Stob Coire Sgriodain, Chno Dearg, Beinn na Lap - Loch Treig Hills -  July 2006

Stob Coire Sgriodain, Chno Dearg, Beinn na Lap Information

Stob Coire Sgriodain, Chno Dearg, Beinn na Lap Route 

This is a long route over 30km plus a hell of a lot of descending and re-ascending, if you think you can handle this then go ahead otherwise drop Beinn na Lap off that's what makes this route a tough puppy !  
Well anyway the route starts in Fersit about 3 miles south of the A86 along a quite dodgy wee road, there's a small car park there to leave the cars.  Continue out the other side of the road marked private road as its used by works vehicles accessing the dam at Loch Treig.  Continue along the track for about 10 -15 minutes until you reach the Treig Dam.  You want to try and cut across anywhere you feel fit to do so, i crossed on the actual dam which was pretty awesome !  The lower slopes of Stob Coire Sgriodain start up now and its a long slog up on to  the shoulder of the hill.  Follow this ridge right to the summit, its a bit of a git though since there are so many wee knolls etc your constantly going down just to go up again making it feel like you are not actually getting anywhere.  However the views of the Easains on the other side and the spectacular Loch Treig beneath you pulls you to the summit.   The summit is absolutely brilliant, best part of the walk.  There are rock faces which when viewed from a certain angle look like the drop straight off into Loch Treig ! an excellent spot to shoot your macho man photos.   Unfortunately Chno Dearg comes next and i dont have a lot of praise for it at all.  Anyways continue of Stob Coire Sgriodain's south eastern ridge heading to the obvious col over to Chno Dearg  you will reach down there a large boulder, this is an excellent spot to snap an image of Stob Coire Sgriodain (last photo) it looks really good from this angle.  Next continue up the really easy but boring slog to the top of Chno Dearg along the summit ridge.  Nothing special about the summit either.  Beinn na Lap looks miles away ! and it is ! plus you need to go all the way down 450m just to go back up again ! this really is a test this late stage in the day, but if your going for it suck in the gut and head down the eastern ridge of Chno Dearg, this is tough walking extremely steep and a lot of loose scree about etc.  Struggle your way down to the low col and take to the steep slopes of Beinn na Lap, its obvious where you are going albeit extremely knackering.  once you have made the pull up onto the shoulder though the walking becomes 10 times easier.  Continue along to the summit of Beinn na Lap and take in the views of Loch Ossian and Rannoch Moor.  Its a creepy eerie place right enough !  Head back down the way you came retracing your steps back to the col between Chno Dearg.  Ok here's where i split from the supposed route and made up one of my own, mostly due to the fact i could not be bothered re-climbing Chno Dearg...no way !  so, follow the river along to the bridge and join up with the road, this route is so out of place i have no idea where it goes or why its there but head north off the bridge and follow it up past the shores of a wee lochan on the right.  Since its a road easy walking here.  Follow the route right up for 2 or 3 miles until you reach the start of the forest, ok ladies and gentle start listening good this is the complicated bit !  
Jump the fence and head north west through the fire break in the forrest,  Its mostly all downhill.  Follow this for 15 mins or so and you will come to a slightly lager path, take this and you are now on a Scottish right of way.  A boring walk for about half an hour through the forrest will take you out at a farm where now following the road will take you round the lower slops of Stob Coire Sgriodain and back to the car at Fersit....phew !

Like i said Beinn na Lap makes this walk a real tough puppy but if your fit its all good.  To be honest the only parts of this walk i really enjoyed was the summit itself of Stob Coire Sgriodain and the feeling of remoteness you get on Beinn na Lap the rest is just a slog.

Stob Coire Sgriodain, Chno Dearg, Beinn na Lap Pictures / Images / Photos

     Looking back to Loch Treig and Fersit from Sgriodain                The view of Sgriodain from the end of the walk 

 My favourite part ! brilliant view form summit of Sgriodain          Pull to the summit of Stob Coire Sgriodain

Love this shot...Looking back form Chno Dearg to Stob Coire Sgriodain, think its the rock i like best !