A TGO prequel

Planning a pre-TGO taster (or tester) is easy with access to the Highland sleeper.

I have some unfinished business with the Grey Corries. I last approached this ridge in October 2011 - you can see the story here. Back then high winds kept me off the ridge which leads westwards towards Ben Nevis. I later traversed the Ring of Steal all in cloud.

This could be a dream-trip if the weather is fine and the conditions underfoot are good!

The purpose however is to test out some new gear and assess my fitness. The forecast looking one week ahead is not great.Walking and camping on ground that may be covered in softening snow is not so attractive.

If you have some insights into current conditions or suitable camping spots please leave a comment below.

Day 1. Alight at Carrour at 9am. Path NW, then track to top of Loch Treig. Pass bottom of loch and Lodge crossing footbridge to N side of river Allt Na Lairige. Path W along river until trees [possibly leave weighty items in dry bag here for retrieval on descent] then head NE up Moine na Gaibre following direction to top of Stob a Choire Meheadion. Then SW to top of Stob Coire Easain descending Irlick Chaoile ridge. At about 900m change direction to W to join path on river about 2km beyond earlier diversion to tops. Path N for about 2km then cross to arrive at Lairig Leacach Bothy.



Day 2. Path WSW on N side of river Allt a Chuil Chiorean. Before bend to N head N up slope to ridge westwards onto Coire na Ceannain. Ridge to Stob Choir Claurigh, Stobe a Choire Leith, Sto Coire Cath na Sine, Caisteal, Stobe Coire an Laoigh, Stob Coire Easian, Sgurr Choinnich Mor, Sgurr Choinnich Beag, to mount Stob Coire Bhealiach. Follow escarpment W, then NW to Aonach Beag, and N to Aonach Mor. Return to descend ridge to west to Coire Guibsachen and find camp spot.


Day 3. From the highpoint of the bealach head W up the ridge to the top of Carn Mor Dearg. S. to reach the Arete down then up and WNW to top of Ben Nevis. Follow path to W. for about 1km, then deviate SW , later S to Carn Dearg. Descend NE into Coire Eoghainn, then S tracking the East side of the river Allt Coire Eoghainn to join the track along the water of Nevis. Head east on the path until river crossing near An Steall. After crossing the river follow the zig-zag path up Allt Coire Chadha Chaoruinn to reach An Gaeranach. An Garbhanach, Stob Coire a Chairn, Am Bofach, Sgurr an Lubhair to camp by lochan Coire nam Miseach.


Day 4. Head West to Stob Ban and follow ridge N then W to Mullach nan Coirean. A little N of top head down ridge to E, then N to join forest track heading North. Follow  this parallel to road 9-10km to Fort William.