Stob Bàn, Mamores

Stob Bàn
Inverness-shire
Stob Bàn's north-eastern face from Sgurr a' Mhàim
Range:	Mamores
Summit:	3,278 feet NN147654 56°44’36"N, 5°1’49"W

Stob Bàn is a mountain at the eastern end of the Mamores range in Inverness-shire. The mountain reaches a height of 3,278 feet at its summit, and so it qualifies as a Munro. It can be found three miles north-west of Kinlochleven, from which it is oftenest climbed.

A distinctive sight when seen from lower Glen Nevis, Stob Bàn has a sharp peak and capping of white quartzite rocks which are often mistaken for snow. Its name is Gaelic and appropriately means "White Peak". Not far to the north, amongst the Grey Corries is a mountain also a Munro, of the same name, named for the same reason.

Looking down Stob Bàn‘s undulating northern ridge to Glen Nevis

Stob Bàn exhibits striking examples of Dalradian rock geology and has been identified by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee as an important site in its Geological Conservation Review. Dalradian rocks were characteristically formed in the high ground to the east and south of the Great Glen.

Three main ridges runs across Stob Bàn:

• The east ridge connects to Sgor an Iubhair (once listed as a Munro itself) by way of the top of the Coire a' Mhusgain ("Corrie of the Shellfish").
• The western ridge links to the adjoining Munro of Mullach nan Coirean.
• The northern ridge drops steeply to Glen Nevis over a series of terraced rocky outcrops.

There is a less significant fourth ridge which gives a steep descent south-west to the West Highland Way en route from Kinlochleven to Fort William and is quick way off the mountain for walkers who have approached from the south.

Stob Bàn’s most striking physical characteristic are its crags on the north-eastern face; these fall precipitously to Coire a' Mhusgain over 12,000 feet below and contribute greatly to the mountain’s classic pyramidal shape. The buttresses on the northern ridge of the mountain attract winter ice climbers. South Buttress has several good winter gully climbs, Central Buttress features three gully lines, a rocky rib and an arête, all giving good winter climbs on broken rock.

Ascents

Stob Bàn is usually climbed from Glen Nevis to the north; direct ascents start at Achriabhach and take the stalkers path which ascends Coire a' Mhusgain to reach the col between Stob Bàn and Sgor an Iubhair before climbing steeply up the eastern ridge to the summit. From the same starting point it is also possible to ascend the rough and undulating north ridge; on this route there is a significant false top at a height of 2,950 feet which is often mistaken for the summit. Stob Bàn is also quite often climbed in conjunction with the neighbouring Munro of Mullach nan Coirean which lies two miles to the west. The view from the summit takes in fine views of Ben Nevis and the Aonachs.

Stob Bàn can be climbed as part of the Highland High Way, a high level alternative of the West Highland Way, walkers often do the final day between Kinlochleven and Fort William over some of the Mamores peaks if the weather is fine.

References

• The Munros, Scottish Mountaineering Trust, 1986, Donald Bennett (Editor) ISBN 0-907521-13-4
• In the Hills of Breadalbane, V.A. Firsoff, no ISBN
• The Munros, Scotland's Highest Mountains, Cameron McNeish, ISBN 1-84204-082-0
• The Magic Of The Munros, Irvine Butterfield, ISBN 0-7153-2168-4
• Hamish's Mountain Walk, Hamish Brown, ISBN 1-898573-08-5

• Stob Bàn page at JNCC