Scotland Mountains - Route Descriptions

903 on Aonach Eagach, 903m
Stob Mhich Mhartuin, 707m (NR)

Mountain area :	Scottish Highlands
Nearest town :	Kinlochleven
Map :
Primary Factor:	903: 150m+ (Am Bodach)
Primary Factor:	Stob Mhic Mhartuin: 27m+ (903)
Hiked :	July 2002

903 seen from Glen Coe valley

Introduction

This unnamed point is the easternmost high point on the Aonach Eagach ridge on the north side of the Glen Coe valley. The point is too low to qualify for a Munro (915m), but is still ranked "in my book" as the primary factor is higher than 100m.

A quick scan of various maps gives no name, and the height varies from 901m to 903m. Nevertheless, the mountain provides nice views into the Glen Coe valley, Stob Coire Raineach, Stob Dearg and the three sisters of Glen Coe.

Trail Descriptions

903 from Devil's Staircase (summer/autumn)

Difficulty : Easy

Risk : Low

Distance : Approx. 4-5km to the top

Time : Approx. 2 hours to the top

Starting Elev.: Approx. 280m

Access:
Follow A82 eastbound from Glencoe into the Glen Coe valley. Just before the valley opens up towards the east, find parking at the Devil's Staircase trailhead. There is good parking a couple of places on the right hand side of the road. A single white building can also be used as a reference, although Devil's Staircase is signed.

The trail:
Cross the road and follow the visible trail all the way up to the nearest high point. The upper part of this trail is called the Devil's Staircase, but the scary name does not relate to any technical difficulties. The trail is straightforward, and switchbacks up a gentle slope. The name was given by seventeenth century soldiers who worked hard building the trail.
From the first high point on the trail (marked by a large cairn), follow a trail up to the left which takes you to the named (unranked) Stob Mhic Mhartuin (707m). The visible trail ends here, but hit the Aonach Eagach ridge by heading straight north, or north-west. The north-west approach may avoid a few extra vertical meters if you hit the ridge just below the 903 summit ridge. Follow the ridge up to the first high point which is a false summit. The true summit is the next high point.

Trip report July 14 2002:

After a long (10 hour) hike on Ben Nevis and the CMD arete the day before, Else, Gro, Dag and I decided that a lighter hike the next day was called for. We drove up through the Glen Coe valley, but didn't see much due to the low fog. We decided to walk to the Devil's Staircase, intrigued by the name. There was a noticeable disappointment in the group, due to the downright boring trail.
The group agreed to continue up to Stob Mhich Mhartuin, just west on the trail we were on (the West Highland Way). At this unranked point, I got support from the group to contiune another 200 vertical meters in order to get a proper mountain. Else and Gro took map and compass control and led us easily up through the dense fog.
After a summit lunch, we were once more blessed with fog burning off. Soon, the views were good enough to determine that Glen Coe was a beautiful valley. We argued whether the scree trail up to Stob Dearg was too steep or not, but soon redirected the attention to the great view of the three sisters of Glen Coe. Fully enjoying the nature, and taking our time, we were back at the car 6 hours after leaving it.