Buachaille Etive Beag – Take Two

After the fantastic Five Sisters walk, Ally and I were still following the weather all over the Highlands.  Glencoe was looking good, and we fancied an easy hill after the long day previously.  After our previous sorry story on Buachaille Etive Beag / The Wee Bookil, this fitted the bill.

So we made the long journey back down south to Glencoe.  Not that it was a hardship really, just the whole week took a lot of perseverance and determination to get the weather windows.  Again we parked up on the layby on the A82 and made our way up the good path.  This time there was no snow and no hangovers so we made it up to the bealach quickly.

Looking back down to the road; Aonach Eagach beyond

Ally at the bealach; Buachaille Etive Mor behind

It was fairly quiet this time too for a touristy mountain, although it was a weekday.  We passed a family with three little girls, all who looked under the age of 7.  We were impressed – I cannot think of many kids I know who would do this!  In fact it is a great hill for kids to do, by following this approach and the good path.  The great situation and look of the mountain with its dramatic ridge makes it look harder than it is, with amazing views in a classic location.  And two Munros as well, if managed.

At the bealach we stopped to look across at the more famous Buachaille Etive Mor and look at the route up.

Looking across to Buichaille Etive Mor

Stob Dubh from the bealach

We could make out little stick figures on the ridge opposite.  We then turned left to climb up the steep slopes of the first Munro summit, Stob Coire Raineach. The path was a bit eroded in parts but otherwise fine.  The views from the top were great, although the cloud was quite low in parts, cutting off some of the hill tops.

Aonach Eagach ridge

Stob Dubh from the summit with Loch Etive beyond. Stob Coire Sgreamhach to the right.

Stob Dubh – the next summit

We dropped back down to the bealach and continued on the other side to walk up the opposite summit, Stob Dubh.  This was a more interesting walk and the path zig zagged steeply before reaching a lovely ridge looking down towards Loch Etive.  We were soon at the summit where the little family were sat.  The classic view down Loch Etive was gorgeous.  We sat and enjoyed them for a while before walking back down the same way and stopping for an obligatory drink in the Clachaig Inn.

From Stob Dubh looking over to Stob Coire Raineach

Stob Coire Raineach and Buachaille Etive Mor to the right

Looking along the ridge to the summit

Buachaille Etive Mor

Stob Coire Sgreamhach & Bidean nam Bian