logo Walking Britain
Home About Holidays FAQ Email MENU ☰

Stob na Broige, Buchaille Etive Mor, Glen Coe

Highland Walk

County/Area - Highland - Fort William Lochaber

Author - Peter Smyly

Length - 6.1 miles / 9.9 km    Ascent - 2500 feet / 758 metres

Time - 5 hours 30 minutes    Grade - mod/hard

Maps Ordnance Survey Logo Anquet Maps Logo

Ordnance Survey Explorer 384Sheet Map1:25kBUY
Anquet OS Explorer 384Digital Map1:25kBUY
Ordnance Survey Landranger 56Sheet Map1:50kBUY
Anquet OS Landranger 56Digital Map1:50kBUY

Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Stob na Broige, Buchaille Etive Mor, Glen Coe
Click image to visit gallery of 5 images.

Buachaille Etive Mor (meaning "the great Herdsman of Etive") is one of the classic mountains of the north-west highlands of Scotland, but the name does not refer to a Munro. Rather, it is a ridge of high ground to the south-east of the Glen Coe valley. The ridge includes two Munros, one at each end, as well as two tops which, while exceeding three thousand feet in height, do not qualify as Munros due to an insufficient amount of drop in height between them and their nearest neighbouring summit. This walk includes one of the two Munros, Stob na Broige.

The familiar picture postcard image of Buachaille Etive Mor presents its eastern end in the form of a giant, steep pyramid which appears to offer no easy way up. This is the impression of it when seen from the A82 road that passes through the Glen Coe valley; this however is only one end of the ridge and this walk does not include this part of the ridge.

Start at the car park to the north of the Glen Coe valley to the east of Lochan na Fola and follow the Lairig Gartain valley in a south-westerly direction alongside the River Coupall for about a mile. Next it is time to gain some altitude in earnest as a fairly steep path goes up to a bealach, emerging between the minor tops of Stob na Doire on the left and Stob Coire Altruim on the right. The most difficult part of the walk now over, turn right and walk up to Stob na Broige and then the last stretch offers easy ridge walking to the Munro, Stob na Broige. On a clear day, the all-round views are magnificent with Buachaille Etive Beag arresting the attention across the glen to the north west. Further away is the Aonach Eagach across the Glen Coe valley and the Mamores range and Ben Nevis are seen to the north.

To conclude the walk, reverse the outgoing route. I was privileged to do this walk in May 2006 on a day of sunshine and near-perfect visibility as my photos show.

Other walks nearby

Walk 3010 Stob Dearg (Buachaille Etive Mor) from Altnafeadhmod/hard4.0 miles
Walk 3269 The Munros of Buachaille Etive Mormod/hard8.2 miles
Walk 2808 Buachaille Etive Beag, Glen Coehard9.0 miles
Walk 2554 The Lost Valley, Glen Coeeasy/mod4.2 miles
Walk 3251 Bidean nam Bian via Stob Coire nan Lochan, Glencoehard5.0 miles
Walk 1496 WHW - Day 6 - Kinlocheven to Fort Williammoderate15.0 miles
Walk 3106 Binnein Mor from Kinlochlevenhard10.2 miles
Walk 1039 Am Bodach and Stob Coire a' Chairnmod/hard9.5 miles
Walk 1094 Blackwater Reservoirmoderate11.5 miles
Walk 2955 Ridges & peaks of Bidean Nam Bianvery hard10.5 miles

Recommended Books & eBooks

Great Mountain Days in Scotland

Great Mountain Days in ScotlandInspirational guidebook to 50 challenging routes for mountaineers, scramblers, hillwalkers and fell runners, many long enough to backpack over 2 days, especially in winter (12 to 25 miles). A mix of classic routes and unsung gems across Scotland from Galloway to the Outer Hebrides in widely differing wild landscapes. With customised OS mapping.
More information

Skye's Cuillin Ridge Traverse

Skye's Cuillin Ridge TraverseThis 2-volume set provides all the information required to complete the main ridge traverse on Skye's Black Cuillin. Strategy, gear, training, navigation and logistics are covered, and 10 classic scrambles are described. A lightweight second guidebook gives the scrambler detailed maps, topos and route description for the ridge traverse itself.
More information

Messaging & Social Media

Message Walking Britain and follow the latest news.

Facebook  Twitter

Mountain Weather

Stay safe on the mountains with detailed weather forecasts - for iOS devices or for Android devices.