Introduction

The last time I walked at Loch Treig the cloud base was at 400 m, the rain was torrential and it was so windy I could hardly stand. I don't think the weather could have been further from that on the day we chose. Mid September and it was 20°C, shorts and tee shirts the whole day with clear views as far as the eye could see.

This was one of the best days out I've had in years, clear blue sky, sunshine and no midges. We had fantastic views in all directions from the summits. Stob Coire Easain summit deserves particular mention, as it's a bit of a pointy number with severe steep crags below and a cosy seat from which you can drink in the scenery on offer.

Expect a long day in these hills as the pull up the first hill just keeps on going from false summit to false summit, and the descent is a bit of a monster. We ran out of time for the traditional pint and nachos at the Clachaig on the way home, but even this minor hitch and slight sunburn could do nothing to dampen the spirits after a classic day in the hills.

Route

• Start from the car park follow the trails through the bracken on to the lower slopes of Meall Cian Dearg. A faint path soon becomes a well used track.
  
  
• Follow the track which runs SW to the foot of Meall Cian Dearg.
  
  
• Meall Cian Dearg is steep and from a distance looks impregnable but the path winds its way carefully through the rocks. Some easy scrambling is required in parts. Care is needed at others as the ground is wet and slippy in some areas and loose in others.
  
  
• From the top of the scramble, 750 m, GR332759 continue heading SW along the ridge.
  
  
• This hill increases in a series of steps. The next climb of 150 m takes you within sight of the summit. Don't be fooled this is not the top. A walk of just over a kilometre and another 150 m of ascent awaits.
  

• Continue SW along the ridge and climb the final 150 m to the summit of Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin, 1006 m, GR316736.
  
  
• To continue to Stob Coire Easain continue SW over the summit and descend steeply to the col, 960m, GR313733.
  
  
• From the col head almost due W. A clear path zig-zags its way up the grassy lower slopes. The terrain become rocky towards the summit.
  
  
• There are no false tops on this hill, the summit is small and the cairn large, 1116 m, GR308731.
  
  
• To return we retraced our steps back to the col and over Stob A' Choire Mheadhoin, then back along the ridge. Some of the books suggest and alternative descent following the NW ridge before turning NE and following the Coire Laire. [Ed. On a separate outing we took the route alongside the Coire Laire, and it really is a long walk back. The hardest bit being the steep descent down the spongy slopes to get the to the Coire Laire, there after it's just a long flat walk back to the car.]
  
  
• We altered our route slightly towards the end by cutting down east to the access Rd running along the loch and following it back to the car park.
  
  
• Following the power station track gives a good alternative start route bypassing the wet boggy ground close to the carpark.