Stob Coir an Albannaich

Stob Coir' an Albannaich, at 1,044 metres, is a little-visited mountain in the fine range of hills on the south side of Glen Etive, with a striking summit perched right on the edge of a steep crag and fine northern corries.

The route starts from a layby opposite the Coiletir track on the Glen Etive road, crossing a bridge over the River Etive and following a hydro track past Coiletir cottage — the direct fenceline route from here is extremely boggy and best avoided in favour of the bypass track. Beyond, the path (or, in an alternative approach, a route via Glen Ceitlein) climbs a steep slope of grass and stones onto a flat shoulder, from where Stob Coir' an Albannaich appears as a gentle dome across a shallow depression, best approached by contouring left to avoid the dip. At the top of this slope the landscape changes abruptly as the hill collapses on its northern side into deep, slabby corries; turning right along the rim of these cliffs leads to the summit, marked by a large, old grassy-grown cairn topped with a smaller, newer one, with grand views of the Glen Coe hills.

The traverse onward to neighbouring Meall nan Eun involves convoluted route-finding that would be genuinely tricky in mist — descending the initially steep, well-defined eastern ridge before turning left down a rake through the cliffs to reach a bealach, then crossing the minor Corbett top of Meall Tarsuinn before the final approach to Meall nan Eun's broad, grassy dome.

The combined round taking in both Munros from Glen Etive is a full mountain day, typically seven to nine hours, given the boggy lower approach and the technical navigation required on the connecting ridge.

The descent routes from both peaks cross genuinely steep, craggy terrain requiring care and good navigation skills — several regular visitors specifically warn that the route-finding here would be tricky in poor visibility, and this should be treated as a serious, remote mountain day.

Parking opposite the Coiletir track on Glen Etive road is free but limited; there is no public transport down Glen Etive.