Stob An Aonaich Mhoir: Bike And Hike To The Corbett Summit
The Corbett Stob and Aonaich mhoir is a relatively easy ride if you have a bicycle.
The public can either walk or ride a bicycle along the estate road to reach this 855m high hill. The road is mostly tarmac, with some rough spots, but it’s very rideable. It rises from around 210m near Loch Rannoch to 620m.
It is not too difficult to cycle uphill. There are a few steeper sections, but it’s still manageable. The unexpected sunshine, the view of the stream beside the road, and the higher rounded mountains and moorlands with their autumnal-coloured vegetation were all part of the enjoyment of the ride.
My friend Ben rode his mountain bike while I rode my gravel bicycle. Both bikes worked well on the road surface.
The road began as a rough track, but soon changed to tarmac. There are some sections of newer tarmac mixed in with the old tarmac. Keep an eye out for deep potholes. Pot-holes that were filled with rainwater and deeper than I expected caught me a few times.
It was longer than I had expected, but I preferred the idea of cycling to a long and boring walk. I knew that the downhill ride would be amazing!
A slope of thick vegetation.
From bicycle to walk
A small cairn on the roadside marks the start of the climb. You will see Loch Ericht over the brow and to the north-east, just beyond the bealach.
Ben and I left the bikes here, and then we found a faint trail that led us north-west to the summit. The rough terrain contrasted with the relatively smooth road.
The vegetation is dense on the ground. The first part of the walk was also a mixture of peat hags and boggy areas. Ben and I walked up the hill in a straight line, despite the trod.
The walk is not very steep and does not require much effort. We were treated to stunning views of Loch Ericht as we approached the summit. Ben Alder’s mountains rose steeply on the other side.
This mountain’s summit is a good indication of its remoteness. Around you are high mountains and moorland. The west side of Corbett drops steeply into Loch Ericht.
Ben and I returned quickly back the way we came, as there was a strong wind at altitude.
Summit views.
The bike is the best way to get back from walking.
Reclaiming our bikes, we set out on the return trip along the estate road. The return trip was a great downhill ride, apart from a few ups. It was a great feeling to fly through the landscape and return to our starting point.
Lovely autumnal views of the valley below as we rode downhill.
Details of the route Stob an Aonaich Mhoir
Ben and I parked in a carpark on the B846, just north of Loch Rannoch. This was just before the estate road began. This added two kilometres to our overall distance.
Total distance: 31.75km.
Total elevation gain: 771m.
View: Strava , and OS maps.
Corbetts bagged : 13
