Bonny Buachaille Etive Mor

The Big Climb • Published 4 Nov 2010 09:30 2 Comments

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Stunning scenery wherever you look on the Buachaille Etive Mor walk.

He may have conquered Kilimanjaro in aid of Asthma UK (see http://www.alloaadvertiser.com/news/roundup/articles/2010/10/13/406101-skys-the-limit-as-kenny-conquers-kilimanjaro/ ) but Alloa's Kenny Wilson hasn't lost his head for heights. After conquering Africa's highest peak Kenny is still getting out to the hills of Scotland and his latest blog covers Buachaille Etive Mor.

Stob Dearg (1021m/3350ft) and Stob na Broige (956m/3136ft).

Problem with autumn/winter walking is the early starts and the risk of an icy drive and with the memories still fresh of finding two fellow climbers crashed in a ditch last year, it was a case of one eye on the temperature gauge and the other one on the lookout for suicidal Roe deer.

So head for The Kings Head Hotel in Glencoe A82 and travel north for a further 4k and park up in the layby marked Altnafeadh, there is a white house set back in a small clump of trees and a larger white house set back across the road just over a bridge.

Park up in the layby or the car park just along a bit at the end of the exit route and follow the path marked with a National Trust marker - Langangarbh, cross the bridge and pass the large white building which is owned by the SMC and follow the path up the steep corrie which is covered in scree and lovely pinkie/red rocks which unfortunately look lovely but were holding the morning frost and made it a bit slippery under foot.

Follow the path that hugs the mountain stream (this should be on your left the whole way up to the ridge which is marked by a cairn) there is some good scrambling to be had here but I found some of it a wee bit challenging due to ice - it was no Barranco wall but it was fun.

Once you reach the ridge follow the path along to the summit which is at the very end of the hill and you will be rewarded with the most amazing views.

Follow the path back to the cairn at the head of the corrie and think about taking a re-fuelling stop as you will be looking up towards Stob na doire which is the start of some steep walking.

You have some great views across to Stob Coire Raineach & Stob Dubh which if you’re feeling energetic can be climbed straight after you exit down from the final summit, as you face the steep corrie up these two mountains on the exit down. Or you can leave them for another day.

Keep following the path over the false summits and you will pass a small cairn marking your exit route down, keep going to you reach Stob na Broige which is at the far end of the ridge and is marked with a shelter to mark its summit.

Return to the exit cairn and make your way down carefully as this is steep in places and extra care should be taken in the wet. Follow the path over the stream and along the base of Stob Coire Raineach and Stob Dubh which can be climbed from here (I decided to come back another week) and follow the muddy path back to the upper car park and then a 5 minute walk back to your car.

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Graham
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Nov 5, 09:29
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Know this area well Kenny - and just like Kili you can be above the clouds. No need for porters to carry your water here though!

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RITCH
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Nov 5, 15:45
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After all the effort ,the view from up there is breathtaking ,Rannoch moor in all its glory.basically the worlds best gym and its free.

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