Stob Binnein

Rising as a sharp, conical peak south of its more massive twin, Ben More, this Munro offers a graceful profile and a surprisingly airy summit. The ascent from the bealach involves steep, grassy slopes, rewarding climbers with a commanding perspective over the southern Highlands and the Crianlarich hills.

• •The name is derived from the Gaelic 'Stob Binnein', which translates roughly as the 'peak of the pinnacle'. It is a fitting description for a mountain that appears much sharper and more defined than the bulky mass of Ben More to the north.
• •Most walkers reach the summit via the 'Bealach eadar-dha Beinn' (the pass between the two hills). Because this col sits at 862 metres, those arriving from Ben More must tackle a steep 300-metre re-ascent to reach the cairn, contributing to a total day's climb of over 1,300 metres.
• •The summit provides a superior southward view compared to its neighbour, looking directly over the intricate ridges of Cruach Ardrain and Beinn Tulaichean, with the distinct profile of Ben Lomond often visible on the horizon.
• •While many bag the peak and return the same way, a more interesting descent heads southeast over the minor tops of Stob Coire an Lochain and Meall na Dige, eventually leading down into the quiet glens of the Braes of Balquhidder.
• •Stob Binnein suffers the perpetual fate of the talented younger sibling; it is arguably the more aesthetic and interesting mountain, yet it remains forever in the literal shadow of the taller, lumpier Ben More.