Stob Ghabhar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stob Ghabhar (3576 subways) |
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Stob Ghabhar seen from the south east across Loch Tulla.
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,090 m (3,580 ft) |
| Prominence | 393 m (1,289 ft) |
| Listing | Munro, Marilyn |
| Naming | |
| English translation | Goats Peak |
| Language of name | Gaelic |
| Pronunciation | English approximation: stop-GAV-ər |
| Geography | |
| Location | Argyll & Highland, Scotland |
| Parent range | Grampians |
| OS grid | NN230454 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 50, OS Explorer 377 |
Stob Ghabhar is a tall mountain in Scotland. It's about 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) northwest of a place called Bridge of Orchy. This mountain is part of the Black Mount group and sits right on the edge of two areas: Argyll and Bute and Highland.
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Discovering Stob Ghabhar: Scotland's Goats Peak
Stob Ghabhar is easy to spot from the east. Drivers on the A82 road often see it as they pass Rannoch Moor. The deep, bowl-shaped valleys on its eastern side look very impressive. You can also see its neighbor, Stob a' Choire Odhair, which people often climb at the same time.
This mountain is 1090 meters (3,576 feet) high. Because of its height, it's known as a Munro and a Marilyn. These are special lists of mountains in Scotland. The name "Stob Ghabhar" comes from the Gaelic language and means "Goats Peak." Long ago, shepherds would let goats roam on mountains like this. The goats helped keep sheep away from dangerous, steep cliffs.
Exploring Stob Ghabhar's Landscape
Many people think Stob Ghabhar is the most beautiful of the four Munros in the Black Mount area. The other Munros are Stob a' Choire Odhair, Creise, and Meall a' Bhuiridh. Stob Ghabhar is a large and striking mountain. It has long ridges that spread out from its sharp peak. Deep, scooped-out valleys, called corries, are carved into its sides.
Mountain Ridges and Peaks
Three main ridges extend from the highest point of Stob Ghabhar. They go east, west, and northwest. These ridges have four smaller peaks, which are called "Munro Tops."
- The east ridge goes over a peak called Aonach Eagach (991 meters or 3,251 feet). It then continues to the nearby Munro, Stob a' Choire Odhair.
- The western ridge starts out narrow. It runs between two corries before reaching the peak of Sròn a' Ghearrain (990 meters or 3,248 feet) after about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles).
- Stob a' Bhruaich Leith (941 meters or 3,087 feet) is about 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles) further along this ridge. The ridge then gently slopes down towards Glen Etive.
- The fourth Munro Top, Sròn nan Giubhas (976 meters or 3,202 feet), is 700 meters (2,300 feet) north of the main summit. This ridge then turns northwest and drops down for five kilometers (3.1 miles) to Glen Etive.
Corries and Water Flow
Stob Ghabhar also has impressive corries and cliffs. Coire Dhearbhadh is on the eastern side of the mountain. It's surrounded by steep cliffs and holds a small lake called Coirein Lochain. The very steep back wall of this corrie has a deep gully called an upper couloir. This gully is a challenging climbing route in summer. In winter, it becomes a classic ice climbing route. The first time someone climbed it was in 1897. The mountain's summit sits right on the edge of these cliffs, looking down into the corrie.
Two other large corries are found west of the summit. Coire a’ Chaolain is on the north side of the west ridge, and Coire Ghabhar is on the south side. These two corries are very close to each other, making the ridge between them quite narrow.
Water from Stob Ghabhar flows to both the east and west coasts of Scotland. Water from the northern slopes flows into the River Etive and Loch Etive, reaching the west coast near Oban. Water from the southern slopes also goes to the west coast, but through Glen Orchy and Loch Awe. Water from the eastern slopes drains into Loch Rannoch and the River Tay, reaching the east coast at the Firth of Tay.
The rocks of the Black Mount mountains are very complex. Near the top of Stob Ghabhar, you can find a place where two types of rock, gneiss and Cruachan granite, meet.
Famous Poet: Duncan Ban MacIntyre
Duncan Ban MacIntyre (1724–1812) was one of Scotland's most famous poets who wrote in the Gaelic language. He was born at a small farm called Druim Liaghart, near Victoria Bridge. This spot is in the southern foothills of Stob Ghabhar. A special marker, called a plinth, shows where he was born.
MacIntyre worked as a forester and gamekeeper in this area until 1767. Then, he moved to Edinburgh. Many of his poems were about the plants, animals, and mountains of his home region.
Climbing Stob Ghabhar
Climbing Stob Ghabhar is often done along with climbing its neighbor, Stob a' Choir' Odhar. The journey usually starts from a car park at Victoria Bridge. This spot is at the western end of Loch Tulla.
From there, you follow the West Highland Way walking path for a short distance. Then, you take a track west along the north side of the Abhainn Shira river. This path leads to the Clashgour hut. This hut now belongs to the Glasgow University Mountaineering Club, but before 1933, it was a local primary school! At the hut, you turn right (north) and follow the Allt Toaig stream for about two kilometers (1.2 miles). After that, you climb onto the Aonach Eagach ridge, which leads straight to the summit.
Strong walkers can also climb Stob Ghabhar as part of a longer trip. This involves walking across the entire Black Mount range. It's a long and challenging journey of about 25 kilometers (15.5 miles). It starts at the Kings House Hotel at the eastern end of Glen Coe and ends at the Inveroran Hotel near Bridge of Orchy. This walk involves climbing about 1700 meters (5,577 feet) in total. The path never drops below 730 meters (2,395 feet) in height. Getting transportation at both ends of this long walk can be tricky, so it needs to be planned ahead.
From the top of Stob Ghabhar, you get amazing views. To the east, you can see a great view of Rannoch Moor. To the north and west, you can clearly see the mountains of Glen Coe and Etive.
