Stob Ban

About Stob Ban

Rising as a striking white pyramid at the western end of the Mamores, this Munro is defined by its capping of light-coloured quartzite. The approach from Glen Nevis reveals a rugged character, particularly on the craggy north-eastern face, offering a more alpine feel than many of its neighbour's softer, grassier slopes.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is Gaelic for 'White Peak'. This refers to the prominent outcrops and scree of quartzite on its upper slopes, which are so bright they are frequently mistaken for snow from the floor of Glen Nevis, even in midsummer.
• •The mountain is a significant site for Dalradian geology. This ancient metamorphic rock, specifically the hard quartzite found here, was formed over 500 million years ago and gives the peak its distinctive light-coloured, jagged profile.
• •Walkers ascending via the northern ridge must contend with a deceptive false summit at 900 metres. Reaching this point reveals another 100 metres of ascent required to hit the true top, though the effort is rewarded with a spectacular view of Ben Nevis's massive southern flanks.
• •The north-eastern face drops 400 metres into Coire a' Mhusgain. These precipitous crags and the associated buttresses are a popular venue for winter climbers, offering technical gully routes and rocky ribs that hold ice well in the cold Lochaber winters.
• •At an official height of 999.7 metres, the hill is a mere 30 centimetres shy of the 1,000-metre mark—a fact that provides endless frustration to those who prefer their mountain statistics in round numbers.