bound route which I approximately followed back out to the car.

Not the best of days on the hill but another Dull Fiona in the bag. 190 done, 30 to go.