The Cobbler routes, easiest to hardest: times, distances and GPX
884 m · Loch Lomond and The Trossachs · OS grid NN259058
The Cobbler is the craggy Corbett above Arrochar, with three rocky tops and a summit block reached by threading a window in the rock.
Peakify lists 1 measured route up The Cobbler, traced on OpenStreetMap paths from the start to the summit. Distances and ascent are one way, to the top.
The Cobbler routes, easiest to hardest
There is one measured route so far, graded Scramble. Grades run Easy, Moderate, Hard, then Scramble.
| Route | Start | Distance | Ascent | Time up | There and back | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arrochar via Allt a' Bhalachain | Succoth car park, head of Loch Long | 5.4 km one way | 870 m | 2h 30m | 3h 35m | Scramble |
The Cobbler route times by Naismith's rule
The times above use Naismith's rule: 5 km/h on the flat plus 10 minutes for every 100 m of ascent, rounded to the nearest 5 minutes. "There and back" doubles the distance and counts the ascent once, for coming down the same way. Naismith assumes a fit walker and no stops, so add time for breaks, a heavy pack, rough or snowy ground, and a group that moves at its slowest member's pace.
Each The Cobbler route
Arrochar via Allt a' Bhalachain
A forest path climbs beside the Allt a' Bhalachain to the corrie, then up to the col and the exposed summit block. It starts from Succoth car park, head of Loch Long. 5.4 km one way with 870 m of ascent. About 2h 30m to the summit and 3h 35m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Scramble.
The Cobbler route GPX
This page doesn't offer a GPX download. To get a GPX file for a The Cobbler route, use the Peakify iPhone app: open The Cobbler, plan the route in the route planner (or import a GPX you already have), save it, then choose Export GPX on the saved route. GPX export is part of Peakify Pro.
Before you pick a route
The grade describes the ground in fair weather. Wind, rain, cloud and ice change it: a Moderate path can be hard to follow in mist, and a scramble in strong gusts is a different proposition from the same rock on a calm day. Check whether it is safe to climb The Cobbler today and the The Cobbler 14-day forecast before you set off, and allow for the walk out in daylight.
Planning a day on The Cobbler routes
The walking times above use Naismith's rule, which assumes a fit walker on good paths with short stops. Most groups take longer: add a quarter for a mixed group, more for children or heavy packs, and plan the descent as carefully as the climb, because tired legs and fading light cause more trouble on the way down than on the way up.
Start early. Car parks at popular starts fill by mid-morning in summer and at weekends, and an early start leaves spare daylight if the weather turns or the walk takes longer than planned. In winter, work back from sunset and leave a margin of at least an hour.
Carry a map and compass and know how to use them, even on a well-trodden path; a phone battery fails fastest in cold, wet weather. Pack a waterproof jacket and trousers, a warm layer, a hat and gloves in every season, plus food, water and a head torch. Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.
If you are new to The Cobbler, choose the easiest route in the table for a first ascent and save the harder lines for a settled day when you know the mountain. Turning back is always an option; the summit will still be there.
Questions about The Cobbler
What is the easiest route up The Cobbler?
The one measured route listed here is Arrochar via Allt a' Bhalachain (Scramble).
How much time does each The Cobbler route take?
Arrochar via Allt a' Bhalachain: about 2h 30m up and 3h 35m there and back. Times are by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops.
Can I get a GPX file for a The Cobbler route?
Not from this page. In the Peakify iPhone app, plan the route in the route planner (or import one), save it, then choose Export GPX on the saved route. GPX export is part of Peakify Pro.