Walk 2819 - printer friendly version

Stob na Broige, Buchaille Etive Mor, Glen Coe Walk

Author - Peter Smyly

Length - 6.1 miles / 9.9 km

Ascent - 2500 feet / 758 metres

Grade - mod/hard

Start - OS grid reference NN213560
Lat 56.661543 + Long -4.9172765
Postcode PH50 4SG (approx. location only)

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.

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