Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin
Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin is a mountain in the Scottish Highlands, rising to a summit elevation of 1,105 metres (3,625 feet) above sea level. It is classified as a Munro, which means it exceeds the threshold of 3,000 feet and appears on Sir Hugh Munro's original 1891 list of Scottish mountains. This mountain forms part of the Easains group, a compact but rewarding cluster of peaks situated on the northern side of the Loch Treig reservoir in the Lochaber district. For those working through the challenge of climbing all 282 Munros, Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin is a well-regarded tick, frequently paired with its neighbouring summit Stob Coire Easain, which lies a short distance to the north-east along the same broad ridge.
The name itself is Gaelic in origin and translates roughly as "peak of the middle corrie," a description that speaks directly to the mountain's topography. This naming tradition reflects the long inhabitation of these glens by Gaelic-speaking Highland communities, whose intimate familiarity with the terrain produced a vocabulary of landscape that was at once poetic and intensely practical. The surrounding area formed part of the territories historically associated with clan Cameron and later became significant as a drove road corridor, where cattle were moved southward from the western Highlands toward lowland markets. The construction of the Loch Treig reservoir in the 1920s and 1930s as part of the massive hydroelectric scheme serving the aluminium smelter at Fort William dramatically altered the floor of the glen, flooding a narrow valley that had once supported small settlements and farming communities.
In terms of physical character, Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin presents a broad, rounded summit dome when seen from a distance, but the slopes reward closer inspection with rugged rocky outcrops, corrie hollows, and the characteristic open moorland of the central Highlands. The ascent typically involves crossing terrain that can be boggy underfoot in wet conditions, giving way to firmer ground and exposed quartzite and schist higher up. On clear days the summit offers sweeping views over Loch Treig below, across to the Grey Corries and the Aonachs, and northward toward the Ben Nevis massif, making the effort abundantly worthwhile. The wind at the summit can be fierce and unrelenting even when the lower glens feel calm, and the mountain carries a genuine sense of remoteness despite its accessibility.
The wider landscape surrounding the mountain is one of the most dramatic in Scotland. Loch Treig, directly to the south, is a long, deep freshwater loch that was significantly raised in level by damming as part of the British Aluminium Company's hydroelectric works. The reservoir feeds a pipeline that runs underground through the heart of Ben Nevis to emerge at the smelter in Fort William, an extraordinary feat of early twentieth-century engineering. To the east lies the remote Corrour station on the West Highland Line, famously one of the most isolated railway stations in the United Kingdom, reachable only by train or on foot. This station provides a remarkably convenient access point for walkers approaching the Easains group from the east.
The most popular approach to Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin begins at Fersit, a small settlement at the northern end of Loch Treig, which is reached by a minor road off the A86 near Tulloch. From Fersit there is a well-used path ascending southward and then eastward to gain the ridge between the two Easains Munros. This route involves approximately 900 metres of ascent and a return distance of around 11 to 12 kilometres, making it a full day's outing for most walkers. Parking is limited at Fersit and care should be taken not to obstruct farm access. Alternatively, walkers arriving by train to Corrour can approach from the east via Loch Treig's southern shore, a longer and wilder route that adds considerably to the sense of adventure.
The best time to visit is from late spring through to early autumn, when the days are long and the paths are most accessible. Winter ascents are possible for those with appropriate mountaineering experience, as the upper slopes can hold snow and ice and the short days demand early starts. The mountain sees fewer visitors than many more famous Munros, which adds to its appeal for those seeking a quieter Highland experience. Given its proximity to more celebrated peaks including Ben Nevis and the Mamores, Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin can feel like a secret rewarded to those who venture a little further from the main tourist honeypots.
One of the more unusual and compelling aspects of this corner of the Highlands is the legacy of the hydroelectric works visible in the landscape. The level, grassy flood plain visible when water levels drop in Loch Treig hints at the drowned world beneath, including the remnants of the old farmsteads that were evacuated and submerged when the dam was completed. This intersection of natural grandeur and industrial history, set within a landscape that has been inhabited, exploited, and traversed for millennia, gives Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin a depth that goes well beyond its summit statistics. For Munro baggers, hillwalkers, and anyone drawn to the dramatic and often melancholy beauty of the Scottish Highlands, this mountain represents one of the more satisfying and underappreciated destinations in the Lochaber area.