Stob a Choin walk from Inverlochlarig (Balquhidder)

Distance Height Start / Parking Approximate time Grade

7.5 miles - circular 2830 ft  Carpark west end Balquhidder Glen at Inverlochlarig 5-6 hours Straightforward but - diff in winter - Navigation can be tricky

List of harder walks Trossachs area Ben Ledi hillwalk Ben Vane (Trossachs) Ben Venue hillwalk Ben Vorlich AND Stuc a Chroin Stuc a Chroin from Glenample Killin area Ben Lawers Lawers-An Stuc ridge Meall Corranaich  Tarmachan Ridge  Kirkton Glen to Glen Dochart  Crianlarich area Stobinian from Inverlochlarig. Ben More & Stobinian  Cruach Ardrain and Tulaichean An Caisteal Stob a Choin Tyndrum area Ben Dorain  Ben Lui 1 Ben Lui 2 Ben Oss & Dhubchraig  Ben Challum Stob Ghabhar  Ben Achallader and Beinn a Chreachain Lomond/Arrochar area Ben Lomond The Cobbler (Ben Arthur) Bein Narnain Ben Vane  Ben Vorlich Dalmally area Cruachan ridge Dalmally Horseshoe Glencoe and Fort William area Buachaille Etive Mor Buachaille Etive Beag Bidean nam Bian Ben Nevis

Description

Stob a Choin (G. the Hill of the Dog)  is a 'wee gem' among giants. In my opinion a very under-rated hill which makes a good day's outing if explored to the full.
Located just to the south of the Munros in the Crianlarich range it offers superb views of the 'giants' and of the whole length of Balquhidder Glen.

Being the baby in the area at a mere 2830 feet it is no surprise that it is not a  heavily walked hill when it is surrounded by the 'prizes' for the Munro baggers.

Route

From the car park at Inverlochlarig at the end of the public road in Balquhidder glen walk west for about half a mile to Inverlochlarig farm where a left turn then a right takes you onto the farm track leading toward the head of the glen.

Stob a Choin can be reasonably tackles from anywhere you can avoid the numerous small crags but I find the best route is to walk about 2 miles along the glen to the base of the long slope at the western end, leaving the farm track at the sheep pens just beyond a burn crossing (NN414177).

Pick your way over sometimes wet ground to the river where you can usually find somewhere to cross dry shod - unless after heavy rain when judicious wading may be required, or even aborted!

Follow the river upstream on its south bank for about 1/2 a mile before turning to face a climb up rough grassy slopes and avoiding crags to your left for about a mile to reach the summit.
There is no obvious path and a little easy scrambling may be required closer to the summit depending on your chosen route.

From the summit all of the Crianlarich and Glenfalloch group are visible in clear weather with Ben Lomond and Ben Venue seen beyond Loch Katrine to the south east.

A panoramic image from Stob a Choin seeing from the left - Stob a Choin (in shadow), Beinn Chabhair,
Bein a Chroin and An Castaille (behind), Tullichean and Cruach Ardrain (behind), Ben More, Stobinian, Loch Doine

To complete the circular, head south-east to the second summit, then carefully pick your way down the southeast side to a dip (Bealach Coire an Laoigh) where an old fence can be seen on the opposite side. Bearing a little to the right gives an easier ascent of the steep slopes to join the fence at yet another high point followed by a gentler continuation to Meall Reamhar. From here, cross a little dip to Greag nan Saighead, and follow the long descending shoulder leading down to eventually join the line of an old fence.

Continue to follow the old fence (which encounters some very steep sections) until you come to a high deer fence. Follow the deer fence to a gate at the intersection with another fence.

Go through (or over) the gate and continue down the deer fence for a short way before crossing a burn near a waterfall and dropping down NW to cross the river at a footbridge to join the farm road. .