Munro · Glen Coe & Lochaber
Stob Coire a' Chairn
Stob Coire a' Chairn (981m) — "peak of the corrie of the cairn" — is the central linking summit of the Ring of Steall in the Mamores. The hill sits between An Gearanach to the north (via the airy An Garbhanach scramble) and Am Bodach to the west, forming the southern hinge of the celebrated four-Munro horseshoe above Glen Nevis. The summit gives panoramic views across the Mamores chain and north to the Ben Nevis massif.
Gaelic: “pointed peak, corrie, of the” · Pronunciation: stob kor-a uh chairn
Quick facts
- Height
- 981.3m/ 3219ft
- Prominence
- 125 m
- Distance
- 17 km
- Ascent
- 864 m
- Time
- 5–8 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN185660
- Parking
- NN168691
- Nearest city
- Fort William· 11km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
No GPX track yet
Walked this route? Share your track to help other walkers.
Standard route
Valley path 25% · Open hillside 35% · Connecting ridge 40%
See An Gearanach for the standard Ring of Steall route from Polldubh in Glen Nevis. Stob Coire a' Chairn is the second Munro reached on the clockwise round, after the An Garbhanach scrambling section south from An Gearanach. From the summit continue west to Am Bodach, then over the Devil's Ridge to Sgurr a' Mhaim. An alternative direct approach from Kinlochleven via Coire na Bà avoids the Steall gorge but adds significant distance.
Terrain
The Stob Coire a' Chairn summit is a small rocky platform with a cairn. The connecting ridge north to An Garbhanach is the technical interest of the day — Grade 1 scrambling along an exposed rocky arête. The west ridge to Am Bodach is broad turf and broken rock — easy walking. The Kinlochleven approach via Coire na Bà uses the excellent high contouring path along the south flank of the Mamores.
In winter
A serious central Mamores winter summit. The connecting ridges to An Gearanach (Grade I/II winter scramble) and Am Bodach develop continuous cornicing. The Coire a' Chairn corrie on the north side holds avalanche-prone snow after westerly storms. The Polldubh approach via the Steall gorge is treacherous when iced. SAIS Lochaber applies. Phone reception absent above 700m.
This hill is in the Glen Coe SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 18m
- Edinburgh3h 0m
OS maps: OS Landranger 41
Mobile signal: No signal on the Ring of Steall circuit above 700m. Signal is intermittent at the Polldubh car park and the Steall Meadows. Get maps saved before you leave Fort William.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:03
- Sunset
- 21:50
- Civil dawn
- 04:08
- Civil dusk
- 22:45
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Stob Coire a' Chairn.
Around Stob Coire a' Chairn on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Fort William station
Ben Nevis, Mamores, Aonachs, Knoydart ferry connection
11km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Fort William
Ben Nevis base, West Highland Line, gateway to Lochaber
11km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Ben Nevis Distillery
Fort William — Lochaber distillery at the foot of the Ben; long-aged Japanese-owned classics
12km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Stob Coire a' Chairn — common questions
- Is Stob Coire a' Chairn a hard climb?
- Stob Coire a' Chairn is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 17km with 864m of ascent and takes most walkers 5-8 hours. Ground conditions: The Stob Coire a' Chairn summit is a small rocky platform with a cairn.
- How much drop does Stob Coire a' Chairn have?
- The drop is 125m: measured from the summit of Stob Coire a' Chairn down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
- Where's the parking for Stob Coire a' Chairn?
- Park at NN168691. Double-check the grid reference on an OS map first; informal laybys here fill early in high season.
- What's the best month to climb Stob Coire a' Chairn?
- Aim for May, June, July, August, September, October on Stob Coire a' Chairn. In the remaining months treat it as a winter hill — full kit, solid navigation, and a look at the relevant SAIS avalanche forecast before you go.
- Can dogs go up Stob Coire a' Chairn?
- Dogs are fine on a lead. The route passes livestock or ground-nesting bird habitat, so keep them close throughout.
- Will I get phone signal on Stob Coire a' Chairn?
- No signal on the Ring of Steall circuit above 700m. Signal is intermittent at the Polldubh car park and the Steall Meadows. Get maps saved before you leave Fort William.
- Is Stob Coire a' Chairn safe in winter?
- A serious central Mamores winter summit. The connecting ridges to An Gearanach (Grade I/II winter scramble) and Am Bodach develop continuous cornicing. The Coire a' Chairn corrie on the north side holds avalanche-prone snow after westerly storms. The Polldubh approach via the Steall gorge is treacherous when iced. SAIS Lochaber applies. Phone reception absent above 700m.
Get the OutdoorSCOT weekly
One email a week — new route, hill and bothy guides, seasonal conditions and the odd hard-won lesson. No spam, unsubscribe in one click.